Harvard Law School is committed to the equitable distribution of need-based aid. Central to this process is the expectation that financial information submitted by applicants is both true and complete. Ethical behavior by those preparing to enter the legal profession is something we take very seriously. In keeping with this, we ask all students at HLS applying for financial aid of any kind (federal, institutional, or private) to read, electronically sign, and adhere to a Statement of Ethical Responsibility. The School reserves the right to collect additional documentation and verification of financial data from aid applicants as needed, in order to ensure the accurate distribution of Federal and institutional resources.
If there is evidence that a financial aid applicant has deliberately misrepresented or omitted required information, Student Financial Services will notify the Dean of Students Office for possible disciplinary action by the Administrative Board. In the case of fraud or other criminal misconduct, referral may be made to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of the Inspector General, or, if more appropriate, to a state or local authority.