Lessons from a CEO: How I Got Into Harvard Law School by James Goodnow
I graduated from Harvard Law School (HLS) in 2006. I still remember the excitement of receiving the acceptance letter. For me, the moment symbolized the culmination of years of hard work during college. Alongside Harvard, I was fortunate to be admitted to Stanford, the University of Chicago, Duke, Penn, NYU, and most of the so-called “T-14” law schools.
Why am I writing this? My wife, Erin Goodnow, is the CEO of Going Ivy, and she asked me if I’d be willing to share my law school admissions journey in the hopes that it might help others. So, in that spirit—and as a small way to give back to Erin for all her unconditional support over the years, including during law school—I’ve outlined some of my suggestions for approaching gaining admissions to HLS or any other top law school.
I’ve heard people refer to T-14 programs as “lottery schools” because gaining admission is challenging, even with strong statistics. While there’s some truth to that, there are steps you can take to improve your chances. Below is some background information about HLS and my thoughts on tips that might help you have a better shot.
Learning the “how” is the first step, and the rest will depend on the effort you’re willing to put in. With that in mind, let’s start with the basics.
What LSAT score do I need to get into Harvard Law School?
All of the ABA-approved law schools in the U.S. and Canada accept the Law School Admissions Test or LSAT. If you want to learn how to get into HLS, you must learn how to conquer this test and get the best score possible on it. The LSAT is offered by the Law School Admissions Council and is comprised of 100 questions in five subsections together with an essay. When you take the test, your raw score will be converted into a scaled score that ranges from 120 to 180. A raw score of 99 to 100 converts to a 180, for instance. This test is not like the standardized tests that you took when you were applying to your undergraduate program. Instead, it is notoriously difficult and will require you to plan plenty of time to prepare.
In its 2022 class profile, HLS reports the following LSAT scores for the middle range of admitted students on the LSAT:
- 25th percentile – 170
- 50th percentile – 173
- 75th percentile – 175
You’ll need a strong LSAT score if you want a realistic chance of getting into HLS. Starting to prep early for the LSAT is crucial. Unlike the ACT or SAT, the LSAT doesn’t test you on subjects you learned in undergrad. Instead, it focuses on your ability to think, reason, use logic, write, and understand written material. While this might make you think you can’t prepare for it, that’s not true. With practice and preparation, you’ll start to see patterns in the types of questions asked and get a better understanding of how to answer them.
How do you prepare for the LSAT?
The first step to securing a strong LSAT score is what I call “rewiring” your brain for the test. As I mentioned before, the LSAT isn’t like the ACT, SAT, or any other standardized test you’ve taken. While there are some similar core aspects, you still need to understand how the LSAT works and be ready to put in a lot of prep time. Here are some things that worked for me when I prepared for the LSAT.
1. Get lots of old LSATs and practice.
The first thing I did was get copies of several old LSATs and take them multiple times. I reviewed each attempt and looked at the answers I got wrong. I corrected my mistakes and figured out why I missed each one. After I’d taken each LSAT, I put it back in the pile and kept doing them over and over. Even though I started to remember some answers, I also began to see patterns and recognize that the LSAT has a limited number of question types.
2. Forgo the big, branded test-prep programs and opt for a private tutor.
Big, branded test-prep programs usually have one instructor, either in a classroom or online, giving tips to lots of different students. My view is this isn’t very helpful because it’s not tailored to each student. I tried one of these group test-prep programs, and it didn’t work for me.
If you have the resources, consider hiring a private tutor who aced the test themselves instead of wasting money and time on a group LSAT prep program. I had a decent starting point with my first practice LSAT, but working with a private tutor helped me squeeze out those extra, precious points. My tutor went to Stanford Law and had me focus on each section individually. This helped me spot more patterns and find strategies that worked, instead of the one-size-fits-all methods from the group course.
3. Don’t underline information and take notes while reading a passage.
One of the tips my tutor gave me was to stop underlining information and taking notes while reading a passage in the reading comprehension section. He said I probably wouldn’t have time to go back and refer to them anyway. Instead of using notes as a crutch, he told me to focus on internalizing the passage and painting vivid images in my mind of the words as I moved along. This helped me speed up the time I spent on each passage.
There was no safety net of notes. It was either internalize it or go down in flames. As frightening as it sounds, it worked for me.
What undergraduate GPA do I need to get admitted to Harvard Law School?
