On a warm, late-summer afternoon last week, Harvard Law School welcomed its newest students with a fabulous fete on Holmes Field. At the annual LAWn Party, Harvard Law Today caught up with a few of these incoming J.D. and LL.M.s, who shared why they chose Harvard Law, what they are most looking forward to this year, and what they love to do outside of school – from acting and dancing, to basketball, photography, and more.
It turns out that Harvard Law students and their goals are as varied as the places from which they hail, but they all share at least one thing in common: a passion for the law.
Rana Bansal J.D./M.B.A. ’26
Bellevue, Wash.
Why are you at Harvard Law?
I’m excited to be at HLS to study environmental law and energy policy. After completing my legal and business education, I aspire to one day lead an organization focused on climate adaption and sustainability. The resources at Harvard Law to improve environmental outcomes are unparalleled.
What are you looking forward to in the year ahead?
I’m looking forward to getting a foundation in a variety of legal courses, taking advantage of the broad 1L curriculum, and learning from all my classmates from all around the world.
What are your interests or hobbies?
Outside of the law, I love playing squash, visiting new museums and parks, and trying all kinds of food.
Sara Loughlin LL.M. ’23
Ireland
Why are you at Harvard Law?
I’m here at HLS because I wanted to have the opportunity to have an educational experience that wasn’t confined to the classroom; I am really excited to have access to clinical opportunities and practical courses. Being at HLS has allowed me to meet people from all over the world who have differing life experiences and interests.
What are you looking forward to in the year ahead?
Aside from all the parties, trips and other fun things that will be happening throughout the year, I’m really just looking forward to meeting people from across the world, and having people in every country to go visit after we’re finished!
What are your interests or hobbies?
I started a brunch club here at HLS for the LL.M. students, which has been very fun so far. And aside from that, I am a traditional Irish fiddle player and singer, so I’m hoping to find some Irish bars here that I can play some music in as well.
Preston Marquis ’25
Norfolk, Va.
Why are you at Harvard Law?
Harvard’s reputation for academic excellence was really important, as well as the opportunities for clinical experience. Those are two of the main reasons I came here. In addition, HLS has a rich history of sending alums into public service, which is important to me.
What are you looking forward to in the year ahead?
1L year will be challenging in terms of learning the critical skills of being a lawyer, but I think it’s going to be exciting and deeply intellectually stimulating as well. I ultimately came here to learn the basics of law and what it means to read the law and act as a lawyer.
What are your interests or hobbies?
I enjoy a good run. I’m a fair-weather runner, so the weather right now is perfect. I’m sure in a couple of months it will be too cold, so I have get it in while I can. I enjoy volunteering — I volunteer with the Boy Scouts occasionally. And I like camping.
Bhuvanyaa Vijay LL.M. ’23
India
Why are you at Harvard Law?
I’m pursuing my master’s degree. I’m here to learn, network, make some friends, and top off my previous legal studies with a prestigious legal degree from one of the best universities in the world!
What are you looking forward to in the year ahead?
I intend to study a bunch of courses, including criminal law, health law, and family law. Although my experience up until now has been in international climate change law, I want to diversify, explore my interests, and spread my wings.
What are your interests or hobbies?
I love reading books on philosophy, psychology, and basic medicine, etc. I also enjoy cooking, baking, and salsa dancing.
Mikaela Rabb ’25
Nashville, Tenn.
Why are you at Harvard Law?
I’m really excited to think about using the law and policy to advance women’s empowerment.
What are you looking forward to in the year ahead?
Meeting new people. It’s already been a whirlwind and an amazing time and I know the only going to get better.
What are your interests or hobbies?
I love to read. I try to shoot for 50 books a year. It’s not going to be that way this year, but I like having something to read outside of the classroom.
Brian Henson ’25
Why are you at Harvard Law?
Working at a civil rights nonprofit after my undergraduate degree, I got to see the power that lawyers have to affect the law and public policy. I’m excited to be here to help make the world more equitable for everyone.
What are you looking forward to in the year ahead?
I am looking forward to meeting and working with all the really brilliant people that are here. Everyone here is so passionate about what they came to law school to do, and there are so many diverse perspectives. I’m excited to meet people and learn their stories.
What are your interests or hobbies?
I’m a really big runner, so I am excited to see Cambridge and Boston through that lens. I’m also a dance instructor, so I’m excited to find a good bar to learn a little bit more and teach country two-step!
Sara Raza LL.M. ’23
Pakistan
Why are you at Harvard Law?
As someone who is passionate about and has been working for quite some time now towards advancing women’s representation in law, I see Harvard as a place where I can further the cause of empowering women and girls to achieve their goals. One of the reasons I am excited to be at Harvard is because of how this amazing place is known for celebrating women lawyers, appreciating their efforts, and recognizing their achievements. I see myself joining hands with leaders, advocates, and my colleagues from all over the world to make the legal profession more inclusive and diverse.
