HOW TO GET INTO HARVARD LAW SCHOOL

Introduction

How to get into Harvard Law School? Earning admission to Harvard Law School is no easy feat. As one of the best law schools in the world, the acceptance rate is incredibly selective. The school has stringent Harvard Law School admission requirements. Only the brightest and most driven applicants even stand a chance. This article will guide you through rankings, admission statistics, requirements, and how to succeed at Harvard Law School.

About Harvard Law School

The academic rigors, extensive curriculum, and worldwide impact make Harvard Law School the epitome of aspiring lawyers situated in the great city of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Over 500 courses and seminars allow students to study law theoretically and in practice. There are hands-on legal clinics and nearly 100 student organizations where law students can get real-world practice.

The school has produced leaders in every arena—US Presidents, Supreme Court Justices, public servants, private practitioners, and legal scholars. This outstanding alumni network exemplifies Harvard Law School’s fullness and diversity in its impact as a power center in producing leaders in law and policy.

With its global reach and mission to “advance justice worldwide,” Harvard Law prepares graduates to tackle pressing legal and social issues on any scale. Students gain the knowledge and skills to drive progress and change lives through law practice.

Understanding Harvard Law School’s Admissions Landscape

Getting into Harvard Law School is highly competitive, with the school receiving over 8,393 applications recently and around 798 spots in the entering Juris Doctor class. With an acceptance rate constantly below 15%, this shows the difficulty of the admissions decision process. Harvard Law School tuition is more than $70,000 a year. However, many still believe that the school’s prominence and employment potential make the cost worthwhile.

So, how to get into Harvard Law School? And what does Harvard Law School look for in applicants to fill those coveted seats? A solid academic background is essential, as demonstrated by the demanding undergraduate curriculum, high GPAs, and LSAT scores. Testimonials attesting to an applicant’s intellectual vigor are also quite crucial. 

Harvard also seeks a diverse array of backgrounds and life experiences that demonstrate leadership, public service, overcoming adversity, and other personal qualities beyond grades and test scores. To better prepare you must be aware of their admitted students’ statistics which will be discussed in the next section.

What Does it Take to Get Into Harvard Law School?

How to get into Harvard Law School is a question on many prospective students’ minds. And for good reason – Harvard Law’s prestige and No. 5 ranking make admission extremely selective. 

Here’s what you need to know about the key admissions stats to tailor all aspects of your Harvard Law School application accordingly. 

Acceptance Rate

First, the Harvard Law School acceptance rate. At just 9.6% for 2023, this reveals crazy competition. Only elite applicants make the cut. This indicates more than 90% were rejected. With Harvard Law School admission criteria so competitive, make sure every aspect of your application is as strong as possible.

To better understand how competitive Harvard is, let’s look at the trend of acceptance rates over the last 10 years:

LSAT Scores

• 25th percentile: 171
• 50th percentile: 174
• 75th percentile: 176

What score do you need on the LSAT to get into Harvard? You should aim for a median LSAT score of 174 or higher to be competitive. Anything below 170 is risky.

Of course, your LSAT score alone won’t get you into Harvard. But, in combination with other standout application elements, a stellar LSAT gives you a major advantage. Use it as a benchmark to evaluate your prep progress.

GPA

• 25th percentile: 3.84
• 50th percentile: 3.93
• 75th percentile: 3.99

How to succeed at Harvard Law School? Like other Harvard University Law School requirements, the school wants perfection when it comes to GPAs. Shoot for the median of 3.93 or above to be competitive.

Earning these GPAs means taking challenging college courses across all disciplines. Seek out upper-level classes that test your abilities. Avoid pass/fail grades when possible. 

Your GPA alone won’t determine your Harvard admission fate. But combined with an awesome LSAT and well-rounded application, sky-high grades give you a major leg up. 

What are the Requirements for Harvard Law School?

As one of the most esteemed law programs in the world, gaining entry into Harvard Law School is highly selective. Applicants undergo rigorous review across several Harvard Law School entry requirements:

1. Online Application Form

You must complete an online application form through the LSAC website. This becomes available on September 15th for admission the following school year. An $85 non-refundable fee applies unless financial need merits a fee waiver. Applicants are advised to submit early, as spaces in the incoming Harvard Law class are limited.

2. LSAT or GRE Scores

All applicants must report valid LSAT or GRE scores, taken no later than the February 15th application deadline. While LSAC automatically accounts for LSAT exams taken in the last 5 years, GRE scores must be reported directly to Harvard. 

3. Resume

Prepare a strong 1-2 page law school resume that showcases your most outstanding academic, extracurricular, leadership, work, research, and service experiences. Be sure to highlight prestigious accomplishments at the very top of the page, so they capture attention. Keep descriptions concise but provide relevant context and metrics demonstrating your impact.

4. Academic Transcripts

Undergraduate and graduate academic transcripts must be forwarded to LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service for verification. Harvard Law expects consistency of rigorous course loads culminating in stellar cumulative grade point averages from applicants. So, highlighting an upwards grade trend can benefit borderline candidates.