If you want to learn how to get into HLS, the process starts with you earning the best grades possible during your undergraduate program. The 2022 class profile for HLS reports the following undergraduate GPAs for the middle 50% of the class:
- 25th percentile – 3.79
- 50th percentile – 3.89
- 75th percentile – 3.96
Just like with LSAT score percentile ranges, you should aim for an undergraduate GPA at the upper end of the range reported by HLS. My biggest tip for getting the best grades possible during your undergrad studies is simple: work your tail off. There’s no substitute for hitting the library and putting in the time. While it might be nice to slack off and still get the grades you need for HLS, that’s not how it works. You’ll have to work harder than others if you want to get into a T-14 school. Skipping a night out to study for a test might not seem fun, but it can pay off in the long run.
If you’re struggling in a class, get help early. Don’t wait. If you miss fundamental concepts in a core class, you’ll be in trouble. Take advantage of your professor’s office hours and ask for help when you need it. Hire a tutor if you have to. If you don’t understand a subject, you’ll have problems in higher-level courses later on. Getting good grades means working hard, getting help early, and building solid foundations. If you do those things, you’ll do well and get the grades you need to be competitive for a T-14 law school.
What is Harvard Law School’s acceptance rate?
According to data from Harvard Law’s class profile for the class of 2022, HLS received 7,419 applications and offered admission to 916 applicants. This means that the admissions rate for the school was 12%.
According to the American Bar Association, there are 203 ABA-approved law schools in the nation. Law schools in the U.S. are generally ranked in tiers from one to four, with tier one schools including the top law schools by rank. According to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Grad Schools rankings, HLS is currently ranked as the number three top law school in the U.S. behind Stanford and Yale.
Do you need to get a particular undergraduate degree to get into Harvard Law?
HLS does not require applicants to pursue any particular undergraduate degree program. Instead, the school accepts students from all different undergraduate degree programs. The school prefers that students have a broad college education instead of taking many courses that are designed to provide vocational training. The admissions officers at HLS will be interested in the quality of your classes and your academic performance in them. They want to see that you have engaged in thorough learning in a major field area of your choice, including mathematics, government, science, philosophy, the classics, economics, history, or others.
Some students wonder if HLS has a preference for applicants from STEM backgrounds. The school emphasizes that it accepts applicants from all academic programs. If you have a STEM degree, HLS encourages you to gain a couple of years of experience in your field. If you’re interested in studying how science and technology intersect with the law, you might want to check out HLS’s program of study in law, science, and technology.
Who should write my letters of recommendation for Harvard Law School?
HLS requires all applicants to the J.D. program to submit two letters of recommendation. The school strongly recommends that you submit at least one letter of recommendation from a professor or academic advisor who can talk about your scholarly and academic abilities.
My tip for this part of your HLS application is to not be lazy with your letters of recommendation. If you don’t plan for them, it can be a huge missed opportunity when it’s time to apply. Waiting until you’ve finished your undergrad degree or until your final year to think about applying to HLS and finding someone to recommend you isn’t good. Choosing who writes your letters of recommendation requires some forethought.
If you know fairly early in your undergrad that you want to go to law school, that’s the time to think about who you’ll eventually want to write your letters. I knew early on that I wanted to go to law school. If you have professors you enjoy in subjects you also enjoy, take several classes from them. Build relationships with those professors. Take advantage of their office hours, and consider becoming a teaching assistant for them.
1. Develop relationships with the professors you want to write letters for you.
If you take the time to develop relationships with these professors, you can make sure that they actually know you when it comes time to apply to HLS. Your professors will not simply see you as a grade but will instead be able to provide great insight to the admissions officers about your academic abilities and who you are.
2. Write a tailored resume to give to each of your recommenders.
After you have taken the time to build a relationship with the professors you want to write letters of recommendation for you, you should write a detailed, tailored resume to give to each of them. Even if you took several classes from your professor, attended his or her office hours, and worked as a TA for him or her, you will still want to include detailed information on your resume to spark his or her memory. Remember that professors may have thousands of students over the years, and you might need to jog your recommender’s memory about your work on a specific project, for example.
Instead of simply listing a bunch of bulleted accomplishments on your resume, provide some detail. For example, if you led a group on a project for your professor, write down that you did, and detail the outcomes of your work. This can help your professor to recall what you have done so that he or she can provide concrete examples of your exemplary work in his or her letter of recommendation. Remember that your letters of recommendation can be a key differentiator between you and the other applicants who are applying to top law schools like HLS.
What should I write in my essays for Harvard Law School?
