Top Law Coach School Profile: Harvard Law School

My Topline: When Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan was my dean at Harvard Law, she called it the “New York City of law schools.” HLS has the resources and opportunities to make your dreams come true, but don’t expect anyone to make things easy for you. This is the big leagues, and it takes a lot of nerve to make a place for yourself here.

With a rich 204-year history in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard Law School, or Harvard Law, is the oldest law school in the United States and one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the world.

Is Harvard Law Hard to Get Into?

Harvard Law is one of the highest-ranking law schools in the United States. Although Harvard Law has a large class size, securing a seat is challenging due to the high rankings and prestige of the school. Harvard attracts top talent and is a top choice for most students interested in law.

What GPA Do I Need to Get Into Harvard Law?

If you’re applying to Harvard Law, you should have a GPA of at least 3.82. The 25th and 75th percentiles for GPA in 2021 were 3.82 and 3.98, respectively. The median GPA was 3.92, the highest recorded median GPA in the last decade (2011-2021).

What LSAT Score Do I Need to Get Into Harvard Law?

Applicants to Harvard Law should have an LSAT score of 170 or above. The 25th and 75th percentiles for LSAT scores in 2021 were 170 and 176, respectively. The median LSAT score was 174, the highest recorded median score in the last decade (2011-2021). Harvard Law is tied with Yale Law and Columbia Law for the highest median LSAT score for new admissions. You can apply to Harvard Law with your GRE scores as an alternative to the LSAT.

Is Harvard Law a Good School?

Harvard Law School is one of the best law schools in the United States. The school appears in the top spots in most law school ranking lists by some of the most credible legal publications in the world. Many top justices, prosecutors, law professors, and political leaders are Harvard Law alumni.

Harvard Law Ranking

Harvard Law is one of the best-ranked law schools in the United States. The U.S. News & World Report, one of the most credible sources for law school rankings, ranks the school fourth on the list of the best law schools in the United States, just under the law schools at Yale University, Stanford University, and the University of Chicago. It has consistently remained a part of the “T14,” shorthand for the 14 top law schools in the country.

Harvard Law Acceptance Rate

The Harvard Law has the third lowest acceptance rate of all law schools in the United States. Harvard Law had an acceptance rate of 6.9 percent for the Fall 2021 admissions. Of those accepted, around 562 students, or 54 percent, enrolled full-time in the 1L class for Fall 2021.

Harvard Law Graduation Outcomes

According to the latest available employment data from 2020, the median salary for 2016-17 Harvard Law graduates was $172,423. Of the 594 total Harvard Law Class of 2021 graduates, 54.4 percent were employed in national law firms, 15 percent in public service, and 14.3 percent in federal clerkships.

How Much Does Harvard Law Cost?

According to the 2019-20 data, the average tuition at Harvard Law was $67,080. The total cost of living in Cambridge, Massachusetts, including books and living expenses, was $32,119. This amount has increased by 3.6 percent per year over the last five years. About 54.8 percent of students paid the full price of tuition, with the remaining 45.2 percent securing discounts on tuition through scholarships. Half of those students with scholarships successfully secured at least $30,323.

Harvard Law offers multiple financial aid programs for deserving law school applicants. The school does not provide any conditional scholarships to students. The school also offers financial aid programs to students who cannot afford the standard student budget for Harvard Law. Instead of merit or full-ride scholarships, the school focuses on need-based scholarships for deserving students that can help them get through law school and support them after graduation. You can learn more about scholarships and student financial aid on the school’s official website.

Does Harvard Law Accept the GRE?

Harvard Law School accepts the GRE and the LSAT. The school does not have a preference for either exam, and you can apply to Harvard Law with scores of either test. Since the LSAC reports all LSAT scores from the previous five years, you must submit all your valid GRE scores from the past five years with your application to Harvard Law. In addition, you cannot pick and choose the scores to share with the school.

[Check out Top Law Coach School Profiles for Yale Law, Columbia Law, and NYU Law]