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Harvard Law School (HLS)
Track decisions and applicant data for the 2018-2019 cycle — 256 applicants reporting.
18-19 · selected
17-18 · previous
ABA 509 (2018): 7,551 apps · 971 offers · 566 enrolled · 12.86% acceptance rate
Detailed Breakdown
Accepted · 36 total (incl. 4 from waitlist) · 41.7% yield
Waitlist · 52 total · 7.7% accepted off WL
Admissions Data
| LSAT & GPA Statistics | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | 50th | 75th | |
|
LSAT
(ABA · 2018)
100th percentile
|
170 | 173 | 175 |
| LSAT (LSD) | 168 | 170 | 173 |
|
GPA
(ABA · 2018)
99th percentile
|
3.80 | 3.90 | 3.97 |
| GPA (LSD) | 3.6 | 3.77 | 3.91 |
| Average Statistics by Decision (LSD) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Metric | Rejected | All | Accepted |
| LSAT | 167.23 | 168.98 | 171.42 |
| GPA | 3.62 | 3.72 | 3.83 |
| Softs | T3.11 | T3.06 | T3.09 |
| Avg $ | - | - | $135,000 |
| Admissions Metrics (ABA 509) | |
|---|---|
| Metric | Value |
| Applications |
7551
99th percentile
|
| Admission Offers | 971 |
| Class Size |
566
100th percentile
|
| Acceptance Rate |
12.86%
98th percentile
|
| Yield Rate |
49.85%
96th percentile
|
| Application Process Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Avg Days: Sent to Decision | 107 days |
| Avg Days: UR to Decision | 38 days |
| Interview Invite Rate | 12.5% |
| Interview → Acceptance Rate | 43.8% |
Decision Timing
Selected Cycle (2018-2019) decisions (solid) vs. 504 decisions from Previous Cycle (2017-2018) (faded). Click the previous cycle in the legend to toggle.
Where Is Harvard Law School Trending?
Historical LSAT, GPA, and acceptance rate data from ABA 509 reports. Rising medians or falling acceptance rates indicate increasing competitiveness.
LSAT and GPA bands show 25th/50th/75th percentiles; acceptance rate is lower = more selective. Click legend items to show/hide metrics.
Overview
Employment outcomes data from ABA 509 disclosures is shown below.
JD Employment Rate
First-Time Bar Pass
Median Starting Salary
Employment Quality
JD Required
BigLaw Placement
Federal Clerkships
School-Funded Positions
Employment Quality Distribution
Law Firm Employment by Size
Employment Quality Matrix
Bar Required ★ 512 (86.8% of class)
JD Advantage 29 (4.9% of class)
Professional 4 (0.7% of class)
Other 0 (0.0% of class)
School-Funded 24 (4.1% of class)
| Employment Type | Full-Time Long-Term |
Full-Time Short-Term |
Part-Time Long-Term |
Part-Time Short-Term |
Total | % of Grads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bar Required ★ | 508 | 4 | — | — | 512 | 86.8% |
| JD Advantage | 27 | 2 | — | — | 29 | 4.9% |
| Professional | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0.7% |
| Other | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0.0% |
| School-Funded | 14 | 10 | — | — | 24 | 4.1% |
| Total Employed | 549 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 569 | 96.4% |
Generally, if you attend law school, you want to secure a bar-required position. However, at prestigious institutions, students may target specific JD advantage positions such as private equity or elite consulting roles.
Employment by Sector
Sector Details
| Sector | % of Graduates | National Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Law Firms | 60.8% |
89th percentile
|
| Judicial Clerkships | 18.5% |
83rd percentile
|
| Government | 3.6% |
2nd percentile
|
| Public Interest | 9.0% |
90th percentile
|
| Business | 4.1% |
7th percentile
|
| Academia | 0.5% |
26th percentile
|
Clerkships by Type
| Type | Graduates | % of Class | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal | 88 | 14.9% |
98th percentile
|
| State/Local | 19 | 3.2% | — |
| International | 2 | 0.3% | — |
Federal clerkships enhance careers in litigation and academia.
Bar Exam Performance
| Metric | Rate | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| First-Time Pass | 96.74% |
97th percentile
|
| Ultimate Pass | 98.43% |
95th percentile
|
| Jurisdiction Weighted | 78.51% | — |
Salary Outcomes
Private Sector
Public Sector
Career Outcomes Summary
Law school tuition at Harvard Law School is $129k annually (calculated from semester costs). Prospective law students should budget approximately $61k for the total annual cost of attending (including tuition, fees, books, and living expenses).
For JD graduates from Harvard Law School, the first-time bar exam pass rate is 96.74%. Within two years, 98.43% of graduates ultimately pass the bar exam. The school's first-time pass rate is +18.2% compared to the weighted state average. These bar passage metrics are important indicators of how well the law school prepares its students for this crucial professional licensing examination.
Cost of Attendance
Annual Tuition
Cost of Living
Scholarship & Grant Aid
Students Receiving Grants
Median Grant
Grant Range (25th–75th)
Grant Distribution
Conditional Scholarships
This school reports no conditional scholarships.
Admissions Contact
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Read moreAbout Harvard Law School admissions
Harvard Law School , commonly known as HLS, is a prestigious JD program located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. According to the 2018 ABA 509 Report, Harvard Law School has an entering 1L class size of approximately 566 with an acceptance rate of 12.86%, positioning it among the most selective law schools for JD applicants.