Hi - hoping to get your thoughts ... I'm very fortunate to be deciding between HLS, CLS and SLS (SPILS). My background is in international environmental/sustainable development, which I hope to pursue at one of the 3 schools. Afterwards hoping to work at an intergovernmental organization for a time and then academics (quite possibly after JSD). I'm definitely leaning in one direction, but thought I'd canvass the many members on this board -- any thoughs on the school choice would be most appreciated!

Many thanks!

Hi!
you are very lucky to have to decide between those 3! congratulations!
didnt CLS launch a climate change law center recently? I dont really know where SLS and HLS stand with regards to environmental law.. all i heard about is CLS.. so based on this limited knowledge, my advice would be CLS.
in any case, you will for sure have a great experience! congrats again! :)

SLS beyond doubt. If you're really interested in environmental law, you should go there. Aside from specialized colleges, like Vermont or William & Mary in Oregon, Stanford has the best program nationwide with a far better brand. amazing program! congratulations for your achievements

Thanks to you both, that's very helpful. Environmental law aside, how would you compare them overall-program and reputation wise?

Thanks again!

within the US: sls - hls - cls

abroad: hls - sls - cls

it depends where do you want to work afterwards. lastly, from the above ranking it seems I'm not a big fan of columbia. It's a great school though, but just a little little less than the other 2

concerning reputation and overall program, i would say HLS first, and then CLS and SLS on the same level. However, SLS has a smaller program than CLS, which could mean more attention from the staff, better interraction with professors etc.(and better weather too :)
I guess it also depends on where you want to work afterwards, (whether the int'l org./firms you're interested in are on the east or west coast), where you think it'll be easier to make connections etc.
but you can't really go wrong, whatever you decide.. let us know what your final choice is!

Echoing some of the sentiments here, HLS - SLS - CLS if you are from outside the US. Within the US, it's a direct toss-up between HLS and SLS. Your position is perfect though - you can't go wrong whichever way you decide to go.

Harvard is Harvard but the SPILS program is also very good.... nice choices, and you shouldn't consider CLS in my opinion with these two choices. At the end the ranking is all that matters, and clearly YLS and HLS are above, then SLS, then CLS and NYU. But academically SPILS might be a better choice for you.

Well, first of all, congratulations on your admissions! You're among the best of the best. Regarding your question, I would disregard CLS at first. Among SLS and HLS, I'd pick the first one for two reasons: first, it's more traditional in environmental Law, and second, you'll be one of 12 students in the SPILS program (while Harvard enrolls 150 students). That is priceless... From 12, you're one. From a ranking perspective, HLS and SLS are tied... Wish you luck and peace to choose wisely!

SLS〉HLS > CLS

It's going to be hard for me to say this, but SLS is your best choice. While HLS LLM is a fine programs, the SLS LLM program is much harder to get into. I'd say most people who've gotten offers from HLS LLM wouldn't get into SLS. And you will be spending time in the premier university in the world, not to mention one of the best campuses. There's no other school in the world that excels at every discipline of academics, as well as athletics. You will have a tremendous experience.

Congratulations and choose wisely.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts -- very helpful and much appreciated! I'm leaning towards the SPILS program, but will give it some more thought, so any other comments would be great!