Transfer applications must be submitted between May 1 and July 1 of the year in which admission is sought. All applicants must have finished one year of law school elsewhere and meet the other eligibility requirements for transfer applicants.
To apply as a transfer student:
1. Complete the Application Form
Download the J.D. transfer application here.
2. Complete the Essay and Personal Statement
YLS requires one 250-word essay on a subject of your choice. Faculty readers look to this essay to get a glimpse of your character, intellectual passions, analytical abilities, and writing skills. The choice of a topic--a personal anecdote, an academic subject, or current events--can be illuminating.
You must also submit a personal statement (Question 9 on the application) to highlight aspects of your background that you believe will be of interest to the Admissions Committee. We are particularly interested in aspects of your background that may not be evident from other parts of your application.
You may also include a short addendum, if there is an aspect of your application (such as a leave of absence) that you wish to explain further.
3. Arrange for Recommendations
We require two letters of recommendation from law school professors who have worked with you. You may submit additional letters, but your file will be deemed complete when two letters have arrived. Letters of recommendation may be sent through LSDAS or directly to the Office of Admissions.
4. Submit the Application Forms and Fee
Mail the application to the Admissions Office in an envelope marked “Transfer Student” with a $75 application fee. A complete application for transfer contains an application, a $75 application fee, undergraduate and law school transcripts, an LSDAS report, and at least two letters of recommendation from law school professors. Applications for transfer and all necessary materials except law school grades must be submitted between May 1 and July 1.
5. Submit Law School Grades
Submit your first-year law school grades as soon as they become available. We must receive your law school grades by July 16.
6 .Notification
We will notify you by email when we receive your application and begin processing it. You can also access LSAC Online Services to check if we have requested you LSDAS report. You will receive another notification by email when your application is complete and ready to be reviewed.
7. All decisions will be made in the last week of July. Given the date that our decisions are made, we will issue decisions by email and post.