Harvard Law School

Harvard Law School announced that Sherif Girgis will join the faculty as a tenured professor of law effective January 1, 2027, and described his teaching and scholarship in constitutional law and theory.

HLS highlighted how library collections connect to the legacies of Randall Robinson and TransAfrica, including references to paper donations and digitization initiatives tied to law faculty and related advocacy history.

Harvard Law School announced a new National Security Law and Policy Initiative, describing its goal of strengthening HLS’s role in shaping U.S. national security through scholars, practitioners, and students and noting an advisory-board structure chaired by Jane Harman.

HLS posted remarks and community reflections connected to the August 26, 2026 welcome event for incoming students, including the announced composition of the entering class across J.D., LL.M., S.J.D., transfer J.D., and international exchange students.

HLS reported that seven staff members received the school’s 2026 Dean’s Award for Excellence and described the dean’s framing of the awards as recognizing contributions that embody the spirit of excellence within the law school community.

Harvard Law School posted an announcement and summary of Dean John C.P. Goldberg’s Commencement Day address as permanent dean, framing the message around defending democracy and the rule of law.

HLS announced increased funding for public interest careers, including expansions to the Public Service Venture Fund (PSVF) and increased Summer Public Interest Funding (SPIF) cap for summer 2026, tied to public-service legal work.