Harvard Law School Acceptance Rate: The Most Prestigious Law School
Harvard Law School’s acceptance rate for the 2024–2025 academic year is 11%. This means that only 11% of the students who applied were admitted. The school received a total of 7,235 applications this year. The median LSAT score and GPA of admitted students were 174 and 3.95, respectively.
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What Is This All-Important Harvard Law School Acceptance Rate?
| Acceptance Rate (Year) | Acceptance Rate | Number of Applications | Number Admitted | Average LSAT Score | Average GPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 | 11% | 7,235 | 560 | 174 | 3.95 |
| 2023-2024 | 9.5% | 8,393 | 798 | 173 | 3.95 |
| 2022-2023 | 13% | 8,090 | 1,047 | 173 | 3.94 |
| 2021-2022 | 14% | 7,496 | 1,049 | 174 | 3.91 |
| 2020-2021 | 16% | 7,229 | 1,156 | 173 | 3.87 |
| 2019-2020 | 17% | 7,017 | 1,200 | 172 | 3.85 |
It is the rate at which the law school accepts applicants. It’s a percentage of students that the law school will admit for their new classes. A good school such as Harvard Law School gets lots and lots of students applying and then they have to reject students.
All law schools – not only Harvard – receive thousands of applications from students with good qualifications and GPAs. These schools can only accommodate a certain number of students and this means that the law school must filter students by booking them for LSAT exams.
LSAT – One Of The Tickets Needed For Harvard
If you are concerned about the Harvard Law School acceptance rate, you need to take a careful look at the Law School Acceptance Test – the LSAT. You can safely say that this is one of the tickets to get you into the sought-after law school of Massachusetts. The test is offered by the Admissions Council and is made up of 100 questions that fall into 5 subsections and there is also an essay that must be written.
Your score for the test will range between 120 to 180. The test isn’t like the regular tests for applying to an undergraduate program. This is a difficult test and will require a lot of preparation. You will be needing a top score on the LSAT if you desire to have a chance to get into Harvard Law School. The LSAT doesn’t test you on the subject matter – it tests your ability to comprehend written material.
The Highest Score 180, The Lowest 120
The LSAT, or Law School Admission Test, is the standard exam used to evaluate whether a student has the aptitude for law studies. Scores range from 120 to 180, with 180 being the highest possible score. To maximize your chances of admission to a top-tier school like Harvard Law School, you’ll need to score well above 170.
Admission to highly selective schools such as Harvard is extremely competitive. In addition to academic performance, admissions committees assess leadership qualities, extracurricular involvement, and diversity—factors that can significantly influence acceptance decisions.
Given that Harvard Law School accepts only a small fraction of applicants, a strong LSAT score is essential. When paired with a GPA above 3.92, a high LSAT score positions you as a competitive and compelling candidate.
Since the LSAT is a required component of most law school applications, your performance on this exam will play a crucial role in determining which schools you can realistically attend. The higher your score, the broader your range of options.
As a prospective law student, you’ll need to strategically plan how and where you will acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed—especially if Harvard Law School is your goal. This includes not only academic preparation but also a focused approach to test readiness.
One of the best strategies for excelling on the LSAT is to prioritize logical reasoning, which accounts for approximately half of your total score. This section evaluates your ability to analyze and deconstruct arguments—skills that are fundamental to legal reasoning and practice.
It’s worth noting that the LSAT often carries more weight than your GPA, which is typically spread across various tests and assignments over time. Many students dedicate several months—or even up to a year—preparing for the LSAT in order to reach their target score.
Harvard – A Highly Selective Law School
Harvard Law School is one of Harvard University’s faculties. The school is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, and is the oldest continuously operating law school in the USA and is home to the largest academic law library in the world.
Harvard University is one of the most well-known and sought-after universities, and its Harvard Law School acceptance rate is very selective for a high-ranking law school. Law schools in the United States are generally ranked in tiers from 1 to 4, with tier 1 being the highest ranked. Harvard ranks only behind Yale and Stanford.
Being a highly recognized law school, you must know that Harvard Law School’s acceptance rate for the 2024–2025 academic year is 11%. This means that only 11% of the students who applied were admitted. The school received a total of 7,235 applications this year. The median LSAT score and GPA of admitted students were 174 and 3.95, respectively.
Complete Undergraduate Programs With Excellent Grades
To increase your prospects of being accepted to Harvard Law School, students will need to achieve undergraduate courses with top-notch grades and scores on the Law School Admissions Test. Most students applying to Harvard Law School know that this school is looking for the cream of the crop and they will have good grades and scores all around.
Harvard Law School was founded in 1817 and is the oldest law school in the United States. It is also known to have the biggest academic law library in the world. Its faculty includes more than 100 full-time professors. The law school offers more than 260 courses in its curriculum. The law school also offers a wide range of extracurricular activities allowing the students to take part in a huge range of activities outside of the classroom.
