On Wednesday, August 13, Harvard Law School’s Graduate Program officially welcomed the LL.M. Class of 2026 to campus: 188 new students with law degrees from the United States and countries around the world who will spend the upcoming academic year pursuing a Master of Laws degree.
The majority of them have pursued advanced studies or have two or more years of professional or teaching experience. The cohort includes five prosecutors, four judges or magistrates, two diplomats, a former member of elected government, 16 full- or part-time law teachers, and three active-duty U.S. JAG officers (Army and Navy), as well as 15 Fulbright scholars and 14 Supreme or Constitutional Court Clerks, for courts in eight countries, and one International Court of Justice clerk.
Outside of the law, the LL.M. students’ pursuits are just as wide-ranging. The Class of 2026 includes national champions in salsa dancing, fencing, and calligraphy; amateur cooks, classically-trained musicians; nationally and internationally competitive athletes; several martial artists, and a published novelist.
In addition, eight candidates are beginning their studies for the Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) degree, the law school’s most advanced degree. Seven of these are LL.M. alumni from the Class of 2025. These students — including a conservatory-trained classical pianist now focused on the intersection of technology and education; a former tax specialist, turned transactional lawyer, turned academic; and law clerks from the Supreme Court of Israel and the Court of Appeal for British Columbia — join 41 continuing S.J.D. candidates.
Harvard Law School is also welcoming four international exchange students, from its partner schools in Brazil, Chile, and France. These students will spend the fall semester or the academic year here, pursuing J.D.-level studies or doctoral-level research.
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