Letter to Prospective LGBT Harvard Law Students
Dear Prospective Student,
As the current Co-Presidents of HLS Lambda, we would like to encourage you to apply to Harvard Law School.
HLS Lambda is a social and political student organization dedicated to serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (“LGBT”) community at Harvard Law School. Lambda is one of the most active and visible student groups on campus, organizing a variety of academic, political and social events throughout the year.
Social Activities
Harvard’s large and vibrant student body is one of its most important resources. The critical mass of LGBT students here at Harvard truly constitutes a community rather than just another small group, and there are ample opportunities to find peers and allies with similar political and social interests. Throughout the year, Lambda hosts dinners, brunches, and parties as a chance to socialize and have fun. We have also organized weekend retreats to Provincetown and excursions into Boston. In addition, Lambda maintains an Events Fund so that individual members can plan more informal get-togethers to watch movies, The L Word, or other LGBT-themed programming. Further, we organize events specifically for women and Lambda members of color and coordinate frequently with another identity-oriented student organizations at Harvard. We are always looking for new ideas for social events, so let us know your thoughts!
We also take advantage of the great resources that surround us. This year, we will hold our 17th annual OutLaw Dance, which is one of the largest parties on campus. Over 700 students and LGBT community members from the greater Boston area attended last year’s event. We have begun to host a series of mixers with different graduate schools in the area, including the other Harvard grad schools, as well as Tufts, MIT and others. Additionally, we collaborate with other groups sponsoring LGBT events for the Harvard-wide LGBT community, including one organization that specifically caters to the queer women on campus.
Political Activities
Harvard’s prominence and financial resources have greatly facilitated our efforts in political programming. Last year, we hosted numerous scholars, practitioners, and government figures for panels, presentations, and speeches. Our third annual Harvard Lambda Legal Advocacy (HaLLA) Conference, titled TransLaw, focused on issues affecting members of the transgender community. The diverse range of speakers included distinguished scholars and political leaders, medical professionals, LGBT advocates, and grassroots community activists. Conference attendees included many important members of the LGBT advocacy community as well as student advocate and activists from all across the country. The conference stretched over two days, beginning with a wonderful opening address and concluding with an awards dinner at the Harvard Faculty Club.
We have already begun the first steps in preparing for this year’s spring conference, titled Queering the Health Gap, which will focus on issues affecting LGBT individuals’ health. Check our website for more details as the planning gets underway.
Academic Activities
We are fortunate to have a welcoming student body and faculty and a very supportive administration. Over the past few years, the school has taken great steps forward in expanding academic opportunities regarding the intersection of law and sexuality. We now have an LGBT legal clinic, which affords students hands-on experience providing critical legal assistance to LGBT clients and persons with AIDS in matters of estate planning and family law.
Last year, HLS offered several classes related to sexuality and the law. Sexual Orientation and the Law gave students a foundation in general legal issues affecting sexual minorities. Other recent courses have addressed transgender issues and new influences on family law. HLS Lambda seeks to ensure that course offerings regularly include LGBT topics.
Applying to Harvard Law School
HLS Lambda is only one of over a hundred student organizations on campus. Given the breadth of activities and opportunities available, we believe that Harvard Law School provides a uniquely rich, rewarding, and satisfying experience for its LGBT students. While this letter does not ensure your admission, we encourage you to apply if you are excited by the prospect of a rewarding and meaningful legal education and career and are interested in becoming a member of the Harvard Law School community. The Law School will waive the application fee for students who demonstrate financial need. You may submit the enclosed fee waiver application after applying for admission at http://www.law.harvard.edu/admissions/jd/apply.
We invite you to e-mail us with any questions about the application process, academics and student life at the law school, as well as any other concerns you may have. You can find more information about Lambda on the rest of our website here. You may also wish to contact the Admissions Office directly at (617) 495-3179. Good luck with your year; we look forward to hearing from you!
Best wishes,
Alvin Lee ‘09 and Lee Strock ’09
Co-Presidents, HLS Lambda