Could I use the Harvard Law Library as an asset to my undergraduate research project?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

I am a junior with a 4.0 GPA. I’m conducting a summer research project with my mentor who is a Yale Law graduate. My major is business and our research topic will pertain to the legal environment of business. We are going to get quite a bit of funding, including some money for travel and supplies. I’m thinking about making a visit to the Harvard or Yale Law Library to access the resources and possibly interview some faculty members. I have an interest in going to one of the two schools for graduate education, and I’m hoping that involving one of them in my research project could get my application a second glance. Any thoughts on how I could make this project great? Thanks!

2

Most colleges, including Harvard and Yale, require a student ID to enter on-campus buildings including libraries.Given the layers of bureaucracy at colleges, I seriously doubt you could obtain an ID to use the libraries as a non-registered student – so I think that aspect is a dead-end. However, i’m sure you could interview faculty members. You just have to do your due diligence, which would require an online search for their email, and ask them.

3

Yale Law Library access policies are available here: http://library.law.yale.edu/privileges-policy Harvard’s policies are available on their website. Beyond your GPA the only factor guaranteed to get your application a second glance would be your LSAT (or, for Harvard, your GRE) score. If admission to Yale and/or Harvard Law is your goal, you’d be much better off dropping the research project and spending the summer studying for the LSAT.

4

Thanks for the comments guys. I will certainly be ready for the GRE. This undergraduate research is something I really want to do. I go to a small but selective state school, so I didn’t realize that most colleges will only allow current students into their libraries.

5

Any other thoughts, anyone?

6

BUMP

7

Just to give an update, what Gibby told me was a little misleading. I contacted Harvard and Yale Law Libraries and I easily got permission to enter / use resources.

8

Any more ideas on how I could really utilize this project?

9

BUMP!