5. Letters of Recommendation

Harvard Law mandates the submission of 2-3 law school letters of recommendation from professors, employers, or mentors closely familiar with the applicant’s accomplishments and potential. At a minimum, one academic reference is required, but having both academic and professional endorsements is advisable. Providing recommenders 1-2 months of advance notice before deadlines is encouraged so letters sufficiently capture applicants’ strengths.

6. Written Statements

You have to provide  two law school personal statements that speak to your genuine motivations and unique story:

• Statement of Purpose: In just 1-2 double-spaced pages, discuss why the law interests you and how a law degree supports your goals. Explain why this path aligns with who you are and what you aspire towards.

• Statement of Perspective: Demonstrate in 1-2 pages how your experiences and backgrounds have informed your worldview and shaped you up until now. And share how those diverse influences will impact your contributions at Harvard and in the legal profession.

They want to understand the passions, perspectives, and potential that you alone will introduce to Harvard Law. So, avoid just listing achievements – speak from experience using vivid examples.

7. Character and Fitness

As a law school applicant, you should agree to full transparency regarding anything that may influence evaluations of your “moral character” or readiness to practice law professionally in the future. So, disclose past charges, academic discipline, or other relevant incidents upfront.

8. Interview

If requested, come prepared to directly demonstrate authentic enthusiasm for law study at one of the world’s best programs. Answer openly and honestly when asked what motivates this pursuit and why Harvard fits into your plans.

How To Get into Harvard Law School

Aside from complying with the application requirements, Harvard places a heavy weight on applicants’ LSAT scores since it predicts their ability to handle law school academics. It also aims to measure skills needed to succeed in law school like reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and analytical thinking. This makes early LSAT preparation important, rather than rushing preparation weeks before the exam.

Odyssey Test Prep can help you ace the LSAT, maximize your score, and provide complete guidance throughout the law school admissions process.

LSAT Prep Course

Elevate your LSAT scores with our LSAT prep course, bringing you one step closer to mastering the key element in securing admission to Harvard Law School. Our comprehensive LSAT prep courses give students proven test-taking strategies across LSAT sections through our specialized curriculum. Students drill LSAT-style questions, review using real previously administered LSATs, receive timed practice tips, and more. The structured courses pay off on test day.

Whether you’re in New York City, Washington DC, Chicago, Boston, Dallas Fort, or anywhere in the world, our expert instructors and comprehensive curriculum are tailored to sharpen your logical reasoning and analytical skills, essential for securing a spot at top law schools like Harvard.

LSAT Tutoring

Try our personalized LSAT tutoring tailored to your strengths and weaknesses, empowering you to excel and secure admission to Harvard Law School. We provide one-on-one LSAT tutoring tailored to each student’s unique needs. Our experienced and qualified LSAT tutors work closely with students on specific sections, walk through samples together, emphasize timed pacing, pinpoint weak areas, and ensure students feel ready to excel when it counts.

Law School Admissions Consulting

Let our expert consultants guide you strategically through the competitive Harvard Law School admissions process, turning your ambitions into acceptance. Odyssey further assists with the overall law school application process through their admission consulting services. From school selection and essay editing to interview prep, expert consultants help applicants craft a compelling and polished application.

FAQs

Is Work Experience Necessary for Getting Into Harvard Law School?

A: Not strictly necessary, but strong related work experience can definitely strengthen an application. It shows the admissions committee a candidate’s genuine commitment to law and adds crucial real-world context to their academic interests on paper.

Is It Hard to Get into Harvard Law?

A: As one of the highest-ranked T-14 law schools, admission into Harvard Law is extremely competitive. With acceptance hovering around 9-10%, they only have room to admit about 1 in 10 applicants each year. You need an absolutely stellar overall package – test scores, grades, essays, experience – to stand out and catch their eye. The bar is very high.

If My Undergraduate Degree is Not in Law, Can I Still Apply to Harvard Law?

A: Harvard Law actually welcomes applicants from all types of academic backgrounds outside strict pre-law or political science tracks. A diverse educational foundation allows students to bring fresh perspectives into legal theory and enrich classroom discussions. Your undergrad major alone won’t make or break an application.

How Long Does Harvard Law School Take?

A: Harvard Law School’s standard JD curriculum is planned to last three years. Students complete six semesters of intensive law study and graduate after passing all needed courses within three years.

Final Thoughts

How to get into Harvard Law School? Getting into a top-tier law school like Harvard is not easy. But here’s the good news – by educating yourself on the admission statistics and requirements that Harvard specifically screens for, you’ll know exactly what benchmark to aim for across grades, test scores, experiences, and the whole package. It also allows you to craft a killer application strategically suited to what THEY want to see – one where your passion for law and the Harvard community shines through.

If you need assistance in preparing for the LSAT, we offer a 3-week LSAT Free Class so prospective applicants can experience our teaching methods before committing. Over this introductory course, students gain familiarity with LSAT section types through practice sets while discovering our proven test-taking techniques.

This fantastic offer allows students to assess our LSAT strategies for themselves firsthand.