What is the starting salary at Harvard Law School?
Asked by: Gladyce Wiegand | Last update: January 27, 2026Score: 4.9/5 (37 votes)
Harvard Law School starting salaries vary dramatically, with graduates entering "BigLaw" firms earning around $190,000-$225,000 plus bonuses, while those in public interest or government jobs average much lower, often in the $50,000-$70,000 range, though HLS offers loan repayment assistance for public service roles. A median figure four years after graduation can exceed $230,000, reflecting the high earnings in private practice, but the range depends heavily on the chosen sector.
What is the starting salary for Harvard Law School?
Starting salaries in such firms range from $65K-$175K, with many falling in the $90-$120K range. Importantly, compensation at these firms often includes bonuses, which can greatly increase a lawyer's total annual earnings.
How much is 4 years at Harvard Law?
The total estimated cost of Harvard Law School's cost of attendance for one year stands at $111,000. We can multiply this annual estimate by four, resulting in a rough estimation of around $444,000.
Is a 3.7 GPA good for Harvard Law?
A 3.7 GPA is generally considered low for Harvard Law School (HLS), as admitted students usually have medians around 3.9+, but it's not an automatic rejection, especially with an exceptional LSAT score (e.g., 175+) and strong "softs" like compelling essays or unique experiences; it places you in the lower end of the applicant pool, so a very high LSAT is crucial to balance it out.
How much do first year big law lawyers make?
Big Law first-year associate salaries are highly competitive, with the prevailing rate in large firms hitting $225,000 in 2024-2025, though some top firms and boutiques are raising it further, while the overall median for all firms might hover around $200,000, with smaller firms paying less, and location (major markets vs. others) impacting figures.
The Three Things I did to get into Harvard Law School.
Can you make $500,000 as a lawyer?
Yes, a lawyer can absolutely make $500,000 or more annually, especially by specializing in high-value fields like corporate law or personal injury, joining "Big Law" firms, becoming a partner, focusing on complex cases, developing strong client acquisition strategies, and building a successful practice with effective marketing. While most lawyers earn less, top earners leverage experience, strategic growth, and high-paying niches to reach this income level, with some senior Big Law associates and partners earning well over $500k.
What is the wealthiest type of lawyer?
The richest types of lawyers are often specialists in high-stakes fields like Corporate Law, Intellectual Property (IP) & Patent Law, and Medical Malpractice/Personal Injury, especially those with science backgrounds or who handle massive litigation, with top earners often found in BigLaw or as successful plaintiffs' attorneys. While IP lawyers (especially patent attorneys with STEM degrees) command high fees for complex inventions, large corporate mergers, or complex personal injury settlements, overall wealth can also come from strategic business investments or big-ticket litigation.
What did Barack Obama get on the LSAT?
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.
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.
Can I get into Harvard Law with a 170?
There is no strict cutoff, but the score for Harvard Law School that places you in a competitive spot is 170–176. That said, people have been accepted with a minimum LSAT score of around 166.
How do people afford Harvard Law School?
Financial aid is offered in the form of both grants (scholarships) and loans. The average grant is approximately half of tuition; for a small number of students with particularly acute financial need, we are able to offer grants covering full tuition and a portion of living expenses.
Who is the most famous Harvard Law alumni?
Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, is one of the most distinguished Harvard Law School notable alumni. Graduating magna cum laude in 1991, Obama made history as the first African American president of the prestigious Harvard Law Review.
Is med school or law school more expensive?
The American Association of University Professors reported that in 2019, the typical student loan debt for law school graduates was $145,500, while in 2020, medical school graduates carried an average of $208,000 in student loan debt. Note that these are just figures because people have very different amounts of debt.
What jobs do Harvard Law grads get?
Our students go on to careers throughout government, the judiciary, and law firms. They are leaders in business, nonprofits, and academia. No matter what directions you choose to explore, our advising in the public and private sectors is focused on limitless possibilities for your career.
Is Harvard Law worth the debt?
Harvard Law School has the lowest debt-to-earnings ratio of all U.S. law schools, according to a new study by The HEA Group and Student Defense. Four years after graduation, Harvard Law graduates had a median annual salary of $233,589 and a median debt of $93,235, for a debt-to-income ratio of 39.9%.
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.
Does Reese Witherspoon have a law degree?
Witherspoon clarified, “I definitely did not go to law school, I didn't finish college.” This incident highlighted a significant public misconception about the legal profession.
How rare is a 177 on the LSAT?
A 177 LSAT score is extremely rare and exceptional, placing you in the top 0.5% to 1% of test-takers (above the 99th percentile) and making you a highly competitive applicant for virtually any law school, including the most elite programs like Yale, Harvard, and Stanford, often placing you at or above their median scores.
Did Michelle Obama pass her 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.
What is the #1 ranked law school in the world?
There isn't one single "number one," as rankings vary, but Harvard University, Yale University, and Stanford University consistently appear at the very top globally, often trading #1 spots depending on the ranking system, with Harvard often leading in overall QS rankings and Yale/Stanford in U.S. News & World Report's domestic rankings for U.S. schools. Other top contenders include Oxford, Cambridge, Chicago, and NYU.
How to make $500,000 a year as a lawyer?
To earn $500,000 a year as a lawyer, you need a strategic combination of specializing in high-paying fields (like corporate, IP, or plaintiff-side personal injury/class action), mastering business development through robust lead generation (SEO, PPC, referrals), and potentially moving into leadership roles like Big Law equity partner or becoming a renowned expert/mediator in a niche, leveraging strong marketing and scalable firm operations rather than just billable hours.
Which field of law is most in demand?
3. Specialized Legal Careers (High-Demand Fields)
- Cyber Law Expert.
- Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Lawyer.
- Taxation Lawyer.
- Environmental Lawyer.
- International Business Law Expert.
- Arbitration & Mediation Specialist.
What is the difference between a JD and LLM?
While a JD program provides the foundational knowledge you need to practice law, an LLM allows you to specialize in your specific area of interest and distinguish yourself in the legal market.