“The law is a conversation before it is a verdict.”

Pre-LawAcademy

At Harvard University

by Harvard Undergraduate Global Education MovementDates: 11th - 17th January 2027

A six-day intensive for students ready to explore the law — its history, its contradictions, and the pressing questions that define our world.

Enter the argument

Program Vision

The law is a living argument.

It is an argument about power, fairness, and human possibility.

From the courts of ancient Athens to the chambers of the United Nations, the law has always reflected the societies that write it — and the individuals brave enough to challenge it. The HUGEM Pre-Law Academy invites students into that conversation.

Over six intensive days, students engage with legal theory, political history, international law, ethics, and public service. They hear from Harvard Law School professors, practicing lawyers, and law students on the front lines of change.

They spend a full day giving back to the local community and exploring public interest law. And they leave having argued their own case for how the law should be different.

“Law is not what lawyers know. It is a question every generation must answer for itself.”

The Framework

Building tomorrow's legal minds.

Legal literacy, critical thinking, public service, and the confidence to argue for change.

Who It's For

Students curious about law, politics, justice, and global affairs — no legal background required.

How It Works

Six days of lectures, workshops, community service, and guest speakers building toward a final policy capstone.

III

What You'll Gain

Legal literacy, critical thinking skills, a spirit of public service, and the confidence to argue for change.

In-person at Harvard University

Six days inside the rooms where the law is studied.

Program Details

A focused academic program at Harvard University for students in Grades 8–12.

Dates: 11 - 17 January 2027
Format: Day Program
(Mon - Sat)
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Eligibility: Grades 8 - 12
Program Hours: 9 am - 4 pm (Mon - Fri)
9 am - 12 pm (Sat)

Tuition & Fees

1500 USD

per student

Application Deadline

31 October 2026

Apply Now

Everything included

Full curriculum & instruction
Lunch provided on program days
Program-related outings & excursions
Interactive workshops & case studies
Certificate of Participation by HUGEM
All program materials & resources

Program Schedule

The six-day docket.

Each day adds a new layer of context before students argue their own proposal on Saturday.

Day 1 · Monday
Foundations of the Law
- Introduction to Legal Terminology & Types of Law
  What kind of law am I interested in?
- Introduction to Political Theory & Legal Grounding
  From ancient Greece to contemporary society — why does law exist?
- Guest Lecture
Day 2 · Tuesday
History of the State
- Types of Government
  What are the differences between democracy, theocracy, and autocracy?
- History of the United States
  How and when was the U.S. Constitution written?
- Political Economy
  How are governments connected to the economy?
- Research Methods Workshop
  How does a lawyer establish facts in a case?
Day 3 · Wednesday
Cultural Boundaries & International Law
- Jurisdiction of the United Nations
  What can the UN do when international law is broken?
- Guest Speaker
- Media & the Impacts of Globalization
  How does interconnectedness change the law?
- Sovereignty
  Is state independence possible in a globalized world?
- Legal Writing Workshop
  How do I write persuasively in an AI-dominated world?
Day 4 · Thursday
Revolution & Transformation of Power
- Legal Ethics
  When and how are decisions made about changing the law?
- Justice
  What is justice, and who is justice for?
- Law Student Panel
  What are emerging lawyers thinking about?
- Capstone Project Briefing
  You are a policymaker in your home country. Make one change to the law.
Day 5 · Friday
Public Service Day
- Morning — Community Outreach Service Project
  Students partner with a local Cambridge/Boston organization for hands-on volunteer work.
- Afternoon — Giving Back as an Attorney
  What does it look like to build a career around service rather than status?
- Public Interest Law & Government Service Panel
  Legal aid, public defense, prosecution, and nonprofit advocacy careers.
- Workshop — Pro Bono & Community Advocacy
  How do lawyers use their license to serve people who can't afford one?
Day 6 · Saturday · Half Day
Argue Your Case
- Capstone Presentations
  Students argue their proposed legal change before a panel.
- Awards & Certificate Ceremony
  Recognition for outstanding capstone arguments and program achievement.
- Closing Address
- Farewell Celebration

Outings & Excursions

Harvard University, Cambridge

Harvard Campus Tour

Walk through Harvard Yard and the historic libraries, tracing the architecture and traditions that have shaped American legal education.

Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston

Museum Visit

A guided visit to Boston's premier cultural institution, exploring the intersections of art, ethics, and justice through historical and contemporary collections.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge

MIT Tour

Discover the innovations coming out of MIT and consider the legal questions surrounding emerging technology, research, and policy.

