LL.M. Admissions COVID-19 FAQ

10/7/2020 LL.M.
Admissions COVID-19 FAQ | Harvard Law School
LL.M. Admissions COVID-19 FAQ
Search this Department... 
Due to the effects of COVID-19, several changes have been made to the Harvard Law School LL.M.
application process for the 2021-2022 academic year. Please consult these COVID FAQ, the Graduate
39
Program Admissions FAQ , and the full LL.M. application instructions for information regarding the
application process and answers to common questions.
GENERAL
What will the instruction modality be for the 2021-2022 school year? 40
How many spaces are available in the incoming LL.M. class for 2021-2022? 41
Will you be accepting transfer applications? 42
Is the LL.M. application process changing due to COVID-19? 43
Are substantive changes being made to the LL.M. application? 44
Can I visit Harvard Law School and/or tour the campus? 45
How can I contact the Graduate Program Admissions Office? 46
ADMISSIONS CRITERIA
How will the Admissions Committee consider online academic work during the spring and/or fall 2020,
as well as other disruptions to professional or academic programs? 47
How will the Admissions Committee account for universal pass/fail grading systems for students
enrolled in school during spring 2020? 48
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY/TOEFL
Will you accept remote TOEFL tests, including the TOEFL iBT ® Special Home Edition or TOEFL ITP ® Plus
for China? 49
Can I submit an iBT score that is 2 or more years old? 50
Will you accept MyBest™ TOEFL score reports? 51
If I am unable to take a TOEFL exam, can I get a TOEFL waiver? 52
Can I submit results from IELTS, Duolingo, or some other language assessment service? 53
https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/ll-m-admissions-covid-19-faq/#faq-1-4 1/11
10/7/2020 LL.M. Admissions COVID-19 FAQ | Harvard Law School
APPLICATION MATERIALS
How can I submit my academic records (e.g., transcripts and diplomas, along with any necessary
translations)? 54
Should I use the LSAC Credential Assembly Service or submit my documents via email? 55
How do I format my academic records to be submitted by email? 56
Can I have my school submit my academic records via email? 57
Can I go ahead and send hard copies of my documents to the Graduate Program during the application
phase if they are available now? 58
If I am using the LSAC Credential Assembly Service, can I email copies of my academic records just in
case? 59
Can I switch to the LSAC Credential Assembly Service after emailing my documents or vice versa? 60
If I am admitted or waitlisted, when will I need to submit official, hard-copies of my academic records?
61
If I submit official copies of my academic records to LSAC, will I later need to submit official hard copies
to the Graduate Program if I am admitted or waitlisted? 62
What should I do if I need to submit certified translations of my academic records? 63
How can I ensure that I will have my official academic records ready for when I receive an admissions
decision? 64
How can I submit my letters of recommendation? 65
What should I do if I need to submit certified translations of my letters of recommendation? 66
What if I have already sent in hard copies of my recommendations and/or academic records? 67
What is an official transcript? 68
ADMISSIONS DECISIONS
Will you be operating on a different schedule this year? When can I expect a decision on my
application? 69
FINANCIAL AID
Will you be granting application fee waivers for applicants experiencing COVID-19 related financial
hardship? 70
What financial aid is available to assist with COVID-19 related hardships? 71
What will the instruction modality be for the 2021-2022 school year?
At this time, our expectation is that Harvard Law School’s academic programs will be on campus during the
2021-2022 academic year, but note that the school’s decisions regarding teaching modality will continue to
be guided by public health considerations.
How many spaces are available in the incoming LL.M. class for 2021-2022?
While we allowed a higher number of students than usual to defer their admission to 2021-2022, at this
time we do not know what effect that might have on the incoming class. Note that as in every year, our
admissions process is highly selective, and we are unable to offer admission to many impressive candidates.
Will you be accepting transfer applications?

No, we will not be considering transfer applications.
Is the LL.M. application process changing due to COVID-19?

Yes, there are a number of procedural changes to the application process, summarized below.
All recommendations must be submitted by the recommender (or qualified translator)

electronically through our online application system. We will not accept hard copies of
recommendations this year. We also do not accept recommendations via email or LSAC.
We will not be accepting hard copies of academic records during the application process this year.
For academic records, applicants may either (a) use the LSAC Credential Assembly Service; or (b)
submit unofficial copies of their transcripts, diplomas, and related materials (together with
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translations, if applicable) to the Graduate Program via the gptranscripts@law.harvard.edu email
address.
Applicants who are offered admission or a place on the waiting list will be required to submit fully
satisfactory hard copy official versions of their academic records immediately upon receiving their
admissions decisions.
We will provisionally accept a remote TOEFL test (TOEFL iBT ® Special Home Edition or TOEFL
ITP ® Plus for China) if you are unable to take an in-person TOEFL test by November 15, 2020,
but we expect that any offer of admission will be conditioned upon receipt of a satisfactory score
from an in-person test.
The standards for TOEFL waivers (near-native fluency) and application fee waivers (extreme
financial hardship) will not change.
Reapplicants who submitted their most recent applications after August 2016 will not need to
provide new copies of any academic records, transcripts, or diplomas that were submitted with
their previous application. They will need to provide unofficial copies of transcripts (and, for
degrees earned, diplomas) for academic work completed since their most recent application.
Reapplicants who are admitted or offered a place on the waiting list will need to provide official
copies of their academic records at that time, even if these have been provided in a previous
application cycle.
Reapplicants must submit two or more new recommendations. Recommendations must be

