Harvard Law School 2020-2021 Admissions: Acceptance Rate, Requirements, Deadlines, Application Process
Bhavya Rawal
Harvard Law School is a private law school located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. The Institute is one of the oldest law schools in the USA. The Institute is well known for its world-class curriculum and its integrity. The School offers highly equipped libraries consisting of thousands of law books. The Institute offers various programs of Juris Doctor (JD), Master of Law (LLM), Joint JD/LLM, and Doctoral programs. The Harvard Law School has a Student acceptance rate of about 15.6 %.
- Due to the COVID – 19 there are some changes in the admission process. Harvard Law School is adopting a universal credit/fail grading policy this spring.
- The student will not be penalized in the HLS admissions process if his/ her undergraduate institution has adopted mandatory pass/fail grading for this semester, nor will be penalized if he/ she elects into an optional pass/fail system for the semester.
- With the COVID-19 pandemic creating unexpected hardships and dislocations for college students across the world, the Harvard Law School J.D. Admissions Office announced last week that the deadline to apply for the School’s Junior Deferral Program (JDP) has been postponed by two months, and clarified that pass/fail grades in spring 2020 will not harm an applicant’s chances of admission.
- The HLS Admissions Office has extended the application deadline from May 1, 2020, to July 1, 2020, to give undergraduates, many of whose semesters have been disrupted by impacts from COVID-19, additional time to apply.
- Although applicants do not need to explain any pandemic-related changes to their coursework or grades for spring and summer 2020, students are welcome, if they choose, to submit a brief addendum explaining any changes
- The GRE could be an especially important option for applicants as in-person LSAT test dates are canceled due to the coronavirus
Highlights
Year of Establishment | 1817 |
Location | Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States |
University Type | Private |
Campus Setting | Urban |
Acceptance Rate | 15.6% |
Total Student Enrollment | 1990 |
Mode of Programs | Full Time, Part Time, Online |
English Language Proficiency Score | TOEFL or IELTS |
Financial Aid | Available as per grants, awards and scholarships |
Work-study Program | Available |
Admission Helpdesk | 617-495-0722 |
Website | https://hls.harvard.edu/ |
Harvard Law School Admission Deadlines
Harvard Law School, USA has different Admissions Deadlines for the Graduate and Undergraduate programs. Here are some of the program deadlines.
Semester | Deadline |
---|---|
Fall Season | February 15 |
Spring Season | September 15 |
Harvard Law School International Admission Process
Harvard Law School, USA offers a wide range of Juris Doctor, Master in Law (LLM) programs, and courses that have different admission application processes and requirements. Here are the admission process and requirements for getting the admission in any program.
Admission Portal: Online portal of the university for Undergraduate and Graduate Programs
Admission Fee: 85 USD
Admission Requirements: To apply for Harvard Law School, USA, international students must fulfill the following requirements for admissions:
- Transcripts of High school and Secondary
- Transcript of Bachelors (If applying for Graduate program)
- TOEFL, IELTS or other equivalent exam score required for English Proficiency
- Passport’s Copy
- Personal statement (250 to 300 words)
- Letter of Recommendation (Minimum Two)
- Updated Resume
- Financial Statement
Note-: All the transcripts and documents must be translated in English language.
English Language Proficiency Test Score for International Students
International Students from different foreign countries are necessarily required to have English Proficiency test scores like TOEFL, IELTS, and equivalent exam for getting admission in any program. Here are the minimum scores required to get admission in Harvard Law School.
Test Accepted | Minimum Score Required |
---|---|
TOEFL (Internet Based Test) | 100 and 25 in every sections |
IELTS | 7.5 |
PTE | 75 |
Visa Process for International Students
International students from different countries can apply for a student visa process after the approval of their application form. After the completion of the admission process, an Acceptance Letter is received from the university, and with the help of acceptance, letter students can apply for the visa process.
