A thread for mindless speculation, paranoia and one-upmanship. No, only kidding. Who else is having a shot at HLS this year?

I am. ;)

Well, best of luck to you! It's a long wait now. I presume you're also applying to the 'usual suspects'?

Good luck to you too. Inglorious months ahead of us. lol

Well, besides HLS I have applied to other 4 Law Schools. Some of them clearly "usual suspects".

By the way, where are you from?

regards

I'm from the UK. Bit later with my apps than I'd like because of funding applications. Are you applying to any outside the US? I am undecided...if I did it would probably have to be Ox BCL or Camb LLM to add value, but I can't decide. I am applying to 5 US schools in total.

I am applying to US Law Schools only.

I am also applying. I keep my fingers crossed.

I'm applying!

Re the legal problem that they ask for - what have you guys opted for? I'm British and property rights for cohabiting couples is quite a big deal over here at the moment, so I thought I'd give it a try.

Any ideas what they're specifically looking for?

Dear BCLer,

I didn't know about that either - I currently have 2 versions (not submitted final app yet). The problem it presents me with is that I think the legal essay should probably relate to one of the three main areas of academic interest it asks you to specify, and my 'main' interest is legal theory, so I am not really sure what I could write. I think I may end up opting for the safe option and writing about an issue in one of my other two areas, but this will probably end up being less original. I think writing a very theoretical essay is risky as there's insufficient space to expound the idea.

I would've thought it could be risky to write about something completely unrelated to one of your areas (begs the question why you chose to write about it) but perhaps other applicants could assist? It would be helpful to me too!

BTW, I have heard that 2/3 of the personal statement should be the legal essay, and the remaining 1/3 a personal account. As you have room to write about your career plans and academic interests elsewhere in the application, there's obviously no point in including them in the personal statement. HTH - perhaps that is really obvious, apologies if so!

I have chosen a topic on which I have been working as a legal advisor (issue being discussed in my legal system: several cases pending in court). It's a way of making it a 2 in 1: presenting the legal issue and emphasizing a relevant work experience.
Moreover, I agree with lextra: there is no way of writing a very theoretical essay due to the limited available space. For this reason too I believe there is advantage in describing an issue you are familiar with
My essay is related to my main area of interest.
In terms of length, I have made it half legal essay and half personal stuff. But obviously this depends on what each one has to say
Good luck to you all. (hopefully well all be admitted lol)
.

Hello!
I am . I am about to submit my application, but Im still waiting for the official transcripts from my Law school.

My essay is also related to my main area of interest (refugees rights) and, though it was very hard, I divided it in half and half: 750 words for the issue and 750 for my personal statement. I hope that is alright !

Have you already submitted the application?

:)

Harvard, Harvard, Harvard. I just sent my documents as well. Wish I could get it back and make some amendments though! oh well... now the wait begins. March seems so far away.

My online application has just been submitted this morning. The excitement will disappear due the extremely long period of waiting.

hey guys,

how long did it take HLS to update your application tracker with the info that they'd received your transcripts/confirming receipt of all recommendations, if these were submitted online? I sent them my transcripts well before I submitted my application, so I am guessing this should be fairly quick? They won't confirm receipt of transcripts over the phone so I am gnawing my fingers and wondering if I should get my university to send them another set of transcripts to be safe...

lextra, I have the same worry as you... wondering what's taking so long, as I sent my application already some time ago... maybe they're just swamped at the admission's office..?

hmmm. Is it just your transcript you are worried about? I think I might get my university to give me another copy and I'll fedex it to them. At least then I can track the package. I'm pretty certain they will have the previous one, but I have no way of checking until they update track your status...

I submitted my application on October 29. HLS received my LSAC report on November 9. However, here is my status:

Application Status Received 11/13/2009 1020AM

Transcript - Law School Complete 11/19/20091219 PM

Plus, two of my recommendations were submitted online, and there is still no status available.

So I guess you should not really worry, they are just really slow.

However, I have a question: my recommendation letter was sent without the form. Do you think it will be accepted?

thanks dabk, that is reassuring. I think I still might send the transcript again so I can track it, but based on what you say they probably already have the one that was sent weeks ago.

what information did the recommendation form have on it? was it just an administrative type thing? (all my recommenders submitted online). if so, I would've thought they would accept it - you would already have signed the waiver online for the other two recommenders. incidentally, my law school refused to fill in the form that is supposed to accompany the transcript because they will not provide some of the information that's supposed to go on it - and I asked admissions about this, and they said it was not a problem. So I don't think all the supplemental forms are quite as essential as they initially appear. Maybe best to clarify this with them?

also a fyi - the deadline for financial aid applications (if you are applying for financial aid) is december 1st. For some reason I thought it was later...

It's just an administrative form indeed... with name, email, phone of the recommender. I asked HLS, but I received an "out of office" email, stating:

"Given the number of applications we receive and the limited time we have available to process, authenticate, and review each of them, it is not possible for us to reply to telephone, fax, or e-mail inquiries asking us to verify receipt of application materials or confirm application status. We will make sure to contact you should we require additional documents."

So I guess they don't have time to answer at all.

I definitely wouldn't worry about that form, your recommender will have included that information in the letter. And you signed the waiver online.

I wonder if the last sentence implies they will be forgiving if documents have gone astray...? The application form is strongly worded on that point!