The Office of Student Academic Affairs (SAA) manages academic advising for J.D. students, working closely with the Academic Advising@HLS team that includes the Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs (OCP), the Office of the Registrar, and the Writing Center. SAA manages 1L Reading Groups, joint degrees, and the Berkeley Exchange Program.
To assist J.D. students in charting their academic path at HLS, SAA:
- Offers drop-in hours every Friday from 12-5pm
- Maintains the Academic Path website;
- Executes academic-related programming throughout the academic year; and
- Provides 1:1 advising for current and prospective (but admitted) joint degree students.*
*Prior to admission to HLS, students interested in joint degrees should contact J.D. Admissions.
Betsy DiPardo
Director for Student Academic Affairs
Betsy began working as HLS’ inaugural Director for Student Academic Affairs in November 2025. She previously spent eleven years working in career services at HLS and Boston University School of Law. Before transitioning to higher education, she clerked for the Honorable George A. O’Toole, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and worked as an associate at a large Boston law firm. She earned her B.A. from Boston College and J.D. from Boston College Law School. Additionally, she served as Secretary of the Massachusetts Legal Recruitment Association (MALRA) for the 2015-2016 season and President for the 2016-2017 season, as well as a Regional Representative for the National Association of Law Placement (NALP) from 2018-2020.