About the Program
TRIALS is a unique partnership of Harvard Law School, NYU School of Law, and the Advantage Testing Foundation. It is a fully subsidized, year-long program for talented college students of modest means whose perspectives are underrepresented at the nation’s top law schools.
The program begins with a five-week residential summer component, held alternately at Harvard or NYU each year.
Beyond the five-week summer residency intensive, the year-long TRIALS program also provides:
- Ongoing LSAT preparation
- Application guidance
- Coursework preparation
- A mentorship program
- Career counseling
Each week during the summer component, instructors from Advantage Testing prepare TRIALS students for the LSAT by deconstructing the test and presenting a step-by-step approach to each question type. Students maintain a rigorous practice testing schedule, frequently sitting for full-length official LSATs under simulated testing conditions. Working closely with their instructors, students learn to develop an individualized study plan, focus their preparation, and apply the core principles they master.
TRIALS students also attend lectures presented by prominent lawyers, public figures, and legal scholars, including distinguished faculty from both NYU Law and Harvard Law School. These lectures provide a wide-ranging introduction to the study and practice of the law while giving students the opportunity to ask specific questions related to their particular fields of interest.
Perhaps most important, TRIALS allows students to experience communities similar to those they will encounter in law school. Students form study groups to challenge, motivate, and inspire one another. In lunches with instructors and speakers, students can take part in informal discussions to learn more about the law, their peers, and themselves.
Finally, TRIALS is committed to taking full advantage of the resources of its host locations. Students enter the field in Boston and New York City to meet with and observe lawyers at work, garnering practical experience that complements the academic curriculum.
The TRIALS 2026 summer component will be held in person at Harvard Law School from June 28 through August 2.
THE TRIALS 2026 APPLICATION IS NOW CLOSED!