Empowering the next generation of legal scholars and leaders
Harvard Law School’s Future Leaders in Law Program, in partnership with Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP (Paul, Weiss), is designed to elevate, inspire, empower, and impact the lives of each program participant and the legal profession by focusing on early talent generation and igniting excitement about law as a career path.
About the Program
The Future Leaders in Law Program will bring together individuals with a range of lived experiences, primarily individuals from first-generation and less advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, for a weeklong residential fellowship at Harvard Law School (HLS) to help prepare them to apply for admission to law schools around the nation. While on campus, Future Leaders in Law Fellows (Fellows) will engage with HLS faculty, staff, students, and alumni. During this weeklong residency and over the course of the yearlong program, participants will benefit from test and application preparation services, mentorship and networking opportunities, field trips, as well as academic and professional skills-building elements.
This program will be fully funded, with all costs covered to participate, including transportation and lodging, and preparation materials. We will provide need-based assistance for law school application fees and LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) reports, and the LSAT administration. In addition, a $3,000 stipend will be awarded upon program completion.
Core Program Components
- Summer Residency at HLS (Cambridge, MA) /Visit to Paul, Weiss (New York, NY): Designed to expose Fellows to law school, career exploration, network building, and skills development to demystify and navigate law school, its application process, and beyond.
- Empowerment Seminars: Saturday Sessions in which Fellows will continue to engage and benefit from workshops, skills building, application preparation, and mentorship opportunities. These empowerment sessions are designed to continue preparing participants for the law school application process.
- Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) Preparation Course: Participants will receive synchronous instruction and preparation for the Law School Admissions Test through test prep company Advantage Testing.
- Mentorship: Fellows will receive valuable mentorship and advice from Harvard Law School affiliates.
- Zero-L: Upon completion, Fellows will receive access to Zero-L, an online course designed by Harvard Law School to introduce incoming law students to the American legal system, the vocabulary of law school, and what it means to be a law student in the U.S.
“We are launching the Future Leaders in Law program to help elevate, inspire, empower, and impact the lives of program participants and the legal profession by focusing on early talent generation and igniting excitement about law as a career path,”
Monica E. Monroe, Assistant Dean for Community Engagement, Equity, and Belonging
Key Program Dates
| Application Deadline | April 30, 2023, at 11:59 EDT |
| Notification of Acceptance | Early June 2023 |
| Summer Residency | HLS (Cambridge, MA) & Paul, Weiss (Manhattan, NY) July 17, 2023 – July 21, 2023 |
| LSAT Preparation Course | Summer/Fall 2023 (Wednesdays and Saturdays) Advantage Testing |
| Mentorship | Winter/Spring 2024 |
| Empowerment Seminars | January 20, 2024 February 24, 2024 March 16, 2024 April 13, 2024 May 18, 2024 |
Application Components
All application materials must be submitted electronically by the deadline, April 30, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. EDT (Eastern Daylight Time). You may save and complete your application before the deadline.
A confirmation email will be sent to the email address you used to create an account.
Your application will be marked as complete upon receipt of all required materials, including letters of recommendation. After submission, all submissions are considered final, and you will be unable to reopen and edit the application.
- Personal Background
- Family/Financial Background
- Academic History
- Future Leader Details
- Resume
- Statement of Professional Interest
- Question: How will your participation in the Future Leaders in Law program impact your future in the legal sector? Please describe any significant life experiences, overcoming any obstacles, leadership, or community engagement experiences that have shaped your interest in pursuing an education in the legal field.
- Optional Question: If there is anything else you would like the selection committee to consider that has not already been shared in your application materials, you have the option to submit an additional statement on the application portal.
- Recommendations
- 1 Required; 1 Optional
- We encourage all applicants to promptly identify and send out the Letter of Recommendation Request Form on the HLS Future Leaders in Law application portal to allow sufficient time for their recommender to complete the form.
All program finalists will be invited to interview via Zoom in mid-to-late May.
Acceptance into the HLS Future Leaders in Law Program is independent of the Harvard Law School J.D. Admissions process. Participation in the HLS Future Leaders in Law Program does not guarantee admission into Harvard Law School.
Eligibility
To apply to HLS’s Future Leaders in Law Program in partnership with Paul, Weiss, you must have:
- Current good standing as a Junior or Senior from an accredited college or university or a recent graduate from a college or university
- Minimum 3.3 cumulative undergraduate GPA
- A commitment to attend and participate in all program sessions (Summer Residency at HLS, Empowerment Sessions, Mentorship, and LSAT Preparation Course with Advantage Testing)
- Interest in applying to law school in 2024 and enrolling in fall 2025
All majors are encouraged to apply!
The application will close on Sunday, April 30 at 11:59 p.m EDT (Eastern Daylight Time). We encourage all applicants to promptly identify and send out the Letter of Recommendation Request Form on the HLS Future Leaders in Law application portal to allow sufficient time for their recommender to complete the form. Participants will be notified of their acceptance in early June 2023.
Questions about eligibility can be sent to futureleaders@law.harvard.edu
Apply to the Future Leaders in Law Program
Go to the application portal and begin your journey.