Updated August 2025
The Office of Career Services at Harvard Law School (OCS) has developed the following Policies and Guidelines (Policies) to protect the interests of both students and employers. By recruiting students at Harvard Law School (HLS), private sector employers agree to abide by these Policies, including terms regarding the timing of offers and decisions. Employers who fail to comply with our policies may be subject to OCS sanctions.
I. Non-Discrimination
HLS has instituted policies and procedures to ensure a safe and non-discriminatory environment and to meet legal requirements. Employers recruiting HLS students must comply with HLS’s non-discrimination policy. In addition, employers may not discriminate on the basis of citizenship or immigration status in their recruitment of HLS students.
II. Recruiting Programs and Events
A. OCS Programs and Events
OCS facilitates multiple interview and recruiting programs throughout the year (OCS Facilitated Programs), in addition to welcoming employers on campus for networking receptions, firm fairs, and to participate in career related programming. Recruitment of HLS students encompasses, but is not limited to, participation in all such programs and events.
For certain of the OCS Facilitated Programs, OCS assigns interview slots for employers and students (OCS Scheduled Programs).
B. Other HLS Programs and Events
Private sector law firm employers may also participate in information sessions and networking receptions through other HLS departments and affiliates, including student organizations. As an integral part of the recruiting and employment process, such employers must comply with all HLS policies, including but not limited to HLS’s non-discrimination policies and the Employer Policies herein.
Before organizing an event for HLS students, employers should contact OCS to ensure that the proposed date of the event does not conflict with another program. Please see our Connect with HLS Students page.
III. Interviewing Guidelines and Procedures
A. Student Materials Distributed by OCS
OCS collects and distributes students’ resumes and transcripts to employers for OCS Facilitated Programs.
B. Interviewing Time Guidelines
Academic Year Interviews
Employers scheduling interviews directly with students may not do so at times that conflict with classes or exams. This includes interviews during HLS’s January Term (J-Term), which takes place over three weeks in January. Employers are strongly encouraged to conduct interviews via videoconference and to schedule interviews at times that will minimize disruption to students’ academic obligations. Additionally, employers are strongly encouraged to avoid scheduling any interviews during Reading and Exam Period and during the Harvard Law Review writing competition, typically held the week after the conclusion of 1L spring semester exams. Please refer to the HLS Academic Calendar for pertinent dates.
Summer Interviews
Employers are expected to offer interviews at times that do not conflict with students’ summer internships and work obligations. Similarly, in order to minimize disruption to summer internships, employers are strongly encouraged to offer interviews via videoconferencing and other technology where possible.
C. Reimbursement of Expenses
Prior to interviews that may involve travel, employers shall inform students of the firm’s reimbursement policy pertaining to interview travel expenses. Employers agree to reimburse students promptly for reasonable travel expenses submitted under their policies.
IV. Recruiting 1Ls
Employers recruiting 1Ls for 2L summer positions are reminded to also review our policies and restrictions on interviewing and recruiting for 2L summer employment.
A. 1L Job Application Timing
Employers are strongly urged to refrain from recruiting contact with 1Ls prior to October 1.
Beginning November 1, employers may accept formal applications and extend interviews or offers to 1Ls for 1L summer employment. Prior to November 1, employers should not request resumes, transcripts, writing samples, or any other application materials from 1Ls.
B. Interview Timing Guidelines
As stated above, employers scheduling interviews directly with students may not schedule interviews at times that conflict with classes or exams, including January Term classes. Employers are also strongly encouraged to avoid scheduling any callback interviews during Reading and Exam Period.
C. 1L Summer Employment – Offer Terms and Decisions
All offers for 1L summer employment should remain open for at least 14 days after the date of the offer letter. For 1L summer offers extended during the fall term, OCS strongly encourages employers to grant extensions until the conclusion of 1L fall term exams and winter break.
OCS strongly discourages any 1L summer employment offer that requires the student to return to the same employer for more than four (4) weeks of their 2L summer or otherwise requires the student to materially limit their 2L summer at another employer as a condition for a 1L summer offer. Employers must disclose any such conditions or expectations to the 1L at the time of the 1L offer.
V. Recruiting for 2L Summer Employment
A. 2L Job Application Timing
We encourage employers to refrain from accepting applications for 2L summer employment until after the release of fall term grades.
B. Interview Timing Guidelines
As stated above, employers scheduling interviews directly with students may not schedule interviews at times that conflict with classes or exams. Employers are also strongly encouraged to avoid scheduling callback interviews during Reading and Exam Period, and during the Harvard Law Review writing competition, typically held the week after the conclusion of 1L spring semester exams. Please refer to the HLS Academic Calendar for pertinent dates.
C. Summer Employment – Offer Terms and Decisions
Offers made for 2L summer employment, including all such offers made during a student’s 1L year, should remain open for at least 14 days after the date of the offer letter. OCS strongly encourages employers to grant extensions on offers to allow students to consider their options more fully. Employers maintain discretion to grant extensions, except for the April 1 extension, which must be granted as stated below.
Note to employers: Our “Student Recruiting and Interviewing Policies” provide that students are permitted to hold open no more than three (3) offers of employment at any one time.
VI. Post-Graduate Employment
A. Previously Employed Student
For a full-time post-graduate offer made to a student previously hired by that employer: the offer should remain open until either: 1) October 1 of the student’s final year of law school; or 2) 28 days after the date of the offer letter, whichever is later.
- Reaffirmations
Employers may request that students reaffirm interest in their open, full-time post-graduate offers within 14 days from the date of the offer letter. Employers that request students to reaffirm their open offers may retract any offer that is not reaffirmed or accepted.
B. Student NOT Previously Employed
For a full-time post-graduate offer made to a student not previously hired by that employer, the employer should leave the offer open for at least 14 days after the date of the offer letter.
VII. April 1 Extension Rule: Public Sector and Business Employer Extensions
Notwithstanding any other employer-granted extensions, a student may keep one 2L summer employment offer or one post-graduate employment offer open until the April 1 before employment if the student:
- is pursuing opportunities in the government or public sector (including employers recruiting through HLS’s Office of Public Interest Advising (OPIA), such as through its Virtual Public Interest Interview Program) or with business employers;
- notifies the employer in writing before the offer expires; and
- affirms in writing that the employer’s offer is the only offer that the student is holding open.
VIII. Student Complaints
While most employers strive to maintain a professional and sensitive attitude in recruiting, there may be instances of offensive or discriminatory behavior. If a student believes an employer has acted in a way that does not comply with HLS’s non-discrimination policies, has engaged in harassing behavior, or has exhibited any other concerning or unprofessional behavior, we encourage the student to speak with the Assistant Dean for Career Services or contact the Office of Career Services (ocs@law.harvard.edu). OCS will work with the student to address the issue in a timely and sensitive manner.