
Overview
The J.D. (Juris Doctor) at Harvard Law School is a three-year program of study that first gives students the intellectual foundations for legal study and practice, and then gives students the opportunity to focus their studies on areas of particular interest through advanced classes, clinics, and legal writing projects.
Eligibility
All applicants must hold or expect to hold a bachelor’s degree (or international equivalent) prior to August of the year for which they apply to enter (except in cases where all requirements are met prior to September and degree conferral occurs after September).
Applicants may apply for admission to Harvard Law School through the regular J.D. application no more than three times. Applications submitted via the Junior Deferral Program (JDP) and the J.D. Transfer pathways do not count towards this cap.
Ineligible candidates who submit an application will not be considered for admission and will not receive an application fee reimbursement.
Application Timeline
Application Toolkit

We compiled the application resources, information, and advice from across our website to help you put together an application that best reflects your abilities and readiness for Harvard Law School.

Recruitment Events & Information Sessions
Learn more about the law school admissions process and HLS community through our online resources and in-person events this fall.
1L Class Profile

Meet the Class of 2025
J.D. Admissions Blog
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Admissions Coordinator: Anhar Mulla
The newest member of the J.D. Admissions team, Anhar Mulla, introduces herself.
May 15, 2023
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Announcing Dates for the 2023 Junior Deferral Program (JDP) Application Cycle
The Junior Deferral Program (JDP) application launches in less than a month! Our office looks forward to reviewing applications for the 2023 JDP cycle. We want to provide you with an expected timeline for this year’s cycle to maintain transparency and to help applicants plan ahead as they navigate their summers. Here is our expected
March 10, 2023
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The Waitlist Before May 1
With our first release of waitlist decisions today, I thought it might be a good time for a post addressing this in-between stage before May 1. Waitlisted applicants often ask: what should you do between now and May 1?
February 15, 2023
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Student Voices: The Armenian Law Students Association (ALSA)
The Armenian Law Students Association (ALSA) at Harvard Law School, led by co-presidents Gayane Matevosyan J.D. ’23 and Arman Smigielski J.D. ’23, cultivates an environment where Armenian students on campus can celebrate their cultural heritage, raise awareness about issues affecting the Armenian community, and host guest speakers who share valuable insight about their advocacy efforts
February 13, 2023