Kara Sears
Harvard Law School (HLS) is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The main campus is situated at 1585 Massachusetts Avenue, on the northwest corner of Harvard Yard, and consists of 19 buildings. The university offers a three-year JD program with approximately 560 students in each class, as well as LLM and SJD degrees. HLS has the distinction of being the oldest law school in continuous operation in the United States, founded in 1817 or 1819 with the establishment of a law department at Harvard.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | 1585 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Year founded | 1817 or 1819 |
| Number of buildings on the main campus | 19 |
| Additional buildings | 1651 Massachusetts Avenue and 122 Boylston Street in Jamaica Plain, Boston |
| Nearby transport | Red Line train to Harvard Square, Silver Line bus, Green Line inbound to Park Street |
| Nearby amenities | Cafes, retail, businesses |
| Student organisations | More than 90, including student-edited journals, Harvard Law Record, and the HLS Drama Society |
| Academic ranking | Ranked 6th best law school in the US by U.S. News & World Report in 2023; ranked 1st in the world by QS World University Rankings in 2023 and by the Academic Ranking of World Universities in 2019 |
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What You'll Learn
Harvard Law School's address
Harvard Law School (HLS) is the law school of Harvard University, a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest law school still running in the United States. The law school's campus consists of 19 buildings and is located at 1585 Massachusetts Avenue, on the northwest corner of Harvard Yard, bordered by Massachusetts Avenue and Everett Street. The mailing address for the J.D. Admissions Office is:
> J.D. Admissions Office
> Harvard Law School
> Wasserstein Hall, Suite 5027
> 1585 Massachusetts Avenue
> Cambridge, MA 02138
Additional Law School buildings are located at 1651 Massachusetts Avenue and 122 Boylston Street in Jamaica Plain, a neighbourhood in Boston.
Harvard Law School's founding is traced to the establishment of a 'law department' at Harvard in 1819. The University of Maryland School of Law was chartered in 1816 but did not begin classes until 1824, and it closed during the Civil War. William & Mary Law School opened in 1779 but shared a similar fate, closing due to the Civil War and reopening in 1920.
Harvard Law School has an estimated 115 full-time faculty members and offers a three-year JD program with approximately 560 students in each class. The first-year class is divided into seven sections of around 80 students, who take most first-year classes together. Aside from the JD program, Harvard also confers LLM and SJD degrees. HLS boasts the world's largest academic law library.
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Harvard Law School's campus
Harvard Law School (HLS) is a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest law school in continuous operation in the United States. The main HLS campus consists of 19 buildings and is located at 1585 Massachusetts Avenue, on the northwest corner of Harvard Yard, bordered by Massachusetts Avenue and Everett Street. The campus can be accessed by taking the Red Line train towards Alewife to Harvard Square, and then walking north through Harvard Yard to the Law School. There is also a shuttle bus service that provides free transportation for students, faculty, and staff between the Cambridge and Allston campuses.
Additional Law School buildings are located at 1651 Massachusetts Avenue and 122 Boylston Street in Jamaica Plain, a neighbourhood in Boston. These additional buildings can be reached by taking the Silver Line bus from the airline terminals to South Station, and then taking the Red Line train inbound to Harvard. However, it is important to note that parking is extremely limited around the Harvard Law School campus and Harvard Square, and the metered parking spaces available tend to be quite full.
Harvard Law School has a rich history and is known for its academic excellence. It offers a three-year JD program with approximately 560 students in each class, as well as LLM and SJD degree programs. The school has over 90 student organizations, including student-edited journals, the Harvard Law Record, and the HLS Drama Society. The HLS Drama Society organizes the annual Harvard Law School Parody, and the school also has a strong presence in political, social, service, and athletic groups.
The school's emblem and shield have undergone changes in recent years due to their association with slavery. In 2016, the school removed the Royall family's coat of arms, which featured three stacked wheat sheaves, from its emblem. In 2021, a new emblem was introduced, and the university voted to retire the law school's coat of arms, which had incorporated the Royall family's armorial bearings. These changes reflect Harvard Law School's commitment to aligning its values with those of the university and the broader community.
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Harvard Law School's history
Harvard Law School (HLS) is the law school of Harvard University, a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest law school in continuous operation in the United States.