Final Policy Capstone

Argue your case.

You are a policymaker in your home country. Make one change to the law.

On the final day, students argue their proposed legal change before a panel. Outstanding capstone arguments and program achievement are recognized during the awards and certificate ceremony.

Research

Policy

Argument

Harvard Student Mentors

Counsel from those already arguing.

Current Harvard undergraduates from HUGEM lead every session — sharing research, campus life, and the questions that shaped their own journeys.

Hadley Brown

Social Studies & Environmental Science and Public Policy

Junior from Nashville studying Social Studies and Environmental Science & Public Policy. Third-year HUGEM Board member focused on curriculum and operations. Passionate about climate policy, civil discourse, and travel.

Zain Memon

Neuroscience & Anthropology · Co-President, HUGEM

Junior from California studying Neuroscience & Anthropology with a secondary in Global Health. Co-President of HUGEM, researching adolescent health and systems innovation. Loves hiking, cities, and good food.

Suhani Sharma

Mechanical Engineering

Sophomore studying Mechanical Engineering. Builder, musician, speedcuber, and origami folder. Active in Engineers Without Borders, ExperiMentors, and the Harvard Undergraduate Drummers.

Leah Maathey

Environmental Engineering · Director of Curriculum, HUGEM

Senior studying Environmental Engineering and HUGEM Director of Curriculum. Technical lead for Engineers Without Borders, writer for The Harvard Crimson, and Earth sciences researcher. Enjoys travel, food, and exercise.

Allison Barrie

Sociology

Sophomore studying Sociology. Member of Harvard College Debating Union, Army ROTC participant, and ESL teacher for citizenship preparation. Loves swimming, climbing, skiing, and travel.

Alexander Dudek

Chemistry · Harvard Class of 2029

Harvard Class of 2029 pursuing Chemistry. Science communicator, published author, and Co-Founder of the Canadian Science Bowl. From Edmonton, Canada; enjoys hiking and sharing science.

Juhee Kim

Integrative Biology & Chinese · Harvard Class of 2028

Harvard Class of 2028 studying Integrative Biology & Chinese. Korean American from LA with experience studying abroad in Taiwan. Works in media production and plays viola in the Harvard Radcliffe Orchestra.

Harvard University campus — behind the Pre-Law Academy

Behind the Academy

HUGEM — teaching youth the responsibility of global citizenship.

Each year, HUGEM develops programs around the central theme of global citizenship — first, by helping students see how challenges in their own community intersect with the most pressing international issues, and second, by building the skills to act on them.

Leadership workshops, entrepreneurial pitch challenges, and pre-professional conferences combine learning from Harvard Trainers, hands-on problem-solving, and networking with peers — so students embrace their education and future careers with empathy, autonomy, and the ability to make an actionable impact locally, nationally, and internationally.

HUGEM Innovation Challenge (HIC)

Students research, stress-test, and pitch their own products, with personalized feedback from Harvard Trainers in venture capital and frontier technologies.

Workshops & Conferences

Leadership workshops, pitch challenges, and pre-professional conferences designed to build critical thinking and real-world impact.

Our Impact

Building a global movement of young leaders.

5,000

Youth leaders trained

Countries with HUGEM programs

1,000s

Locally impactful projects designed

∞

Connections and opportunities provided

FAQ

Questions, answered.

Everything you need to know before joining the Pre-Law Academy at Harvard University.

The program is open to students in grades 8 – 12 who are curious about law, politics, justice, and global affairs. No legal background or prior coursework is required.

The Pre-Law Academy runs 11 – 17 January 2027, in person at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA.

This is a day program. Program hours are 9 am – 4 pm Monday through Friday, and 9 am – 12 pm on Saturday. Overnight accommodation is not provided.

The fee covers the full curriculum and instruction, lunch on program days, program-related outings and excursions, interactive workshops and case studies, a Certificate of Participation by HUGEM, and all program materials and resources.

Students move through legal history, political theory, international law, ethics, public service, and legal advocacy, building toward a final capstone proposal they argue on the last day.

Current Harvard undergraduates from HUGEM lead sessions and mentor students throughout the week, alongside workshops, community service, and guest speakers.

Yes. The schedule includes a Harvard campus tour, a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and an MIT tour.

Enter the conversation. Leave ready to change it.

The HUGEM Pre-Law Academy builds legal literacy, critical thinking, public service, and confidence.