In an effort to address quality-of-life concerns voiced by its students, Harvard Law School (HLS) will slash lecture sizes and establish a House-like system of "law colleges" beginning next fall.

The plan calls for cutting the size of introductory courses from about 140 to 80 students and establishing a system of seven non-residential colleges to enhance students' advising and social life. It was approved by a unanimous faculty vote Sept. 22.

"That shows it's not just the students who want this. It's also the faculty," said Michael A. Armini, spokesperson for HLS.

The cost of the changes is estimated at about $20 million over the next several years, Armini said.

Under the planned college system, the roughly 550 students in each HLS class will be grouped into seven units who will socialize together and take introductory classes as a group. Currently, entering students are broken up into four sections of about 140 students.

Students responded positively to the planned restructuring of the student body.

"It's always been frustrating to me that the law school doesn't take more inspiration from the College," said Hanna L. Stotland '99.

While halving class size is a radical step, particularly by Harvard standards, many students said that HLS needs to make further changes to improve their quality of life.