The Berkeley Exchange Program seeks to enhance the educational opportunities available to students at Harvard Law School and UC Berkeley Law by providing exposure to a different faculty and student body. Each year, the program allows up to five HLS students and up to five students Berkeley Law to spend their third year studying at the other school.
Under the rules adopted by HLS and Berkeley Law for this program, students selected will:
- continue to pay tuition to and apply for financial aid from their home law school,
- pay medical fees to the host law school,
- receive their degree from their home law school, and
- have access to both host and home career offices.
Before Applying
If you are interested in applying to the Berkeley Exchange Program, you need to make substantial progress towards completing your J.D. degree requirements during your 2L year.
The International and Comparative, J.D. Written Work, and Negotiation/Leadership requirements must be completed at HLS.
You should also consider completing your Experiential Learning and Professional Responsibility requirements during your 2L year, as both are still required.
For more information on J.D. degree requirements, review the Handbook of Academic Policies and consult your degree audit in Helios. You should also meet with the Registrar’s Office before finalizing your 2L spring schedule to confirm you are on track to attend Berkeley Law if approved.
Applying
Deadline: Second Friday in February of 2L year.
Materials: Your application must include:
- Letter indicating why you wish to participate in the program. Your letter should:
- Be two pages in length.
- Give special attention to academic reasons for wishing to go to Berkeley Law, such as a desire to work with a particular faculty member or to take courses not available at HLS. You may mention personal considerations, but only if they are academic in nature or accommodations needs.
- Include a proposed course of study at Berkeley Law (courses are posted here).
- Resume
- Faculty Recommendation Letter of at least two paragraphs in length. Additional recommendation letters are permitted, but not required.
You should submit your application to AcademicPrograms@law.harvard.edu for review by the Administrative Board. Recommendation letters can be sent to the same email address.
After Applying
Decisions: Every effort will be made to let students know by the beginning of April who has been chosen to go to Berkeley Law next year. Once a student is notified of acceptance, the student will have two weeks to advise HLS whether they will participate.
HLS Course Selection: Students who accept a spot in the program will not be permitted to register for courses at HLS. If you later withdraw and return to HLS for your third year, be aware that you will have the lowest priority with respect to course and clinic selection at HLS.
Berkeley Law Course Selection: You must register for classes with Berkeley Law by making a registration appointment. Once you select your courses, email your course list to the HLS Registrar’s Office, which must approve your course of study at Berkeley Law. Please note that participation in Berkeley Law’s Clinical Semester Away Program is not permitted.
Grades & Transcripts: Your HLS transcript will have a one-line entry for each term called “Harvard-Berkeley Exchange Program.” The number of credits earned will be listed with a grade of “CR.” Grades are calculated by Berkeley Law and not included on your HLS transcript or in the honors calculation. You must order a transcript from Berkeley Law to receive your grades.
Financial Aid: Visit the Berkeley Exchange page of the Student Financial Services site.
More Information
For application questions or general inquiries:
Office of Student Academic Affairs, AcademicPrograms@law.harvard.edu
For requirement, transcript, credit, or registration information:
Office of the Registrar, registrar@law.harvard.edu