What famous people went to Harvard Law School?
Asked by: Lynn Frami | Last update: February 13, 2026Score: 5/5 (34 votes)
Harvard Law School boasts numerous notable alumni in politics, law, business, and media, including U.S. Presidents Barack Obama and Rutherford B. Hayes, First Lady Michelle Obama, Supreme Court Justices like Elena Kagan, business leaders such as Michael Bloomberg, and prominent politicians like Senator Elizabeth Warren and former Attorney General Janet Reno, showcasing a broad impact across sectors.
What famous lawyers went to Harvard?
U.S. attorneys general
- Francis Biddle.
- Charles Joseph Bonaparte, also United States Secretary of the Navy and founder of the precursor to the FBI.
- William M. ...
- Merrick Garland, also former Chief Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
- Alberto Gonzales.
- Ebenezer R. ...
- Loretta Lynch.
Can a 3.7 GPA get into Harvard Law?
Harvard Law School typically looks for a GPA of 3.89 or higher, based on recent admissions data.
Did Michelle Obama go to Harvard Law?
Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Born in Chicago and raised on the South Side of the city, Obama is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School. In her early legal career, she worked at the law firm Sidley Austin where she met her future husband.
What billionaires went to Harvard?
Discover how Harvard University has produced the highest number of billionaire alumni, including Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Ballmer.
Asking Harvard Students If They Ever Sleep
Does Trump have a Harvard degree?
No, Donald Trump did not graduate from Harvard; he graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1968 with a degree in economics after transferring from Fordham University. He attended Fordham for two years before moving to Wharton, an Ivy League institution, to complete his undergraduate studies.
Can a 2.5 GPA go to Harvard?
Getting into Harvard with a 2.5 GPA is highly improbable, though technically not impossible, as Harvard uses a holistic review and few students with such low grades are admitted, usually requiring extraordinary circumstances like exceptional athletic recruitment, family connections (legacy/donation), or truly outstanding achievements in other areas to offset the low GPA, which is far below their average of ~4.0.
What was Barack Obama's LSAT score?
Barack Obama's specific LSAT score has never been officially released, but it's widely believed he scored very highly (likely above 170, potentially near perfect) to gain admission to Harvard Law School despite a lower undergraduate GPA, suggesting he was in the top few percentile of test-takers for his application year. While no official number exists, analyses point to a score in the top tier (e.g., 94th-98th percentile) to overcome his GPA for admission to a top-ranked program like Harvard.
When did Joe Biden finish law school?
In 1968, Biden earned a Juris Doctor degree from the university's College of Law, ranked 76th in his class of 85 students. He was admitted to the Delaware bar in 1969 and practiced as a lawyer before running for political office. On December 18, 1972, Biden's wife and daughter died in a car crash.
What 8 presidents went to Harvard?
Eight Presidents of the United States have graduated from Harvard University: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Rutherford B. Hayes, John F. Kennedy, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.
Is it harder to get into Yale law or Harvard law?
Yale Law School (YLS) is generally considered harder to get into than Harvard Law School (HLS) due to its significantly lower acceptance rate and smaller class size, making it the most selective law school in the U.S., though both are exceptionally difficult with similar elite academic profiles (high GPAs, LSATs). YLS often admits fewer students relative to applicants, focusing on a very small cohort, while HLS accepts a larger number to fill its much bigger class, creating a perception that YLS is more exclusive despite comparable applicant quality, notes Quora users and TestMax.
What GPA is top 1%?
A GPA in the top 1% generally means a near-perfect or perfect GPA, typically around 3.9 to 4.0 (or higher with weighted courses), often qualifying for the highest academic honor, summa cum laude, at many universities, though the exact number can vary by institution and class size. In high school, a 4.0 often places you in the top 2-5%, but achieving the very top percentile (1%) usually requires perfect scores or extremely high weighted scores from AP/IB classes.
What did Elle Woods get on her LSAT?