uploaded by the recommender (or qualified translator) electronically through our online
application system.
Reapplicants will need to submit an updated TOEFL score if their TOEFL score is more than 2
years old.
Are substantive changes being made to the LL.M. application?

No, there are no substantive changes being made. We will not be changing the number of recommendations
required, the legal essay or personal statement instructions, etc.
Can I visit Harvard Law School and/or tour the campus?

Harvard Law School is closed to the public for the fall of 2020. Please check the main HLS Coronavirus
73
page for updates.
How can I contact the Graduate Program Admissions Office?

The Graduate Program is currently operating remotely, and cannot be reached by phone. For questions,
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please email gpquery@law.harvard.edu . Please note that the Graduate Program has limited capacity to
respond to inquiries, and you should expect a response within 7 to 10 days.
How will the Admissions Committee consider online academic work during the spring
and/or fall 2020, as well as other disruptions to professional or academic programs?
We recognize that there have been significant academic and professional disruptions since the outbreak of
COVID-19, and will not penalize applicants for disruptions experienced as a result of the pandemic.
How will the Admissions Committee account for universal pass/fail grading systems for
students enrolled in school during spring 2020?
As always, our admission process is holistic and does not rely exclusively on numbers. We will not penalize
applicants for pass/fail grading systems instituted by programs in response to the coronavirus. Applicants
who feel their performance in spring 2020 was especially outstanding may consider asking one of their
professors to comment specifically on their performance during that term.
Will you accept remote TOEFL tests, including the TOEFL iBT ® Special Home Edition
or TOEFL ITP ® Plus for China?
We will provisionally accept these TOEFL scores if an applicant is unable to take an in-person iBT TOEFL
test before November 15th. Applicants admitted with an at-home or ITP TOEFL score will be required to
submit a satisfactory iBT TOEFL score as a condition of admission.
Can I submit an iBT score that is 2 or more years old?

No, we will not accept any TOEFL scores from a test administration more than 2 years prior to the
application submission.
Will you accept MyBest™ TOEFL score reports?

No, we do not accept MyBest™ TOEFL scores.
If I am unable to take a TOEFL exam, can I get a TOEFL waiver?

No. Our standards for granting TOEFL waivers remain the same.
Can I submit results from IELTS, Duolingo, or some other language assessment service?
No, we do not accept results from other language assessment services to meet the English proficiency
requirement.
How can I submit my academic records (e.g., transcripts and diplomas, along with any
necessary translations)?
We are requiring that applicants submit academic records either by a) using LSAC’s Credential Assembly
75
Service, or b) sending your academic records via email to gptranscripts@law.harvard.edu . Admitted and
waitlisted applicants will be required to submit fully satisfactory official hard copies of their academic
records.
Do not send any documents in the mail to the Graduate Program during the application phase.
Should I use the LSAC Credential Assembly Service or submit my documents via email?
If you can get your materials to LSAC before late October and/or are applying to multiple LL.M. programs,
LSAC may be a better option for you. In addition, using LSAC may increase the likelihood that the
documents you submit will be accepted for processing, because we will not be able to accept documents via
email if they are not formatted exactly to our specifications. Note, however, that if you are not able to send
your materials to LSAC until later in the application process, you may wish to consider emailing your
documents to avoid possible LSAC processing delays.
How do I format my academic records to be submitted by email?

Transcripts for each degree or program should be included in one PDF file per degree/program in the
following order:
1. English versions:
Diploma (required for degrees that have been granted)
Transcript
GPA and/or Class Rank Statement (only if available)
Letter of enrollment (only for PhD programs or programs in progress for which no
transcript is available)
2. Original language versions (if not in English) of the same documents, in the same order.
The file should be named “Last Name, First Name – School – Degree.”
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Send all transcript files in one email to gptranscripts@law.harvard.edu from the email address provided in
your online application.
Please see “Special Transcript Instructions” section of the full application instructions for more
information.
Can I have my school submit my academic records via email?