HLS requires that all applicants submit a personal statement. Applicants can also submit an optional statement. A key difference is that your personal statement is required while the optional statement is truly optional. You should only submit an optional statement if it will provide more information to the admissions office about your background and how it has influenced your decision to pursue a law degree. You should not submit an optional statement that simply continues the information in your personal statement or that is simply a recitation of your resume. Similarly, your personal statement should not simply list your accomplishments and other information that can be found elsewhere in your application.
When you begin to write your personal essay, remember that the admissions officers at HLS have to read thousands of essays. Put yourself in the shoes of an admissions officer and think about whether you would be moved by reading an essay that is a narrative version of an applicant’s resume. The admissions officers likewise will not find this type of personal statement to be compelling.
My principal advice for your essays for HLS is for you to be willing to put yourself out there and be vulnerable. Don’t be bombastic or try to cram all of your accomplishments in your personal statement.
Your goal with your personal statement is to tell a compelling story that demonstrates your writing skills, your ability to be succinct, and that you are capable of profound insight, knowledge, and reflection that will move your fellow law school students when you are discussing or debating cases in your law school classes. I recommend that you avoid writing about a bunch of different topics in your personal essay. Choose one topic and be willing to show your who you are at the core. Pick something that demonstrates how you reached a moment of self-reflection. Remember that the personal statement must only be a maximum of two double-spaced pages long. You will need to be able to express who you are compellingly in a short amount of space.
HLS wants students who are deep thinkers and who are capable of both understanding the black-letter law and the reasons behind the various laws. Your essay should demonstrate your ability to think deeply while also creating an emotional connection. Be honest and vulnerable, and be willing to expose your weaknesses. This makes it likelier that you will create an emotional connection with the admissions officer who reads your essay, which can give you an edge when they decide whether to offer admission to you.
Start working early on your personal essay. Plan to write several drafts, and continue reworking it until it is as good as it can be. Ask people you trust to review it and make suggestions. Be prepared to accept criticism and to continue rewriting it until you are happy with the result.
When should you start preparing to apply to Harvard Law School?
If you know that you want to attend HLS, you should begin preparing as early in your undergraduate career as possible. Even if you are not sure what you want to do after you finish your undergraduate degree program, working hard during your college years can help you if you decide to pursue a career, attend graduate school, or head to law school at Harvard.
You should approach your grades in every class as important beginning with the first semester of your freshman year in college. Strive to achieve an A in every class. Take the time to get help if you are struggling in a subject, and begin developing relationships with your professors in the classes that interest you the most. If you are already a junior or a senior, you will not have as much time to prepare to apply to HLS. Hopefully, you have already achieved great grades in all of your classes and have a strong GPA. If you earned a less-than-stellar grade in a course, consider retaking it to replace the grade and improve your GPA.
Take advantage of the opportunities that are available to you throughout your undergraduate years. Participate in research, apply for teaching assistant positions, and pursue your education wholeheartedly. Complete an internship in your field of interest, and be willing to stretch yourself intellectually and academically.
If you are a junior or senior in college, you should begin practicing the LSAT. Work with a private tutor to identify the patterns on the test and the strategies that you can use to improve your scores. The key to preparing to apply to HLS is to begin as soon as you think that it is what you would like to do. If you haven’t started already, you should do so now.
Is an interview required for admission to Harvard Law School?
HLS interviews students by invitation only. The interviews are conducted via an online platform. The admissions officers do not interview all of the applicants. However, you will not be admitted if you are not interviewed. If you are chosen for an interview, you will be notified by email with more information.
If HLS selects you for an interview, make sure to prepare. While it is a good sign that you have been chosen to be interviewed, you should put just as much effort into preparing for it as you did in preparing for the other parts of your application. Reach out to other people who have gone through the HLS interview process to get an idea of what to expect. Read some example questions online and practice for those that you anticipate. Remember that the interview is evaluative, so it will be important for you to do your best while remaining as relaxed as possible.
While your interview will be conducted on an online platform, you should still make sure that you are dressed appropriately. You do not need to wear a suit or dress, but you should wear something nice and professional. Make sure to log into the platform on time, and listen carefully to each question that you are asked. Do not interrupt the interviewer. Smile, be thoughtful in your answers and be yourself.
Should you visit Harvard Law School to increase your chances of admission?
If you want to attend law school at HLS or any T-14 law school, you need to demonstrate your interest. One key way of doing this is by showing the school that you know something about it. One way to demonstrate your interest and help you to make your case about why the school should want you to attend is to visit the campus. Visiting HLS, taking a tour, and learning about the clinical programs can indirectly improve your admissions chances. Visiting the law school can also allow you to explore the community and the campus so that you can determine whether it is the right choice for you.