What are you looking forward to in the year ahead?
I’m really looking forward to meeting amazing people; the diversity of our HLS community here is great. I’ve been working in the field of diversity and inclusion for the past few years.
What are your interests or hobbies?
I’ve been involved in theater for the past 10 years. I am very excited to join the drama club, but I’m also planning to go to a lot of Broadway shows here in Cambridge and also in New York. I’m looking forward to learning more about the theater community in the U.S.
Maya Mahajan ’25
Why are you at Harvard Law?
My grandfather was a refugee during the partition of India and Pakistan, and my other grandfather was a migrant farm worker. I’m really interested in pursuing immigration law and hope to go to the ACLU after law school.
What are you looking forward to in the year ahead?
I’m really looking forward to the SPOs – the student practice organizations – and also joining other groups to meet people who have entirely different interests than I do.
What are your interests or hobbies?
I love yoga and any kind of exercise – other than running. I also really like cooking.
Kwinten Dewaele LL.M. ’23
Belgium
Why are you at Harvard Law?
I’m here to work on parts of my Ph.D. I’m doing a Ph.D. back home in national security law, and the U.S. applies their rules extraterritorially, so it’s really necessary for me to study.
What are you looking forward to in the year ahead?
I’m looking forward to having amazing people around me, and the conversations that come with that. I’m also excited for the smaller classes, because in Belgium, where I’m from, you usually have around 500 people per class – it’s a different way of teaching.
What are your interests or hobbies?
I do theater. I hope to join Parody or drama society or something along those lines.
Riddhi Jad LL.M. ’23
India
Why are you at Harvard Law?
I was born in the aftermath of the religious persecution and forced exodus of my community of three million Kashmiri Pandits, indigenous to the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. In 1990, my parents were forced out of their homes in the middle of the night and were forced to live in displacement camps. Growing up, I first-hand witnessed state inaction in the face of horrific human rights violations. Thousands of people from my community, till date, live in a state of suspended, protracted displacement in these camps. I was inspired to apply to Harvard Law, by these voices, which continue to advocate for our betterment. I can think of no better place than Harvard Law to amplify these voices by growing into a competent practitioner bringing meaningful solutions to the challenges that agonize displaced persons in India.
What are you looking forward to in the year ahead?
I am most excited to build my community this year. We [as LL.M. students] are a batch of 184 students from 63 countries. I mean, those numbers bring with it an unparalleled diversity, in terms of personal and professional experiences. Everyone that I have met so far has been so kind and patient, be it my batchmates, or the JD students, or even the Graduate Program Team. I am most excited to learn from and grow with this truly amazing bunch of people.
What are your interests or hobbies?
I enjoy singing and so, would like to join a singing group on campus. I have also deemed this as the year where I finally learn how to swim so I’m currently on the look-out for lessons from my avid swimmer friends.”
Danielle Mikaelian ’25
Thousand Oaks, Calif.
What are your interests or hobbies?
In my free time, I love to watch chick flicks and Disney movies. I’m part of numerous Armenian organizations, including the Armenian Bar Association and AGBU Young Professionals. I’m a published poet and have taken multiple creative writing workshops. I hope to continue writing in some capacity at HLS.
James Chapman ’25
Why are you at Harvard Law?
I served five years in the military and I saw a lot of structural reform, especially during my deployments to Afghanistan. I want to try to make a difference.
What are you looking forward to in the year ahead?
Definitely getting a chance to see different perspectives. The military can be kind of a monolith in its perspective, and I like to see the microcosm that has developed here.
What are your interests or hobbies?
I’m into upland bird hunting, so I’m excited to be up here in the northeast to do that. I’m also an amateur squash player. I’m looking forward to getting on the Charles River and doing some sailing and rowing, too.
Aprajita Rana LL.M. ’23
India
Why are you at Harvard Law?
I’ve been working for a few years, and I thought that it was high time that I got my master’s. That’s why I came to the LL.M. program!
What are you looking forward to in the year ahead?
I’m interested in multi-jurisdictional application and enforcement of technology law particularly for big tech entities, so I’m keen to learn more about developments in this sector in the United States, and hopefully pick up skills and take them back to my country.
What are your interests or hobbies?
I love reading about technology, surveillance, corporate finance and development. And I’m very interested in photography, which I plan to get much better at while in Boston.
Zachary Weaver ‘25
Las Vegas, Nev.
Why are you at Harvard Law?
I’m here at HLS because I studied American history in my undergrad and absolutely loved it. I’m here to learn more about legal history and why laws came to be the way that they are.
What are you looking forward to in the year ahead?
I’m looking forward to learning from the top minds in the law. I think that Harvard is pioneering the way forward in legal education, and I want to learn from people who are at the forefront.
What are your interests or hobbies?
I like to eat, and I like to cook, and so I like to cook different foods from every country. I make a mean butter chicken curry.