Not during the application phase. Applicants who submit their academic records by email to
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gptranscripts@law.harvard.edu must send all of their academic records together in a single email.
Can I go ahead and send hard copies of my documents to the Graduate Program during the
application phase if they are available now?
No. The Graduate Program is operating remotely and cannot process any documents sent by mail during the
application phase. We will ask applicants who receive offers of admission or places on the waiting list to
send official hard copies of their academic records after admissions decisions are released. Any documents
received before admissions decisions are released will not reach our office while we are working remotely
and will be destroyed before we are able to access them.
If I am using the LSAC Credential Assembly Service, can I email copies of my academic
records just in case?
No, you must choose one modality for submitting all of your academic records.
Can I switch to the LSAC Credential Assembly Service after emailing my documents or
vice versa?
No.
If I am admitted or waitlisted, when will I need to submit official, hard-copies of my

academic records?
Once admissions decisions have been released, admitted and waitlisted applicants will need to send their
official, hard-copy documents immediately in order to maintain their offer of admission or place on the
waiting list. The documents will need to arrive at the Graduate Program office within 4 weeks after
admissions decisions are released.
If I submit official copies of my academic records to LSAC, will I later need to submit
official hard copies to the Graduate Program if I am admitted or waitlisted?
Yes – anyone who is admitted or waitlisted will be required to submit official hard copies of their academic
records to the Graduate Program.
What should I do if I need to submit certified translations of my academic records?

For academic records requiring translation, we recommend requesting 2 official copies of your academic
records from your school and providing them to a qualified translator in a sealed envelope. Ask the
translator to give you one copy of the translation along with the applicable academic record, so you can
submit them during the application phase, either (a) to LSAC; or (b) if not using LSAC, by email to
78
gptranscripts@law.harvard.edu . The translator should return a second copy of the translation together
with the second copy of the official academic records to you, both sealed together in the same envelope (see
our instructions for official documents in the application instructions), so that you may have these materials
on hand for easy submission if you are offered admission or a place on the waiting list.
How can I ensure that I will have my official academic records ready for when I receive an
admissions decision?
We recommend that applicants requesting documentation from their schools request at least 2 official
copies, one copy to submit during the application phase, either (a) to LSAC; or (b) if not using LSAC, to scan
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and email to gptranscripts@law.harvard.edu . They should keep the official second copy in the sealed
envelope to send in if they are admitted or waitlisted to the LL.M. program.
How can I submit my letters of recommendation?

All recommendations must be submitted electronically through our online application system, either by the
recommender or by a certified translator. Applicants will register their recommenders and/or translators
within the online application. We will not accept hard copies of letters of recommendation, or electronic
copies through email or LSAC.
What should I do if I need to submit certified translations of my letters of

recommendation?
For letters of recommendation requiring a certified translation, applicants should still plan to receive a paper
copy in a sealed envelope from the recommender and take that envelope to the certified translator. You
should register the qualified translator as the recommender, and in the “relationship” box, you should
indicate “certified translation for recommendation from (Recommender name and relationship).” The
translator will receive an email link from our online application system to upload the recommendation. Ask
the translator to upload both their certified translation and the original document in a single file to our
online application system using the link they receive.
What if I have already sent in hard copies of my recommendations and/or academic

records?
You will need to re-submit them according to this year’s application instructions.
What is an official transcript?

An official transcript is a transcript printed on special (typically watermarked, stamped, and or sealed) paper
and issued by the official academic records officer of a school or university in a sealed envelope (with a
signature/stamp across the flap to confirm that it has not been opened) to the Graduate Program
Admissions Office. As long as an official transcript in a sealed envelope has not been opened, then it may be
released to the applicant to send (still unopened) to the Graduate Program, LSAC, or a qualified translator.
An official transcript opened and viewed exclusively by a qualified translator and/or LSAC remains official
provided that the translator or LSAC certifies that the transcript they received was an official transcript.
Once an envelope containing the transcript has been opened by an unauthorized party, the transcript is no
longer official. A scan of a transcript sent by email is not official.
Will you be operating on a different schedule this year? When can I expect a decision on
my application?
At this point, we expect our admissions process to proceed according to our regular schedule, with
admissions decisions slated to be released at the end of March. We will communicate any changes to
applicants during the application process.
Will you be granting application fee waivers for applicants experiencing COVID-19
related financial hardship?
As always, our application fee waivers are reserved for applicants experiencing extreme financial hardships.
We will continue to grant application fee waivers for applicants who experience extreme financial hardships,
whether COVID-related or not. Note that many students who receive significant grant aid from the
Graduate Program do not receive fee waivers.
What financial aid is available to assist with COVID-19 related hardships?

