But two things are worth emphasizing: it’s doable, and it’s rewarding. The pace of work on the Law Review can be intense, and they throw you right in the deep end. (In fact, as late as this semester I’ve had people on the Law Review be surprised to learn that fact.) Those who did know didn’t see me as a second-class member of the community in the slightest. Lots of the 2L editors didn’t know each other all that well from 1L, so many didn’t even realize that I was a transfer. One pleasantly surprising aspect of orientation (that I was worried about beforehand) was that I didn’t feel at all marked as an outsider. It was a bit overwhelming, but inspiring.Įveryone on the Law Review was incredibly welcoming, and we quickly got on to learning how to do the job before us. They all had such impressive backgrounds and aspirations. Immediately, I was blown away by the caliber of the other editors. A few days after that call, I arrived in Cambridge and began Law Review orientation. It was one of those moments that you know, right as it’s happening, will be life-changing. I’ll never forget when I got the call offering me a position on the Harvard Law Review. How was the experience of joining Harvard Law Review? James, top-left, on the steps of Gannett House with other editors of HLR. I don’t regret my decision to transfer one bit, and I am so glad I chose Harvard. Once I was accepted, the chance to be on the Law Review sealed the deal. Although I knew I would miss my friends and professors from 1L, the opportunities at HLS were too exciting to turn down. The course catalog had a breadth and depth that no other school’s could rival. The large, diverse class would ensure that I would be able to find a group of friends and adjust socially. Pretty quickly, HLS became my top choice. But as the year progressed, and transferring became an option, I started to do my due diligence and to imagine myself in a new place. Like most law students, I didn’t enter 1L expecting to transfer -honestly, I never thought about it. Tell us about your path to Harvard Law School.

James joined the Harvard Law Review the summer of his transfer to HLS, and has shared his advice for prospective students below.

For another inside look at the transfer admissions process, we spoke with 2L James about his experience.

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