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Reviewed by:
Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University
Reviewed: 3/18/24
Harvard Law School is one of the nation’s top schools for future lawyers. If you’re wondering how to get into Harvard Law School, read on for tips, tricks, and more.
Harvard Law is the fifth-best law school in the country, according to U.S. News World and Report. If this Ivy League school is one of your frontrunners, our guide will explore programs offered, Harvard Law requirements, essays, stats, and more.
In a recent admissions cycle, Harvard Law accepted 9.5% of its applicants. It received 8,393 applications and offered admission to 798 students.
Let’s take a look at Harvard’s low acceptance rates over the years to gain a better understanding of just how competitive it is!
Getting into Harvard Law School is very competitive. Applicants need a median LSAT score of 174 out of 180 to be competitive. The acceptance rate is low, at 9.5%, meaning out of the 8,393 applications received in 2022, only 798 were accepted.
This means that applicants must have very good grades and test scores, especially on the LSAT. Besides academics, it's important to be involved in activities outside of class that show leadership and personal development.
To boost their chances, applicants should focus on achieving a high LSAT score, maintaining a strong GPA, and putting together a strong application that highlights their experiences, skills, and potential contributions to the Harvard Law community.
Take our interactive quiz below to find out how likely you are to get into Harvard Law School.
Harvard has three main pathways for law students: the traditional J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. programs.
As a top-tier Ivy League law school, Harvard Law is the fifth-best law school in the nation. It’s best known for its corporate law, constitutional law, and dispute resolution programs, which rank number one in the nation!
Learning more about Harvard’s successful applicants can help you position yourself as a competitive candidate:
In the most recent admissions cycle, the median GPA of matriculants was 3.95, with the 25th percentile at 3.89 and the 75th percentile at 4.0.
The median LSAT score of matriculants in the most recent admissions cycle was 174 with the lower 25th percentile at 171 and the upper 75th percentile at 176.
In their most recent admissions cycle, Harvard Law matriculants had a median GRE Quantitative score of 165, a median GRE Verbal score of 167, and a median GRE Writing score of 5.5. Harvard is one of the many law schools that accepts both GRE and LSAT scores.
Receive law school application support to increase your scores and become a competitive applicant.
All Harvard Law School requirements must be met for your application to be considered complete. All Harvard applicants must submit applications through the LSAC portal. These are the Harvard Law requirements you must satisfy:
Having competitive numbers and a consistent, compelling application narrative is the key to knowing how to get into Harvard Law School. If you want extensive Harvard Law School admissions help to secure these application materials and ensure they stand out, Juris has got you covered!
Students are asked to submit at least two and up to three letters of recommendation as part of their applications. At least one should come from a professor or TA, but the more recommendations you have from academic sources, the better.
The Harvard Law School personal statements are your opportunity to add insight into your character and show the admissions committee why you’re the perfect candidate. Harvard Law provides this directive:
“The personal statement is intended as an opportunity to give the Admissions Committee a better sense of who you are as a person and as a potential student and graduate of Harvard Law School.”
Harvard Law states that past applicants have used this element to:
All applicants to Harvard Law will be required to submit two written statements responding to two prompts. The first is a Statement of Purpose with the following prompt:
“What motivates you to pursue law? How does attending law school align with your ambitions, goals, and vision for your future?”
You’ll also be required to write a Harvard Law diversity statement, known as a Statement of Perspective. Here is the prompt for you to respond to:
“The Admissions Committee makes every effort to understand who you are as an individual and potential Harvard Law School student and graduate. Please share how your experiences, background, and/or interests have shaped you and will shape your engagement in the HLS community and the legal profession.”
Harvard Law graduate Cameron Clark submitted this Harvard Law School personal statement example. We've provided an excerpt of his original statement and commentary on what made it great and what could have been done differently.
“At the intersection of 21st and Speedway, I lay on the open road. My leg grazed the shoulder of a young woman lying on the ground next to me. Next to her, a man on his stomach slowed his breathing to appear as still as possible. A wide circle of onlookers formed around the dozens of us on the street. We were silent and motionless, but the black-and-white signs affirmed our existence through their decree: BLACK LIVES MATTER.
On a rainy day, this past December, my fellow protestors and I momentarily transformed a bustling intersection on the University of Texas Austin campus into a space of disruption. As I participated in a die-in, I thought of my initial reluctance to join the protest, fearing retaliation from the agitators who I was certain would arrive… But soon, my mind turned to my role in a movement much bigger than any individual. I thought of my family, my friends, black people, all people of color, and white people. I thought about those who have fallen to the ground, never to stand up again.
“We shall overcome. We, the citizens of the United States. Ours, in the end, is a story of optimism. A story of achievement that is unique upon this earth.”
President Obama involved the iconic protest song movement in his keynote speech at the 2014 Civil Rights Summit. Attending the Summit…was a highlight of my undergraduate career. Leaders and former presidents spoke about the triumphs of the last half-century, but I was especially eager to hear President Obama’s reflections on the importance of the Civil Rights legislation and litigation throughout our country’s history…
“We Shall Overcome” has been sung to me throughout my life by my mother, my pastor, politicians, educators, and friends. For so long, these words kept me docile, waiting patiently for that “someday” prophesied in the song. My ancestors, buckled into the cargo holds of their slave ships, imagined that “someday” for their children. Emancipated slaves, freed from their chains but not from the bondage of poverty and illiteracy, prayed for the gifts of that “someday” to bless their offspring. Dr. King, Mrs. Parks, Mr. X, and countless others worked to realize that call, dreaming that the foretold “someday” was in reach. But there was more work to do.