Harvard Law School's founding is traced to the establishment of a 'law department' at Harvard in 1819. Dating the founding to the year of the creation of the law department makes Harvard Law School the oldest continuously operating law school in the United States. The University of Maryland School of Law was chartered in 1816 but did not begin classes until 1824, and it also closed during the Civil War. The founding of the law department came two years after the establishment of Harvard's first endowed professorship in law, funded by a bequest from the estate of wealthy slave-owner Isaac Royall Jr., in 1817.
In 1827, the law school was down to one professor and one student. However, HLS was able to bounce back and introduced what became the standard first-year curriculum for American law schools in the 1870s, including classes in contracts, property, torts, criminal law, and civil procedure. HLS has the world's largest academic law library, which was established in 1817. The library now contains more than 2 million items from 240 countries and territories in 170 languages.
In recent years, Harvard Law School has acknowledged and taken steps to address its historical connections to slavery. In 2016, the school retired its coat of arms, which incorporated the Royall family's coat of arms, due to the family's history of slave ownership. In 2017, HLS unveiled a plaque acknowledging the indirect role played by slavery in its history, and in 2019, the school announced the development of a new emblem to replace the retired coat of arms.
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Transport to Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School's main campus is located at 1585 Massachusetts Avenue, on the northwest corner of Harvard Yard, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Additional buildings are located at 1651 Massachusetts Avenue and 122 Boylston Street in Jamaica Plain, a neighbourhood in Boston.
By Car
Parking is extremely limited around Harvard Law School and Harvard Square. There are metered parking spaces available, but they are usually quite full. Accessible parking permits can be purchased online for the 10 Everett Street Garage, which is convenient for the Harvard Law School and its surrounding areas.
By Train
Take the Red Line train towards Alewife to Harvard Square. From Harvard Station, walk north through Harvard Yard to the Law School, or take the Church Street exit and walk north on Massachusetts Avenue. The journey takes around 30 minutes.
By Bus
Take the Silver Line bus from outside any airline terminal to South Station. From here, take the Red Line inbound train to Harvard (marked Alewife). The journey takes around 45 minutes. Several MBTA bus lines also stop in Harvard Square; refer to the MBTA website for routes and schedules.
By Shuttle
Harvard University operates a shuttle bus service that provides free, safe, and convenient transportation to students, faculty, and staff on the Cambridge and Allston campuses throughout the academic year. The shuttle bus has various routes and can be tracked in real time via the Shuttle Tracker For the Web.
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Harvard Law School's reputation
Harvard Law School (HLS) is the law school of Harvard University, a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The main campus is located at 1585 Massachusetts Avenue, on the northwest corner of Harvard Yard, with additional buildings at 1651 Massachusetts Avenue and 122 Boylston Street in Jamaica Plain, Boston.
Harvard Law School was founded in 1817 with the establishment of a 'law department' at Harvard, making it the oldest continuously operating law school in the United States. The school has a rich history and a strong reputation, known for its academic excellence and prestigious status.
HLS has consistently been ranked as one of the top law schools in the United States and the world. In 2023, it was ranked as the sixth-best law school in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report and was ranked first in the world by QS World University Rankings and the Academic Ranking of World Universities in 2023 and 2019, respectively. The school's reputation is further enhanced by its academic offerings, including the three-year JD program, which has approximately 560 students per class, and the LLM and SJD degree programs.
Harvard Law School has produced notable alumni who have gone on to successful careers in law, government, and other fields. The school's graduates accounted for more than one-quarter of all Supreme Court clerks between 2000 and 2010, the highest among all law schools in the United States. The school's reputation for academic rigour and selectivity is well-known, with a rigorous admissions process and competitive student body.
The school has also been recognised for its world-class research facilities and resources, including the world's largest academic law library. The administration and staff are highly regarded for their support of students and commitment to creating a positive law school experience. The school's reputation has been influenced by its investigation into its historical connections with slavery, leading to the removal of its emblem in 2016 due to its association with slave-owner Isaac Royall Jr.
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Frequently asked questions
Harvard Law School is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.
The main campus is located at 1585 Massachusetts Avenue, on the northwest corner of Harvard Yard.
Yes, additional law school buildings are located at 1651 Massachusetts Avenue and 122 Boylston Street in Jamaica Plain, a neighbourhood in Boston.
You can take the Red Line train towards Alewife to Harvard Square, and then walk north through Harvard Yard or take the Church Street exit and walk north on Massachusetts Avenue.