Visiting HLS, attending tours, taking online courses, and engaging with the school in other ways can help you to show that you care about the institution. That will show through your application and help you to make the case that you should be admitted. HLS offers several ways for you to connect with the admissions department. You can attend in-person events, introduce yourself, and attend online events. Take full advantage of all of the opportunities that you have available to get to know HLS and to demonstrate your interest in attending the school. Make your case for why you should be accepted to HLS in every part of your application.
What does Harvard Law School look for in applicants?
HLS searches for applicants who have demonstrated superior intellectual and academic capabilities, have obtained great grades and test scores, and have strong characters and the ability to contribute deep insights in their law school classes. They want to see that you will make good contributions to the school while you are a law student and that you have the potential to positively impact the world in your future as a lawyer.
Your undergraduate record, letters of recommendation, and your essays should demonstrate that you are self-motivated and willing to work hard to achieve success. You should demonstrate intellectual curiosity and a willingness to stretch yourself. No matter what law school you apply to, your character will be important. Lawyers are expected to be highly ethical, and law schools want applicants who demonstrate great morals and strong character in everything that they do. If you have a disciplinary record, answer the question honestly, and provide the accompanying documentation to explain what happened. If you leave out information about a disciplinary record, your application will likely be denied or an offer of admission may be withdrawn.
The admissions officers will also want to determine whether you will be able to withstand the pressures that come with attending HLS. You should be able to handle pressure and stress both inside and outside of the classroom at HLS. Show the admissions officers that you have contributions to make to the school and the community. Make sure to convey that you have something to offer and that other students and faculty members will want to get to know you and challenge you in your classes.
How should you prepare to apply to Harvard Law School?
After reading this article to this point, it should be clear to you that starting as early as possible to prepare to apply to HLS is important. Another key factor in the preparation process is to get and remain organized. You will need to be organized to make sure that you have enough time to study for all of your classes, participate in your interests and activities outside of class, work or complete an internship, and perform other tasks you must complete.
Throughout your college years, you should use a planner to remain organized. You can use freely available calendaring apps to help to keep you on track. Create a goal plan that includes smaller goals on your way to your application. These goals should be written by the semester with individual steps to reach each goal. Being able to see everything that you have accomplished can also help to keep you motivated as you work to achieve your goal of getting into HLS.
How do you apply to Harvard Law School?
Harvard has an electronic application that must be completed through the Law School Admissions Council or LSAC. The application is available on the LSAC website in the fall of each year. When you complete your application, you can submit it electronically together with the application fee or print the certification page, sign it, and mail it with a check for your application fee to the school.
You will need to either take the LSAT or the Graduate Record Exam. While HLS accepts either test, it might make more sense to choose the LSAT since it is accepted by all of the ABA-approved law schools. Make sure to practice with old LSATs as previously described and work with a tutor so that you can achieve the highest possible score on your LSAT. List HLS when you take the LSAT so that your scores will be transmitted to the school.
Register for the Credential Assembly Service with LSAC, and pay the associated fees. This service allows you to submit your transcripts, other documents, and your letters of recommendation one time and to have them sent from LSAC to the schools to which you apply. Make sure to have all of your undergraduate and graduate transcripts sent to LSAC. Have your recommenders send your letters of recommendation to LSAC.
Once you have completed your HLS application, submit your application, your resume, and your personal statement to LSAC. The organization will transmit all of your documents to HLS once they are received. Pay the application fee of $85, and check online to see the status of your application. HLS has a checklist so that you can make sure that you remain on track during the application process.
The application deadline for HLS is Feb. 3, and the applications close on Feb. 28 (double check this to make sure this is still current!). If you submit your application to the school after Feb. 3 but before Feb. 28, it will be reviewed. However, different deadlines will apply to the decision process. If you submit your application before Feb. 3, you will receive a decision by April 1. If you submit your application after Feb. 3 but before Feb. 28, you will receive the decision by May 1.
Gaining admission to HLS takes work. However, if you are willing to put in the time and follow some of the tips that have been provided to you, you can greatly improve your chances.
About the author:
James Goodnow currently serves as the CEO of Fennemore, where he started his career at the firm as a file clerk nearly two decades ago. He holds a JD from Harvard Law School, a master’s degree in entrepreneurship from the University of Cambridge Business School (U.K.), and a B.S. from Santa Clara University, where he graduated first in his class.
