Student Spotlights

Last week, Harvard Law School welcomed a new class of J.D., LL.M. and S.J.D. students to campus. Orientation for new students included a welcome by HLS Dean John F. Manning ’85, section photos, a visit from U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan ’86, and a lawn party on Holmes Field.

On Tuesday, Aug. 21, Harvard Law School’s Graduate Program officially welcomed the LL.M. Class of 2019 -- 188 students from 65 countries who will spend the upcoming academic year pursuing a Master of Laws degree -- along with six students set to begin their studies for the Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) degree.

Members of Harvard Law School’s S.J.D. community gathered on campus for the 2018 S.J.D. Association Workshop, “Between Law and Justice: Ethics, Politics, and the State,” on May 17. The Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) is Harvard Law School’s most advanced law degree, designed principally for aspiring legal academics who wish to pursue sustained independent study, research, and writing.

After Hurricane Maria roared over Puerto Rico in September 2017, crippling the island where Natalie Trigo Reyes ’19 grew up and where much of her family still lives, she felt “completely overwhelmed.” Within days, however, she put together an event that raised about $40,000 for relief efforts, collected enough emergency goods to fill three large trucks, and joined Harvard Law Assistant Professor Andrew Manuel Crespo ’08 and Lee Branson Mestre of the Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs to plan the school’s response to the disaster.

Members of the Class of 2018 gathered in May with family and friends for Commencement festivities, which featured an address from U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.); the presentation of awards to students, staff, and faculty; and a send-off from Dean John F. Manning ’85.

As they prepared to graduate, four members of the Class of 2018 took time to reflect on their unique interests and share experiences they will take from their time at Harvard Law.

Cameron Clark ’18 is the winner of this year’s Gary Bellow Public Service Award, established in 2001 to honor the late Harvard Law professor Gary Bellow, his commitment to public service, and his innovative approach to the analysis and practice of law.

A class action lawsuit has given two Harvard Law students the chance to help frame both the legal and media strategies against a lucrative telephone company contract that exploits inmates while enriching the coffers of a county sheriff. 

At the close of the bicentennial year, graduating J.D.s and LL.M.s reflect on their law school experience and share their hopes for the future of Harvard Law School.

Blessing Jee knew when she arrived at Harvard College that she would take time off from her studies, but she didn’t expect was that it would make her “fall back in love with Harvard”—and set her, newly energized, on her future path: pursuing public interest law Harvard Law School.

Building on lessons learned 'by making good and bad decisions, by accumulating successes and failures and mistakes, and by watching lots of other people do the same,' Dean John F. Manning related five pieces of advice for new lawyers--what he described as 'canons of construction for life'--during his first commencement address as dean of Harvard Law School.

Edgar Kley Filho, administrative and operations supervisor in the Dean of Students Office, received the 2018 Suzanne L. Richardson Staff Appreciation Award during Class Day exercises.

On Thursday, May 25, the Harvard Law School Class of 2018 received their diplomas at a ceremony on Holmes Field, and celebrated their graduation with family, friends, and picture-perfect New England weather.

On Wednesday, May 23, under blue skies, the Class of 2018 celebrated with friends and family, faculty and staff, and special guests on Harvard Law School's Holmes Field.

A number of Harvard Law students from the Class of 2018 received special awards during the Class Day ceremony on May 23. They were recognized for outstanding leadership, citizenship, compassion and dedication to their studies and the profession.

For decades, joyful and candid moments have marked the occasion of students' graduations from Harvard Law School. Here is a sampling of Commencement Day photos from the school's extensive collection. 

In recognition of their demonstrated excellence in representing clients and undertaking advocacy or policy reform projects, Amy Volz ’18 and Ha Ryong Jung (Michael) ’18 were named the 2018 recipients of the David A. Grossman Exemplary Clinical Student Award, named in honor of the late Clinical Professor David Grossman ’88.

Raj Salhotra, who will graduate with a J.D. from Harvard Law School, has always had mentors to show him the way — from his parents to professors to politicians in his native Houston.

Three Harvard Law School students, Edith Sangueza ’18, Tabitha Cohen ’18 and Annie Manhardt ’18, received the 2018 Andrew L. Kaufman Pro Bono Service Award for exemplifying a pro bono public spirit and demonstrating an extraordinary commitment to improving and delivering high quality volunteer legal services in low-income communities.

Margaret Kettles ’18 is the winner of the Outstanding Clinical Student Award from the Clinical Legal Education Association. An exemplary clinical student and advocate for public interest, Kettles served as the executive director of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau

After a landmark victory for gay rights in Kenya, Eric Mawira Gitari will continue to work for legal reform in Africa. “There are so many democratic changes going forward on the African continent right now," said Gitari. "We need to make sure that sexual orientation and gender identity are included in the debate.”