Prospective Students:

Thank you for visiting the Harvard BLSA Admissions website. We hope that the information provided here will help you throughout your application process. Here you can find some advice on applying to Harvard Law School in the Frequently Asked Questions section. You will also find a series of featured student profiles. We hope that these profiles will convince you to apply to HLS and demonstrate the diversity of HBLSA members.

HLS is truly an invaluable experience and our alumni have gone on to become pioneers and trailblazers in various arenas around the world. It is our hope that you too will become a member of our BLSA family. Best wishes during the application season!
Cheers,

Answer: Before you begin the admissions process, make sure that law school is the right step for you. Some people do not do the soul searching and come to law school because it is easier and/or less scary than getting a job or getting into other graduate programs. Many professors, practitioners, and current students suggest that applicants take time off. Taking time off will give you a different perspective on graduate school and probably improve your application.

If you are still in undergrad, the most important thing you can do for your application is get good grades. Pick a major that you enjoy and work hard at it. There is no particular coursework or major that best prepares students for law school, but I think people should consider taking introductory Economics and introductory Political Science/Government. Many people do not take either and do just fine, but applicants may find the background useful during their 1L year.

Next, focus on the LSAT. Prepare rigorously and aim to take the test only once. Law school grades are usually based on one exam given at the end of the semester, so you might as well begin to prepare yourself for high pressure testing situations. Think about signing up for a prep class. The utility of a class hinges on the quality of the teacher, so ask around for recommendations and choose the best test prep company available in your area.

Once the undergraduate degree and LSAT are out of the way, decide on a topic for a personal statement. It is never too early to think about how to tell your story in a meaningful, compelling way. A personal statement should make your application come to life and give the admissions staff a sense of who you are aside from your GPA and LSAT score. Be sure to ask at least a few people whom you trust to read it over for both grammar and content. 

Applicants will also need letters of recommendation from professors and/or employers. HBLSA suggests asking all your recommenders to write two versions of your letter - one for the schools you are applying to, and one for scholarship committees. Keep your letters on file for scholarship opportunities that can arise in your 2L or 3L years. Current undergraduates should get letters while they are still enrolled or shortly thereafter, even if taking time off. If you are applying during your senior fall, requesting letters of recommendation during your junior spring is a good start since it gives recommenders ample time to prepare them during the summer and should guarantee that you have them by even the earliest application deadline in the fall. Graduates should secure letters as soon as they decide to apply to law school, and should consider asking an employer for a letter if more than 2-3 years out of college.

For more frequently asked questions, please visit https://www.law.harvard.edu/admissions/jd/apply/jdfaq.php. The Harvard Law admissions website contains all the latest news and specific instructions for applying to Harvard, http://www.law.harvard.edu/admissions/.

Good luck!

Darrell Bennett Jr. '10
HBLSA Admissions Chair

Darrell Bennett ’10

Email: dbennett@jd10.law.harvard.edu
Morehouse College ’07
Hometown: Baltimore, MD