Documents Required for Visa Process
- Original Passport and its photocopy
- Acceptance Letter from the Institute
- Transcripts and other academic documents
- Recent Photographs
- Last six months bank statement
- Financial support proof
- Medical Insurance Certificate
- Visa Application Fee
Note -: After the completion of the following process an interview is scheduled with the nearest United States Embassy in the native country.
Harvard Law School Undergraduate Admissions
Harvard Law School offers Undergraduate admissions in programs like Juris Doctor in Law, Juris Doctor in Science and Technology, Juris Doctor in Law and Social Change, Juris Doctor in International and Comparative Law, Juris Doctor in Law and Business, Juris Doctor in Law and History, etc. The students are required to submit all the documents on the official website while filling the admission application.
Admission Portal: Online Portal of the University
Admission Fee: 75 USD
Admission Requirements: To apply for Undergraduate program at Harvard Law School, International students must fulfill the following requirements-:
- Transcripts of High School or Secondary Education
- Letter of recommendation
- Personal Statement
- English Proficiency Test Score
- Proof of Financial Support
- Passport’s Copy
Here are some of the requirements for the Undergraduate or Juris Doctor (JD) programs offered by the Harvard Law School:
Requirements | Juris Doctor in Law, Science and Technology | Juris Doctor in Law and Social Change | Juris Doctor in International and Comparative Law | Juris Doctor in Law and Business | Juris Doctor in Law and History |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Application Fee (Non-refundable) | 85 USD | 85 USD | 85 USD | 85 USD | 85 USD |
Transcripts | High School and Secondary Education | High School and Secondary Education | High School and Secondary Education | High School, Secondary Education, and Undergraduate | High School, Secondary Education, and Undergraduate |
English Proficiency Test | TOEFL or IELTS | TOEFL or IELTS | TOEFL or IELTS | TOEFL or IELTS | TOEFL or IELTS |
Recommendations | 2 Letters Required | 2 Letters Required | 2 Letters Required | 2 Letters Required | 2 Letters Required |
Personal Essay | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
Proof of Financial Support | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
Interview | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
Harvard Law School Graduate Admissions
Harvard Law School offers graduate admissions in Masters in Law (LLM) programs like Masters in Law and Government, Master in Law and Social Change, Master in Law and Business, Master in Law and History, Master in Criminal Justice, Master in International and Comparative Law and Master in Law, Science and Technology, etc. The students are required to submit all the documents on the official website while filling the admission application.
Admission Portal: Online Portal of the University
Admission Fee: 85 USD
Admission Requirements: To apply for the Graduate or Master in Law (LLM) program at Harvard Law School, International students must fulfill the following requirements-:
- Transcripts of High School or Secondary Education
- Transcript of Undergraduate program
- Letter of recommendation
- Personal Statement
- English Proficiency Test Score
- Proof of Financial support
- Passport’s Copy
Here are some of the requirements for the Master in Law (LLM) programs offered by the Harvard Law School:
Requirements | Master in Law, Science and Technology | Master in Law and Social Change | Master in International and Comparative Law | Master in Law and Business | Master in Criminal Justice |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Application Fee (Non-refundable) | 85 USD | 85 USD | 85 USD | 85 USD | 85 USD |
Transcripts | High School, Secondary Education, and Undergraduate | High School, Secondary Education, and Undergraduate | High School, Secondary Education, and Undergraduate | High School, Secondary Education, and Undergraduate | High School, Secondary Education, and Undergraduate |
English Proficiency Test | TOEFL or IELTS or PTE | TOEFL or IELTS or PTE | TOEFL or IELTS or PTE | TOEFL or IELTS or PTE | TOEFL or IELTS or PTE |
Recommendations | 2 Letters Required | 2 Letters Required | 2 Letters Required | 2 Letters Required | 2 Letters Required |
Personal Essay | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
Proof of Financial Support | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
The Harvard Law School also offers various Joint or Dual degree programs and Doctoral Programs, students are advised to choose the program of their choice by taking counseling from the officials of the institute, the officials will guide the student according to their requirements and field of interest.