Be prepared for law school success with Zero-L.

Developed by Harvard Law School, Zero-L is an online course designed to ensure that everyone can gain the foundational legal knowledge needed to thrive in law school and to enjoy a deeper understanding of how the U.S. legal system works in everyday life.

It’s time to bridge the legal knowledge gap. Zero-L is here to help.

Students come away from Zero-L:

“If I had not taken Zero-L, I would have been lost in class.”

Gonzalo Robles LL.M., HLS ’19

Zero-L Modules

Ensure incoming law students and law school applicants feel more confident and better prepared.

Intro to ZERO-L

A brief introduction to Zero-L’s structure and goals.

Intro to law and the court systemS

This module deepens student understanding of what law is and how to “think like a lawyer.” Students learn about the structure of federal and state courts, the hierarchy of authorities, and the differences between various kinds of law.

How to Read a Case and Understand Precedent

Using a real case, students learn step-by-step how to read a case for class. They will also be introduced to standard common law arguments, and the role of precedent in judicial decisions.

WORKING WITH STATUTES

Students learn how to locate and read statutes, and are introduced to the tools and major schools of statutory interpretation.

A PREVIEW OF 1L COURSES

Students get a preview of the most commonly taught first-year courses so they are ready to excel in class starting from day one.

INTRO TO THE LEGAL PROFESSION

Students are introduced to their career options, the impact they can make as a lawyer, and how the profession continues to change and evolve.

LEGAL THEORY AND SCHOLARSHIP

Students gain exposure to some of the larger theoretical questions raised by law, questions which will often be lurking in the background of readings and classroom discussions.

Test Drive: Applying Learning

This capstone opportunity enables students to apply what they have learned in Zero-L in a final exercise that provides a perfect bridge to day one of class.

Learn more about the skills and concepts taught in Zero-L.

The Zero-L Learning Experience

Zero-L has been used by tens of thousands of law students nationwide to provide students from all educational backgrounds with the tools they need to feel more confident and better prepared for law school.

Compact Lessons

Quickly review high impact content.

Engaging format

Dynamic videos that teach and encourage.

Continuing Access

Access to course materials for one full year.

Comprehension Checks

Evaluate progress without any pressure.

Featured Faculty

Harvard Law School’s faculty is comprised of the top legal minds from every subject area, dedicated to excellence in teaching. Students no longer have to worry about what they don’t know when preparing for law school.

Maureen Brady, Harvard Law School — Louis D. Brandeis Professor of Law [Full Bio]

John Coates, Harvard Law School — John F. Cogan, Jr. Professor of Law and Economics, and Research Director, Center on the Legal Profession [Full Bio]

Andrew Manuel Crespo, Harvard Law School — Morris Wasserstein Public Interest Professor of Law, and Executive Faculty Director, Institute to End Mass Incarceration [Full Bio]

Susan M. Davies, Harvard Law School — Story Senior Lecturer on Law

Noah Feldman, Harvard Law School — Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law, and Director, Julis-Rabinowitz Program on Jewish and Israeli Law [Full Bio]

Jody Freeman, Harvard Law School — Archibald Cox Professor of Law, and Director, Environmental and Energy Law Program [Full Bio]

John C.P. Goldberg, Harvard Law School — Interim Dean and Carter Professor of General Jurisprudence [Full Bio]

Annette Gordon-Reed, Harvard Law School — Carl M. Loeb University Professor [Full Bio]

Thaddeus R. Beal Professor of Practice [Full Bio]

Randall Kennedy, Harvard Law School — Michael R. Klein Professor of Law [Full Bio]

John F. Manning, Harvard Law School — Harvard University Provost and Dane Professor of Law [Full Bio]

Ruth L. Okediji, Harvard Law School — Jeremiah Smith, Jr. Professor of Law [Full Bio]

Holger Spamann, Harvard Law School — Lawrence R. Grove Professor of Law [Full Bio]

Kathryn E. Spier, Harvard Law School — Domenico De Sole Professor of Law [Full Bio]

Kristen A. Stilt, Harvard Law School — Professor of Law, Faculty Director of the Animal Law and Policy Program, and Director of the Program on Law and Society in the Muslim World [Full Bio]

Cass R. Sunstein, Harvard Law School — Robert Walmsley University Professor [Full Bio]

David B. Wilkins, Harvard Law School — Lester Kissel Professor of Law, and Director, Center on the Legal Profession [Full Bio]

Student Testimonials

“My Zero-L experience was immensely valuable. It laid a strong foundation for my legal education and future career in law. It demystified many aspects of the law school journey, making the future transition to the study of law smoother and less daunting.”