Elle Woods scored a 179 on the LSAT, just one point shy of a perfect 180, after going from a 143 on a practice test to achieving this near-perfect score by studying intensely for Harvard Law School. Her remarkable score, combined with a 4.0 GPA, secured her admission to Harvard Law.
Who is Elon Musk's lawyer?
Elon Musk's primary lawyer is Alex Spiro, a high-profile partner at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, known for handling complex litigation for celebrities and powerful figures, though other lawyers like Chris Gober also represent him in specific areas, such as political matters, with a new firm focusing on conservative legal power. Spiro famously represented Musk in the Twitter acquisition lawsuit and is noted for his confidence and strategic approach, even in high-stakes situations.
What is the #1 law firm in the world?
There isn't one single "number 1" law firm, as rankings vary by criteria (revenue, size, prestige, specific practice), but Kirkland & Ellis consistently ranks as the #1 highest-grossing firm globally by revenue, exceeding $8.8 billion in 2024, followed by firms like Latham & Watkins and DLA Piper. For prestige or "feared" status, firms like Quinn Emanuel might top lists, while others excel in specific areas like M&A or IP, so "best" depends on the context.
Who are the Magic 5 lawyers?
The "Magic Circle" refers to five prestigious, London-headquartered law firms known for corporate law and high revenue: A&O Shearman, Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters, and Slaughter and May. Coined by journalists in the 1990s, the term identifies these elite firms for their global reach, high-profile work, and significant financial success in the legal sector.
Did Barack Obama finish law school?
Obama graduated from Harvard Law in 1991 with a Juris Doctor magna cum laude. In 1991, Obama accepted a two-year position as Visiting Law and Government Fellow at the University of Chicago Law School to work on his first book.
What was Joe Biden's GPA?
Joe Biden had a modest GPA in undergrad at the University of Delaware, reportedly around a 1.9 for a semester and mostly Cs and Ds initially, but improved later; in law school at Syracuse, he started in the bottom two-thirds but finished in the top half and won a moot court competition, graduating with a JD on scholarship.
What degrees does Donald Trump have?
Though Trump personally opposed the war, he did not participate in protests. Trump graduated from the Wharton School in May 1968 with a Bachelor of Science in economics.
Did Kim Kardashian pass the LSAT?
That said, the question about what the “Kim Kardashian LSAT score” was, or if she even took the LSAT ends in a resounding no. This unconventional choice has sparked conversations about making legal education more accessible and exploring diverse paths in the legal profession.
Did Michelle Obama ever pass a bar exam?
Yes, Michelle Obama did pass the Illinois bar exam, but she failed it on her first attempt after graduating from Harvard Law School before passing it on her second try, later becoming a licensed attorney in Illinois and having a successful legal career before becoming First Lady. She was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1989 and went on to work in intellectual property law at a firm where she met her husband, Barack Obama.
What did Ben Affleck get on his SAT?
Ben Affleck reportedly had a "near-perfect" or "almost perfect" SAT score, rumored to be 1600, on the old 1600-point scale, though the exact score isn't officially confirmed, with sources citing sources like the New York Times on his high aptitude despite poor high school attendance.
Did Mark Zuckerberg get a 1600 on his SAT?
Yes, Mark Zuckerberg reportedly scored a perfect 1600 on the SAT before attending Harvard, a common claim alongside other tech moguls like Bill Gates achieving similar top scores during that era of the test. This perfect score highlights his exceptional academic ability, though the SAT scale and test structure have changed since he took it.
How do you get a 100% scholarship to Harvard?
Scholarships & Grants
Because Harvard is committed to affordability, our scholarships are designed to cover 100% of your demonstrated financial need. Here is our process: First we determine your award by establishing your parent contribution. Then we factor in student employment and any outside awards you've received.
What is the top 1% SAT score?
A top 1% SAT score is generally considered to be 1530 or higher, with scores of 1500+ placing you in the top 2%, and scores of 1530-1600 in the top 1% or 99th percentile, indicating exceptional performance for college admissions, especially for highly selective universities.