HLS Academic Calendar 2026-2027: Important Dates

HLS academic calendar 2026-2027 provides the official schedule of term start dates, course registration windows, add/drop cutoffs, reading periods, final examination windows, and academic recesses for students at Harvard Law School.

Whether you are setting up your schedule in the HELIOS student portal, arranging clinical placements, or planning research travel during the January term, staying aligned with the official registrar calendar ensures a smooth legal education path.

Harvard Law School operates on a distinct three-term academic structure consisting of Fall, Winter, and Spring terms. Check out the main Harvard Academic Calendar 2026-2027.

Fall and Spring terms span approximately 15 weeks, incorporating active classroom instruction, dedicated reading periods, and final exam windows.

The Winter Term (often referred to as JET or January Term) is an intensive 3-week module where students complete specialized experiential learning courses, legal clinics, or faculty-supervised research through the Winter Writing Program.

Full-time J.D. and LL.M. candidates typically enroll in 10 to 16 credits during Fall and Spring semesters, alongside 2 to 3 credits in the Winter Term, maintaining compliance with ABA accreditation and degree residency standards.

Understanding the Harvard Law academic calendar 2026-27 structure helps you track critical checkpoints, including 1L required course assignments, upper-level add/drop windows, and clinic registration deadlines.

From 1L orientation and Fall reading days to the HLS exam schedule, spring 2027 testing windows, and Harvard Law School graduation 2027 ceremonies, reviewing key dates keeps your academic obligations and professional planning on track.

Below is the complete section-by-section breakdown of important dates and deadlines for the upcoming academic year.

HLS Academic Calendar Fall 2026

1. Incoming LL.M. students, S.J.D. students, and ILS Exchange students can move into residence halls on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.
2. Mandatory LL.M. Check-in is held from Wednesday, August 12, 2026, through Thursday, August 13, 2026.
3. Mandatory LL.M. Student Orientation is held from Friday, August 14, 2026, through Friday, September 4, 2026.
4. Incoming 1L and Transfer students can move into residence halls on Monday, August 24, 2026.
5. Mandatory University ID card pick-up is held from Monday, August 24, 2026, through Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
6. Mandatory J.D. Student Orientation Activities are held from Wednesday, August 26, 2026, through Friday, August 28, 2026, and on Monday, August 31, 2026.
7. Returning 2L, 3L, and continuing S.J.D. students can move into residence halls on Thursday, August 27, 2026.
8. 1L Fall Term classes begin on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, following a Monday schedule.
9. Labor Day is observed on Monday, September 7, 2026, with no classes, and administrative offices are closed.
10. Upper-level Fall Term classes begin on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
11. Columbus Day (Federal) and Indigenous Peoples’ Day (City of Cambridge) are observed on Monday, October 12, 2026, with no classes, and administrative offices are closed.
12. All upper-level classes meet on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, following a Monday schedule, while 1L classes do not meet.
13. Veterans Day is observed on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Classes are held for all students, and administrative offices are closed.
14. Harvard Law School Thanksgiving Break 2026 is from Wednesday, November 25, 2026, through Friday, November 27, 2026.
15. Fall Term classes end for 1L students on Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
16. The 1L Reading Period is from Thursday, December 3, 2026, through Thursday, December 10, 2026.
17. Fall Term classes end for upper-level students on Friday, December 4, 2026.
18. The upper-level Reading Period is from Saturday, December 5, 2026, through Tuesday, December 8, 2026.
19. The upper-level Fall Term Exam Period is from Wednesday, December 9, 2026, through Friday, December 18, 2026.
20. The 1L Fall Exam Term Period is from Friday, December 11, 2026, through Friday, December 18, 2026.
21. Harvard Law School Winter Break 2026 for all students is from Saturday, December 19, 2026, through Sunday, January 3, 2027.

HLS Academic Calendar Winter 2027

1. Winter Term classes begin on Monday, January 4, 2027.
2. Martin Luther King Day is observed on Monday, January 18, 2027, with no classes, and administrative offices are closed.
3. Winter Term classes end for upper-level and 1L students on Wednesday, January 20, 2027.
4. The upper-level Reading Period is held on Thursday, January 21, 2027.
5. Upper-level Winter Term Exams are held on Friday, January 22, 2027, which is also the final day of all Winter Term academic programming.

HLS Academic Calendar Spring 2027

1. All Spring Term classes begin for all students on Monday, January 25, 2027.
2. Presidents’ Day is observed on Monday, February 15, 2027. All classes meet, and administrative offices are closed.
3. Harvard Law School Spring Break 2027 is from Saturday, March 13, 2027, through Sunday, March 21, 2027.
4. Spring Term classes end for all students on Friday, April 23, 2027.
5. The upper-level and 1L elective Spring Term Exam Period is from Wednesday, April 28, 2027, through Friday, May 7, 2027.
6. The 1L Required Courses Spring Term Exam Period is from Monday, May 10, 2027, through Friday, May 14, 2027.
7. Harvard University Commencement is held on Thursday, May 27, 2027.
8. Memorial Day is observed on Monday, May 31, 2027, and administrative offices are closed.

For more on the Harvard Law School Academic Calendar 2026-2027, including real-time schedule updates, exam guidelines, and official handbook rules, visit the official Harvard University Law School Registrar’s webpage.