Harvard Law School

school, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

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July 23, 2026

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Harvard Law School, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is the first law school established at a university in the United States, founded in 1817. It is part of Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher learning in the U.S.. Harvard Law School pioneered practices that shaped American legal education, such as the case method of instruction, a three-year training program, and a full-time faculty of scholars. This model has influenced legal education globally. The school aims to balance teaching law as an academic discipline with preparing students for professional practice.123

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legal education
History
…of which was established at Harvard University in 1817. By the late 19th century, Harvard had put in place a number of practices that eventually came to define American legal education, including the use of the “case method” of instruction (see below Teaching), the requirement that students complete three years…
Read More
…of which was established at Harvard University in 1817. By the late 19th century, Harvard had put in place a number of practices that eventually came to define American legal education, including the use of the “case method” of instruction (see below Teaching), the requirement that students complete three years…
Read More