Being accepted into such a high-ranking law school isn’t simple. What is very important when enrolling in a top law school is your GPA score. Yet even the GPA score, if it is very good, isn’t going to be the only deciding factor. In fact, a student who had high hopes because of a good GPA can still receive notification starting with the all too familiar words ‘ we regret to inform you…’
To be part of the Harvard Law School acceptance rate, students will need to be able to convince the admissions office at the law school why they should be accepted. Certainly, having ‘Harvard’ on your CV will open doors of opportunity for you.
It’s not everyone that can knock at the door of the Harvard Law School and it opens for them. Then again, if you do want to apply, you have to get moving, as many people like you are applying and not everyone is guaranteed a place.
The school of law happens to be linked to one of the best, most prestigious universities in the world. Presidents of America have come from Harvard and when they first looked around to see which university to study at, they would also have wondered what the Harvard Law School acceptance rate was and whether they would be able to clinch a spot with them.
Start Improving Certain Skills In High School
The question is, what can a young person do to improve their own personal Harvard Law School acceptance rate? If you are sure you want to be a lawyer, and you are still in high school, you can plan to make your Harvard Law School acceptance rate better as acceptance is highly competitive and there are no guarantees.
Preparing early can improve your chances of being a more successful applicant as law schools certainly look for certain skills and you can improve on these skills while in high school. These skills include good written and spoken English, critical thinking skills, good research skills, and community involvement. In high school, you can perhaps pursue extra classes that develop these skills. You can take extra classes as taking more involved, comprehensive courses will assist you in preparing for a high GPA which is an important factor for increasing your chances of getting into law school.
As mentioned, writing and speaking skills are important. In high school, why not consider writing and public speaking courses as communicating skillfully is always going to be important with law? In high school, you can start putting these skills into action by joining the school’s debating and speech team.
Internships
Before you start looking at law schools, there are several things you can do in high school to improve your chances of being accepted to Harvard Law School. For instance, gaining hands-on experience through internships can be highly beneficial. You might consider interviewing parents of your friends who are lawyers to gain insights into the profession. Additionally, you don’t need to be a law school graduate to work at a law firm—many local firms offer internships to high school students. These opportunities not only provide valuable exposure but also demonstrate your commitment to the legal field, which admissions directors appreciate.
In fact, the U.S. Department of Justice offers internship programs for high school students interested in exploring legal careers within the federal government. Participating in such programs is an excellent way to show that, from a young age, you have proactively sought opportunities to strengthen your candidacy for top-tier law schools.
Harvard Law School values applicants who take initiative and pursue their passions outside the classroom, especially when those interests align with legal studies. Demonstrating a long-standing dedication to law can significantly enhance your application.
When deciding which law school to attend, it’s important to consider several factors, including rankings, location, and cost. Once you have strong academic scores, you can begin focusing on your Harvard Law School application. Keep in mind that the school accepts both GRE and LSAT scores, giving you some flexibility in how you apply.
Get Your Application In Early
Since the acceptance rate at Harvard Law School is highly limited, it’s important to submit your application as early as possible—ideally when the application opens in September, rather than waiting until the deadline in February.
Your application will require a resume, and the law school provides examples to guide you in creating an effective one. In addition, you’ll need two or three letters of recommendation. If you’re considered a strong candidate, you may be invited to an interview, which is a positive sign—not all applicants receive one.
Another crucial component is your personal statement. This is your opportunity to explain who you are and why you want to attend law school. It gives the admissions committee insight into your motivations and personal story.
Because many applicants present similar LSAT scores and GPAs, the personal statement often becomes the deciding factor. When academic credentials are comparable, admissions officers rely on these essays to identify the most compelling candidates.
FAQs
1. What GPA Do You Need For Harvard Law School?
Harvard Law School typically looks for a GPA of 3.89 or higher, based on recent admissions data. However, a perfect GPA is not the only factor considered for admission.
2. Is It Really Hard To Get Into Harvard Law?
Yes, getting into Harvard Law is tough. They accept only about 11% of applicants, making it highly competitive.
3. Can International Students Get Into Harvard Law School?
Yes, international students can apply and get accepted into Harvard Law School. But competition is stiff.
4. Is A 3.7 GPA Good Enough For Harvard Law?
A 3.7 GPA is below the median GPA of 3.95 for Harvard Law School. While it may place an applicant below the typical academic range, a strong LSAT score, an exceptional personal statement, meaningful work or leadership experience, and compelling letters of recommendation can significantly strengthen an application and keep it competitive.
Do You Require An Undergraduate Degree To Get Into Harvard Law?
To apply to Harvard Law School’s J.D. program, you must have completed a Bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent) before enrollment. Since the J.D. is a postgraduate program, having an undergraduate degree is a required qualification.
Harvard Law School favors that students have a broad, quality college education. They need to ensure that you’ve been thoroughly educated in the likes of history, science, mathematics, government, philosophy, economics, and others. If you know that you want to attend Harvard Law School, the idea is to start preparing for your undergraduate career as soon as possible.