I no longer consider "We Shall Overcome" to be a lullaby. The hymn now serves as a battle cry. I will no longer wait idly for "someday." I am ready to use the blessings I have been afforded to secure rights and liberties for marginalized groups. Attorneys and legal scholars have paved the way for some of the greatest civil rights victories for women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, and (people living with disabilities). At Harvard Law School, I will prepare to join their ranks by studying with the nation's leading legal scholars. For the past months, I have followed Harvard Law School’s student response to the events in Ferguson and New York City. I am eager to join a law school community that shares my passion for using the law to achieve real progress for victims of discrimination…I believe Harvard Law School will thoroughly train me to support and empower communities in need.
Our act of civil disobedience that December day ended when the Tower’s bells rang out in two bars, hearkening half-past noon. As we stood up and gathered our belongings, we broke our silence to remind everyone of a most basic truth: Black lives matter.”
The opening scene of this personal statement is impactful and compels the reader to continue and discover what's happening. Although Clark's essay includes very little about his achievements, the writing shows his sincerity, passion, and capacity to impact positive change in the world.
Clark expertly relates his mission to Harvard Law and describes who he hopes to become after completing his law education. The ending of his personal statement brings the narrative full circle by returning to the events of the first paragraph; this is an excellent way to wrap up your writing and ensure the reader is left satisfied.
All Harvard Law interviews are conducted over Zoom and last around 15 minutes. You will be assigned an interviewer at random, but it will be a member of the JD admissions team.
Some of Harvard’s admissions members’ favorite interview questions are:
Annual tuition to attend Harvard Law School is $75,008. However, with the addition of other expenses law students have, the total cost of attendance is estimated to be $111,000.
Here’s a breakdown of these costs:
Harvard mainly offers financial aid in the form of grants and loans to help students manage these high costs.
Harvard Law School’s applications open in mid-September and close in mid-February. For the latest application cycle, the first round of acceptances begins January 8th, 2024, and continues until March 18th, 2024.
These are key deadlines you should be aware of:
With a bar passage rate of 96.10%, Harvard Law prepares its students well for prosperous legal careers. This rate surpasses the national average by over 17%.
If you want to make your application shine, consider following these three tips to get into Harvard Law School:
The primary purpose of the personal statement is to capture who you are in a way that's easy for the admissions committee to follow.
Nefyn Meissner, Associate Director at Harvard Law, warns against making others the focal point of your statement: “should you talk about your grandmother? Only if doing so helps make the case for us to admit you. Otherwise, we might end up wanting to admit your grandmother.”
She also reminds students that Harvard Law already assumes you want to attend if you’re applying; so there’s no need to mention that you want to attend Harvard Law. Make good use of this limited space to share what the committee doesn’t already know.
Assistant Director Lucas Harty urges students to avoid taking a less rigorous curriculum to achieve a better GPA. He warns that the committee looks at more than just the numbers, since this average doesn’t tell the full story of the classes you’ve taken and how you might have challenged yourself.
The committee “appreciates seeing candidates who have the gumption and intellectual curiosity to push themselves outside their comfort zone by taking upper-level or otherwise challenging classes. So think twice before trying to pad that GPA by loading up on too many introductory-level courses.”
Another committee member suggests students plan their standardized tests strategically to avoid retaking them.
“When balancing the decision to retake a test, ensure you aren’t neglecting the other elements of your application, and carefully weigh whether a potential marginal score increase will really be worth the time and energy on test prep.”
While it can make for a great job resume, the admissions committee encourages students not to add photos of themselves to their law school resumes and to keep the color scheme black and white.
They also suggest you include all of your work experience throughout your undergrad–not just the fancy internships. However, you should leave out your high school accomplishments.
Finally, adding a “personal” or “interests” section can take your resume up a notch and help the committee get a sense of you as a person beyond the titles, responsibilities, and accomplishments.
Generally, admitted candidates will demonstrate strong potential for success in law school through an exceptional undergraduate academic record, top test scores, and substantial accomplishments. However, no single factor determines admission.
They also consider factors like work experience, leadership, and intangible qualities like energy, ambition, and resilience. Their goal is to form a diverse, excellent, and vibrant student body!
For any other questions about getting into this Massachusetts-based law school, check out these FAQs!
While there is no minimum GPA required to apply to Harvard Law, you should aim to match the median GPA of 3.94 or higher for a more competitive application.
Harvard Law is a T-14 law school, and admission is competitive. Approximately 1 in 10 applicants are accepted; you'll need a stellar application to stand out.
To gain admission to Harvard, you should have impressive stats and a polished application. Harvard Law seeks students with strong intellectual capabilities and the skills and qualities needed to become great lawyers. Ensure you emphasize your qualities in your personal statement!
Since Harvard Law receives all your transcripts, you can assume that admissions committee members will evaluate your entire undergraduate performance. If you have gaps in your undergraduate education, you should include addenda in your application.
You must complete an LSAC application, register for the CAS, and submit test scores, transcripts, letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and a resume.
If you've taken the LSAT, your scores from the test must be reported. If you haven't taken the LSAT, you can submit GRE scores or both. Harvard Law doesn't have a preference for either test.
No, Harvard Law does not offer an early decision program. Its regular decision applications open September 15th and close February 15th.
Getting into Harvard Law School can be challenging; your application requires time and effort. However, you don’t have to craft your law school applications alone.
Our expert team at Juris Education can help with any part of your application to ensure your law school apps are edited to perfection, in line with what admissions committees expect, and submitted on time.
Although getting into Harvard is difficult, we strive to make your law school journey easier. Good luck!
Reviewed by:
Former Head of Northeastern University's Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University
