Dr. Michael Klarman

Professor

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Biography

Michael Klarman is the Charles Warren Professor of American Legal History at Harvard Law School, where he has been a faculty member since 2008. He earned a B.A. and M.A. in political theory from the University of Pennsylvania in 1980, a J.D. from Stanford Law School in 1983, and a D.Phil. in legal history from the University of Oxford in 1988 as a Marshall Scholar. Previously, Klarman served as a law professor at the University of Virginia School of Law from 1987 to 2008 and has held visiting professorships at various prestigious institutions including Stanford Law School and Yale Law School. His research interests primarily focus on constitutional law and constitutional history. Klarman has received numerous accolades for his teaching and scholarship, including being inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2009. His notable publications include "Jim Crow, Civil Rights: Supreme Court Struggle for Racial Equality" and "The Framers' Coup: Making the United States Constitution."

Research Interests

Experience

Professor of Law

— Present

University of Virginia School of Law • Charlottesville, Virginia, United States

Taught courses in law and history, specializing in constitutional law.

Awards

#

Bancroft Prize

Courses

Constitutional History II: Reconstruction Civil Rights Movement, Spring 2026 Constitutional Law 1, Spring 2026

Requirements for Harvard Law School

Master Program
Requirements
TOEFL
Listening
Required:25
Reading
Required:25
Writing
Required:25
Speaking
Required:25
Total
Required:100
Prerequisites
J.D. from an ABA-approved U.S. law school or a first law degree (LL.B. or equivalent) from a foreign law school
Application Checklist
  • Online application form
  • CV/Résumé
  • Personal statements (Parts A and B)
  • At least two recommendations
  • Official transcripts and diplomas
  • Official TOEFL report (if applicable)
  • Application fee ($85)
Specialization Notes

Applied for under 'Department of Law', 'Department of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law', 'Department of Constitutional Law', 'Department of Japanese Legal Studies', and 'Department of Human Rights'.

Doctorate Program
Requirements
TOEFL
Listening
Required:25
Reading
Required:25
Writing
Required:25
Speaking
Required:25
Total
Required:100
Prerequisites
Completion of the Harvard Law School LL.M. degree 50-page LL.M. Paper or equivalent
Application Checklist
  • Online application form
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • At least two recommendations
  • Official transcripts
  • Personal Statement
  • Summary of LL.M. Paper
  • LL.M. Paper (or equivalent)
  • S.J.D. Research Proposal
Specialization Notes

Doctoral program for 'Department of Law' and specialized legal fields.

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GRE General
TOEFL
Total
Required:100
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree or equivalent Understanding of economics beyond principles level
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • CV/Resume
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts
  • GRE General scores
  • TOEFL/IELTS scores
  • Writing sample (min 15 pages)
Specialization Notes

Department of Economics PhD program.

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GRE General
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree or equivalent Reading ability in languages necessary for research
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Personal Statement
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts
  • Writing sample (20-25 pages)
Specialization Notes

Department of History PhD program.

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GRE General
TOEFL
Total
Required:103
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Personal Statement
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts
  • GRE General scores
  • Writing sample (max 20 pages)
Specialization Notes

Department of Public Policy and Department of Global Leadership and Public Policy.

Doctorate Program
Requirements
TOEFL
Total
Required:80
IELTS
Overall
Required:6.5
Prerequisites
Undergraduate degree in a technical/quantitative field (CS, Math, etc.)
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • CV/Resume
  • Transcripts
Specialization Notes

Department of Computer Science PhD at SEAS.

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GRE General
TOEFL
Total
Required:105
IELTS
Overall
Required:7.5
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Personal Statement
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts
  • Writing sample (15-25 pages)
Specialization Notes

Department of Government PhD program.