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 is a yearlong pre-law initiative that brings together individuals with a range of lived experiences, primarily individuals from first-generation and less advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. This yearlong program begins with a weeklong residential fellowship at Harvard Law School (HLS) that helps prepare participants to apply for admission to law schools nationwide.
This program is fully funded, with all costs covered to participate, including transportation, lodging, and preparation materials. We will provide need-based assistance for law school application fees, LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) reports, and the LSAT administration. In addition, a $3,000 stipend will be awarded upon successful program completion.
Core Program Components
- Summer Residency at Harvard Law School (Cambridge, MA) & 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.
- Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) Preparation Course: Participants will receive synchronous instruction and preparation for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) through Advantage Testing, a test preparation company.
- 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.
- 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
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants for the 2025-2026 Future Leaders in Law Program must:
- Be in pursuit of an undergraduate degree with an expected graduation date of 2025 or 2026 OR be a recent graduate (Class of 2022, Class of 2023, and Class of 2024).
- Have a 3.3 cumulative undergraduate GPA.
- Intend to apply for a J.D. program for matriculation no earlier than Fall 2027.
- Be at least 18 years old as of the program start date.
- Commit to attending and participating in all core program components.
All majors are encouraged to apply!
Acceptance into the Future Leaders in Law Program is independent of the Harvard Law School J.D. Admissions process. Participation in the Future Leaders in Law Program does not guarantee admission into Harvard Law School. We regret that Harvard Law School cannot provide visa sponsorship for the Future Leaders in Law Program.
Key Program Dates
| Application Opens | Wednesday, January 29, 2025 |
| Application Deadline | Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EDT |
| Notification of Decision | May 2025 |
| Summer Residency | Sunday, June 22, 2025 – Sunday, June 29, 2025 Harvard Law School (Cambridge, MA) & Paul, Weiss (New York, NY) |
| LSAT Preparation Course | Summer Bootcamp (evenings from July 9 – July 20, 2025) Weekend Courses (select weekends, July through October) (Virtual, synchronous programming) |
| Mentorship | Winter & Spring 2026 |
| Empowerment Seminars | January 24, 2026 February 21, 2026 March 21, 2026 April 25, 2026 May 16, 2026 |
Application Components
The application portal will open on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. All application materials must be submitted electronically by the deadline, Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EDT (Eastern Daylight Time). You may begin, save, and complete your application progress 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.
For more information, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions on our website.
2025-2026 Application Components:
- Personal Background
- Academic History
- Future Leader Details
- Resume
- Statement of Professional Interest
- Optional Statement
- Recommendations
- Required: One Academic Letter of Recommendation
- Optional: One Additional Academic or Professional Letter of Recommendation
- Character & Fitness
We encourage all applicants to promptly identify and send out the Letter of Recommendation Request Form to recommenders on the Future Leaders in Law application portal to allow sufficient time for their recommender to complete the reference. Your application will not be complete until the required Academic Letter of Recommendation has been submitted through the application portal.
All program finalists will be invited to interview via Zoom no earlier than mid-to-late April 2025. Applicants will be notified of their decision in May 2025.
Program Experience
While on campus, Future Leaders in Law Fellows engage with Harvard Law School 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 skill-building elements.
“The Future Leaders in Law Program was profoundly transformative. It instilled in me a newfound confidence, empowering me to tackle challenges in my life with a sense of assurance I had never known before. I learned that I belonged here – that I deserve to be here and in the field of law.”
“Before my acceptance into the program, I was questioning my place in the legal profession, but the past year has given me a new sense of belonging and confidence to pursue a career as a lawyer.”
“I’ve left this program with lifelong friends, instrumental connections, and a solidified sense of purpose and mission to serve people through law.”
2024-25 Future Leaders in Law Program
2023-24 Future Leaders in Law Program
Information Sessions
There are no upcoming Information Sessions at this time.
Interested in learning more about the Future Leaders in Law Program? Introduce yourself through the interest form below.
For more information, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions on our website.
Apply to the Future Leaders in Law Program!
The application for the 2025-2026 Future Leaders in Law Program is now closed. Our application closed on Wednesday, March 12, at 11:59 PM EDT.
Introduce Yourself
Interested in learning more about the Future Leaders in Law Program? Introduce yourself through the form below.