Kevin Dale Martin

"It’s given me more than I expected in understanding the levels of law, from reading a brief to understanding [contract] terms."

Eileen Harvey

“For me, the class reignited my love of the law, that it can be a positive force to achieve change.”

Diana Staley

Students no longer have to worry about what they don't know when preparing for law school.

Zero-L is here to help with:

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Harvard Law School create Zero-L?

Zero-L was created for students who are about to start law school but who haven’t yet crossed the threshold to their first or “1-L” year—hence the name “Zero-L”. Zero-L was designed to ensure that all these incoming law students, whatever their backgrounds and previous areas of study, start with the foundational knowledge to enable them to thrive in law school.

Who should take Zero-L?

Zero-L was built for incoming law students and, over the last several years, tens of thousands of incoming law students nationwide have taken Zero-L. Because Zero-L was built for students who haven’t yet started law school, Zero-L is also beneficial for everyone in the process of applying to law school, thinking about applying to law school, or learning more about the law for their own curiosity.

In accordance with Harvard University policy, Harvard Law School does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, sex or sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, veteran status, or disability in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its programs and activities.

I’m interested in enrolling in Zero-L myself. What’s my next step?

If you are an individual learner looking to enroll in Zero-L, please complete this short application. To join the next cohort of individual learners in Zero-L, please submit your application by 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, January 31, 2025. We look forward to responding to your submitted application within 4 business days. There is no cost to apply.

How much does Zero-L cost, and how does payment work?

The fee for the Zero-L course for individual learners is $200. At this time, discounts aren’t available.

Individual learners accepted into the Zero-L course will receive an email from the Harvard Law School Online team with payment instructions. Payment is due in full by 5 p.m. Eastern Time the day before the course opens for orientation. If you wish to cancel your enrollment, you may request a full refund by emailing hlsonline@law.harvard.edu no later than one business day before the course opens for orientation. (Please note the business day concludes at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.) Requests must be received by this time to receive a full refund. After this asynchronous course opens, no refunds will be given. (If you have questions about enrolling a group of individual learners, please drop us a note at hlsonline@law.harvard.edu.)

Please note that Harvard is not responsible for fluctuations in international exchange rates between payment and refund, nor is it responsible for interest charges or other fees due to the timing of credit card refunds.

Harvard is authorized to offer distance education under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), an agreement that allows institutions of higher education in Massachusetts to offer distance education to students residing in other states that participate in SARA. For information about SARA-related student complaint processes for distance education students, please see https://vpal.harvard.edu/nc-sara.

How does Zero-L work?

Zero-L for individual learners is a fully online course that runs for six weeks, with new modules delivered every week and a brief online course orientation prior to the first module. All Zero-L content is fully asynchronous, so you can complete each module on your own schedule each week— you don’t have to log in at any particular day or time. Modules contain videos, vocabulary, and short exercises to check comprehension. The estimated amount of work time each week is roughly 2-3 hours, although individual learners’ timeframes will vary.

When is the next wave of Zero-L?

The cohort of Zero-L for individual learners begins with online orientation on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, with the first module opening on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. The course concludes on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Please check back here or sign-up to stay in touch with us for dates of future Zero-L individual learner cohorts.

I’m so excited to take and complete Zero-L. What happens when I finish?

Upon completion of Zero-L, individual learners will receive a Certificate of Completion. Please note that Zero-L is ungraded and that no degree or course credit toward a degree is awarded for Zero-L completion.

I’m a law school administrator or faculty member, and I’m interested in learning more or enrolling my incoming law students in Zero-L. What’s my next step?

Please drop the Harvard Law School Online team a note at hlsonline@law.harvard.edu, and we’ll be glad to share further details of the Zero-L course experience for law schools, as well as work with you on Zero-L enrollment for your law school students.