Written Work at Harvard Law School

Seminars and some courses require completion of papers to meet the seminar or course requirements. In addition, you may earn writing credits for completion of papers that exceed the requirements of writing within a seminar or course, and from independent projects, by obtaining the approval of an HLS faculty member in advance and by submitting the required registration form, JDs to the Registrar’s Office and LLMs to the Graduate Program. Completion the Written Work Requirement is a degree requirement for both JDs and LLMs. If you would like to complete extra-credit writing beyond the Written Work Requirement, you would elect an optional paper. The Written Work Requirement may not be completed during the first year of the JD program; however, 1Ls are eligible to register for optional papers during their spring semester. Writing credits are completed under the supervision of an HLS faculty member. Registration is required, and the first registration deadlines are in mid-October. Since faculty advisors may require additional preliminary information, such as a discussion of the subject matter, an outline, or a more detailed proposal, it is recommended that you start your discussions with your proposed HLS faculty advisor well in advance of registration deadlines.

Follow the links below to find the information and forms you want.

J.D. Written Work Requirement:

Use the information and forms below to add your written work requirement to a fall or spring semester. To add your written work requirement to the winter term, scroll down to the separate section for the JD Winter Writing Program.

Introduction
Option 2 of the Written Work Policy
Upper-Level J.D. Credit Requirements (See Section C)
Additional Rules Relating to the Written Work Requirement (See Section G)
2007-08 HLS Faculty Supervisors for Written Work
Registration Deadlines, Submission Deadlines, Deadline Extensions, Final Deadlines for Degree Candidates
Required Registration Form (Print and fill out this two-page form; file the completed form with the Registrar's Office)

The J.D. Winter Writing Program

Use the information and forms below to apply for any extra-credit writing project for the January 2008 winter term. Please note that if you apply for the Winter Writing Program, you do not need to also file the registration form for "JD Written Work Requirement" -- there is a space on the Winter Writing application where you can indicate that your winter project should count as your Written Work Requirement.

LL.M. Written Work Requirement

Use the information and forms below to add your written work requirement to a fall or spring semester.

Introduction
Additional Rules Relating to the Written Work Requirement
2007-08 HLS Faculty Supervisors for Written Work
Registration and Submission Deadlines for the Written Work Requirement
Required Registration Form for LL.M. Long Paper (Print and fill out, obtain supervisor's signature and submit to the Graduate Program Office together with proposal)
Required Registration Form for 25-Page Paper (Print and fill out, obtain supervisor's signature and submit to the Graduate Program Office together with proposal)

The LL.M. Winter Writing Program

Use the information and forms below to apply for the Winter Writing Program if you have registered for an LL.M. Long Paper and would like to spend the winter term working intensively on your paper in lieu of a course. Please read all of the instructions, provide a copy of "Instructions for Faculty" to your supervisor, and complete the Required Application Form in its entirety. Completed applications are due in the Graduate Program Office by November 16, 2007.

Optional Written Work (J.D. and LL.M.)

Use the information and form below to add an optional paper to a fall or spring semester. To add your optional paper to the winter term, scroll up to the separate section for the Winter Writing Program applicable to you (JD or LLM).

If you have questions related to J.D. written work which are not answered on this site, email to the HLS Registrar's office, written work staff

All questions related to LL.M. written work should be directed to Nancy Pinn in Lewis 203.

Nancy Pinn in Lewis 203