As always, Harvard Law School financial aid is need-based, and we aim to meet the financial need of each
student through a combinations of grants, loans, and term-time employment, no matter the reason for
financial hardship. Please be sure to submit your financial aid application by the December 1st deadline to
be considered for financial aid.
Links
1. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/
2. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/welcome/
3. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/administration-and-staff/
4. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/graduate-program-admissions-financial-aid/
5. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/llm-admissions/
6. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/llm-application-deadlines-and-materials/
7. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/llm-tuition-and-financial-aid/
8. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/ll-m-admissions-covid-19-faq/
9. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/llm-admissions-faq/
10. https://hls.harvard.edu/content/uploads/2020/09/Sample-2021-LLM-Application.pdf
11. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/sjd-admissions/
12. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/sjd-application-deadlines-and-materials/
13. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/financing-sjd-study-at-harvard-law-school/
14. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/vsvr-admissions/
15. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/vsvr-program-application-deadlines-and-materials/
16. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/visiting-scholar-visiting-researcher-program-invitation-letters-an
d-early-decisions/
17. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/vsvr-program-cost/
18. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/apply/
19. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/llm-profiles/
20. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/student-life/
21. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/llm-program/
22. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/llm-degree-overview/
23. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/llm-degree-requirements/
24. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/academic-resources/
25. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/admitted-ll-m-students/
26. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/sjd-program/
27. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/sjd-program-of-study/
28. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/current-sjd-candidates/
29. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/connect-with-sjd-alumni/
30. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/sjd-teaching-and-fellowship-opportunities/
31. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/sjd-academic-life/
32. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/byse-fellowships/
33. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/visiting-scholar-visiting-researcher-program/
34. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/alumni/
35. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/make-a-gift-to-the-graduate-program/
36. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/international-postgraduate-research-program/
37. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/gphandbook/
38. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/contact-us/
39. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/graduate-program/llm-admissions-faq/
40. #faq-1-1
41. #faq-1-2
42. #faq-1-3
43. #faq-1-4
44. #faq-1-5
45. #faq-1-6
46. #faq-1-7
47. #faq-2-1
48. #faq-2-2
49. #faq-3-1
50. #faq-3-2
51. #faq-3-3
52. #faq-3-4
53. #faq-3-5
54. #faq-4-1
55. #faq-4-2
56. #faq-4-3
57. #faq-4-4
58. #faq-4-5
59. #faq-4-6
60. #faq-4-7
61. #faq-4-8
62. #faq-4-9
63. #faq-4-10
64. #faq-4-11
65. #faq-4-12
66. #faq-4-13
67. #faq-4-14
68. #faq-4-15
69. #faq-5-1
70. #faq-6-1
71. #faq-6-2
72. mailto:gptranscripts@law.harvard.edu
73. https://hls.harvard.edu/dept/communications/coronavirus-covid-19-faqs-for-hls-students-faculty-and-staff/
74. mailto:GPQuery@law.harvard.edu
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10/7/2020 LL.M.

Admissions COVID-19 FAQ | Harvard Law School

Search this Department... 

Will you be accepting transfer applications? 42

Is the LL.M. application process changing due to COVID-19? 43

Are substantive changes being made to the LL.M. application? 44

Can I visit Harvard Law School and/or tour the campus? 45

How can I contact the Graduate Program Admissions Office? 46

Can I submit an iBT score that is 2 or more years old? 50

Will you accept MyBest™ TOEFL score reports? 51

If I am unable to take a TOEFL exam, can I get a TOEFL waiver? 52

How do I format my academic records to be submitted by email? 56

Can I have my school submit my academic records via email? 57

What should I do if I need to submit certified translations of my academic records? 63

How can I submit my letters of recommendation? 65

What should I do if I need to submit certified translations of my letters of recommendation? 66

What is an official transcript? 68

What financial aid is available to assist with COVID-19 related hardships? 71

Will you be accepting transfer applications?

Is the LL.M. application process changing due to COVID-19?

All recommendations must be submitted by the recommender (or qualified translator)

Reapplicants must submit two or more new recommendations. Recommendations must be

Are substantive changes being made to the LL.M. application?

Can I visit Harvard Law School and/or tour the campus?

How can I contact the Graduate Program Admissions Office?

Can I submit an iBT score that is 2 or more years old?

Will you accept MyBest™ TOEFL score reports?

If I am unable to take a TOEFL exam, can I get a TOEFL waiver?

How do I format my academic records to be submitted by email?

GPA and/or Class Rank Statement (only if available)

Can I have my school submit my academic records via email?

If I am admitted or waitlisted, when will I need to submit official, hard-copies of my

What should I do if I need to submit certified translations of my academic records?

How can I submit my letters of recommendation?

What should I do if I need to submit certified translations of my letters of

What if I have already sent in hard copies of my recommendations and/or academic

What is an official transcript?

What financial aid is available to assist with COVID-19 related hardships?

© 2020 The President and Fellows of Harvard College.

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