HLS Sees Increase in Applicants

Applications to Harvard Law School have increased in the wake of the financial crisis, and incoming students have reported the most work experience before matriculating since World War II.

According to Assistant Dean and Chief Admissions Officer Joshua Rubenstein, the number of applicants rose from 7,168 in 2008 to 7,610 in 2010.

The number of applicants tends to correlate with fluctuations in gross domestic product, Rubenstein added. In other words, as the economy worsens, more people pursue advanced degrees.

For the first time in decades, 72 percent of students in the Law School’s Class of 2013 took time off after graduating from college, and more than half of the class took two or more years off to work or pursue other interests before enrolling at the Law School.

Rubenstein attributed the trend in part to the Law School’s new leadership, which he said has placed “a renewed emphasis on experience.”

This year marks Rubenstein’s second year heading the admissions office and Martha L. Minow’s second year as Dean of the Law School.

The New York Times reported last January that despite rising LSAT scores, Mexican-American and African-American students are being accepted to law schools at lower rates nationally. But students of color comprise 37 percent of the Law School’s student body this year—a higher percentage than ever before, Rubenstein said.

According to Rubenstein, the overall increase in applicants has made the pool of prospective students more competitive.

“Experience is something we look for in the admissions process,” Rubenstein said. “People with work experience typically have strong leadership skills and bring good perspectives to the community. They have a strong idea of what they want to get out of law school.”

Benny Belvin II, an assistant director at the Office of Career Services, said he has recommended that students take time off before applying to law school to gain a competitive edge in the application process.

Deferrals—which the Law School doesn’t consider in admissions decisions—likely account for the reported increase in applicants with job experience.

OCS Director Robin Mount said she has seen an increase in the number of students applying to law school and deferring enrollment.

Mount said she believes many students feel that their Harvard degree will shield them from the poor economy.

“Harvard students tend to think there’s going to be a job for me,” Mount said. “Unfortunately, when the economy is bad, law schools don’t add 100 more spots.”

Job security is on the mind of many applicants.

“My mother emphasizes having a career with a stable salary and a degree so that my kids won’t starve,” said a junior at a recent law school info session. The student requested to remain anonymous because of concerns about privacy in the admissions process.

“Law school is a good door to everything,” the junior added.

—Staff writer Zoe A. Y. Weinberg can be reached at zoe.weinberg@college.harvard.edu.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

CORRECTION: OCTOBER 8, 2010

Due to an editing error, an earlier version of the Oct. 8 news article "HLS Sees Increase in Applicants" used an original quote from a source that was later amended. The quote has been removed.