How to Get into Harvard Law?
Who doesn’t dream of studying at Harvard Law School? It is one of the most prestigious institutes in the world because of its high academic standards, reputation, and influential alumni. If you want to shine the brightest among your fellow degree holders, you need to get into Harvard Law School, but how?
Many wonder if academic excellence will be enough to get you into a prestigious institute like Harvard Law School. If you have such questions and are trying to figure out how to get into Harvard Law School, then this article is for you.
Today, we will guide you on how you can stand out from the highly competitive applicant pool and get into Harvard Law School. You must be excited to know how to ace the admission process of Harvard Law School, so without wasting any time, let’s get into this.
Harvard Law School is the dream school of many, but securing a spot in this prestigious institute is not a cakewalk. As an old US professor with 15 years of teaching experience at Harvard Law School, I have come up with this guide to highlight the strategies that will help you get into Harvard Law School. So, if you aim to gain admission to this prestigious institute, don’t miss out on the following points.
Standards for Admission
Harvard Law School receives countless applications each year, yet the acceptance rate of this law school is the lowest in the country, which means they are highly selective, and not everyone gets admission here. I will share a few admission standards of this law school, which will help you understand what needs to be done to get into Harvard Law School.
Academic Excellence
First and foremost, academic excellence will pave your way to Harvard Law School. They don’t compromise on scores; you must be highly competitive to be a part of this renowned law school. Moreover, your GPA and LSAT score determine your academic performance.
From the past few years, record strong candidates with maximum chances of admission to Harvard Law School had a GPA of 3.8 or above on a 4.0 scale and 170+ LSAT score. Therefore, you must be closest to this score to live your dream of studying law here. Remember that an excellent academic background doesn’t guarantee admission to Harvard Law School (HLS); there’s much more to it.
Extracurricular Activities and Leadership Qualities
An excellent academic background is a plus to applying for HLS programs, but that’s not the only criterion. Harvard Law School prefers someone good in and out of the classroom; someone who is actively involved in extracurricular activities and providing voluntary services and leadership roles is an ideal fit for HLS. Extracurricular activities also boost applicants’ profiles and enhance their chances of getting into Harvard Law School as it shows their passion for serving others.
Recommendation Letter and Personal Statement
Lastly, candidates must submit a recommendation letter from previous academic mentors or professors to enter Harvard Law School. This letter highlights the candidate’s intellectual abilities, work ethic, and character. Ensure you get a compelling letter of recommendation to land at Harvard Law School.
Along with a recommendation letter, a personal statement is also a crucial part of the admission process at HLS. As a professor, I suggest you show motivation, aspiration, unique ideas, commitment to studies, and practicing law in your personal statement to make yourself a perfect choice for HLS.
Is It Hard to Get into Harvard Law School?
Considering the admission standards and acceptance rate at Harvard Law School, getting admission here is no less than a challenge. In my 20 years of teaching experience in the US, I have noticed you should be an all-rounder if you want to get into Harvard Law School, someone who is good at studies, holds an incredible extracurricular activities record, and has a strong recommendation letter. In short, getting into Harvard Law School is challenging but not impossible if you submit a compelling application with exceptional curricular and extracurricular record.
How Long is Harvard Law School?
You can start your legal studies in a prestigious institute like HLS if you are lucky enough to get accepted to Harvard Law School. Like any other institute, HLS also has an academic program span during which all students will learn comprehensive legal education and earn a degree at the end of the session. Harvard Law School offers various programs, but the standard academic span of programs here is three to five years, depending on your course.
Courses and Length of Law at Harvard Law School
Those interested in studying law at Harvard Law School must be curious to know how many years it will take to earn a law degree at Harvard. So, law at Harvard Law School is three years, and here’s the course outline.
- In the first year, you will learn the fundamental legal courses to develop essential skills and understand them thoroughly—all the laws about the constitution, criminals, property, civil, etc.
- Students dedicate their second and third years to specialize in the area of their interest. In these years, they will learn and practice the theories to be fully prepared for real-life cases. The specialization areas offered at HLS are corporate law, international law, human rights, environmental law, etc.
The Iconic Location of Harvard Law School
Many of you must be interested in knowing where Harvard Law School is located, aren’t you? , Harvard Law School is located in the historic city of Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is situated within the premises of Harvard University campus and is surrounded by an environment that stimulates academic excellence.
This city is home to various research centers, libraries, and national centers that perfectly depict cultural diversity. Moreover, one of the most extensive libraries in the world, Harvard Law Library, is located here.
Moreover, Boston is the closest city to this law school, one of the US’s oldest and culturally rich cities. Apart from landscapes and tourist attractions, this city offers unparalleled opportunities to the students of Harvard Law School. These include internships, externships, hands-on learning courses, NGOs, Law firms, etc.
Is it hard to get into Harvard Law?
Getting into Harvard Law is complicated as they are very selective and have strict admission standards. According to the reports, the average application acceptance rate in law schools is 44%, while it is only 7% for Harvard Law School. You can compare the acceptance rates and estimate how hard it is to get into Harvard Law School.
What GPA do you need to get into Harvard Law?
You need to ace academics to get into Harvard Law, and your GPA should not be below 3.79 if your dream law school is HLS. However, someone who scored 3.96 or above has more chances of getting admission here, and in the past few years, Harvard Law School has only accepted applications with a 3.9 or above GPA out of 4.0.
How do you qualify for Harvard Law?
To qualify for Harvard Law, you must complete an undergraduate degree with a good GPA score before August, as Harvard Law School opens admission in August. Furthermore, applicants will also take the LSAT or GRE test to complete the application process. The score from this test also determines whether you will get admission or not.
Does Harvard Law accept international students?
Yes, Harvard Law School accepts applications worldwide without showing bias towards students from their own country. If you fulfill the admission criteria of HLS, you will get admission regardless of your nationality.
How much do Harvard lawyers make?
The salary of Harvard lawyers depends on the job title and experience of the lawyer. Attorney lawyers receive the highest compensation, with an average of $95,000. The Harvard Lawyers can easily make between $60K to $ 102K monthly.
What is the best law school in the world?
According to the 2021 statistics, the best law school in the world is Harvard University, United States.
I must say getting into Harvard Law School is an uphill battle. To get into Harvard Law, you must be good at everything, whether education, extracurricular activities, or your passion to be a lawyer. This is why not all who dream of pursuing law at Harvard Law School get accepted here.
However, a careful and strategic approach in college and while applying for a course at Harvard Law School can make this task easy, and you will successfully become a part of this prestigious institute. As an old professor in the US, I have shared all the tactics and strategies that can help you get into Harvard Law School.
Hard work is the key to success, so work hard for your dream, and you will secure a spot in this renowned institute. Good Luck.