r/LawSchoolTransfer

Hot take: a lot of what people blame on their law school is just law school itself. But I'm not totally sure I believe that yet.

Just wrapped up 1L at a T150. Academically, I felt like I was largely self-teaching due to frequent professor absences (health, family, religious holidays) meant a lot of material got offloaded to Zoom or just... us. For the tuition we're paying, that's a hard pill.

Socially, the vibe was competitive but not in a fun, motivated way but more in a cold, every person for themselves way. School orgs were ghost towns. No community, no pride, total commuter school energy. My theory is that lower-ranked schools have higher demographic variance in their classes with more non-trads, part-timers, people with lives outside of law school which makes the "classic" law school culture harder to build.

I put in transfer apps to some higher-ranked schools. But genuinely asking: is the culture actually different at T50/T14 schools, or am I setting myself up for disappointment? Would love to hear from people who transferred or attended multiple tiers.

Any advice on/templates for asking professors for an LOR? How should I navigate explaining that although I enjoyed their class I want to transfer?

Currently at T30 school with 4.01 GPA. Looking to send transfer application to HLS.

My LSAT was 170. I found info about median GPAs for successful transfers to HLS from my school, but there’s no info about LSAT score.

Does my low (in comparison to HLS students) LSAT score overpower my high 1L GPA for transfer? How much of an impact does LSAT score have on transfer applicants?

Happened earlier this week. Current school is t150+. AMA (they extended the offer before spring grades were released.)

Hi all!
I am an incoming 1L, who has unfortunately been waitlisted at all of the schools I applied to besides 1. I am in state for this school (T130), but was given no scholarship (way above medians) for an unknown reason. I am out of LSAT takes, so it is what it is. I don’t really love the school at all and I think it may be a hindrance to my goal practice areas (finance/tax).

So, I am hoping to transfer after 1L and was looking for some info. I am not super worried about the curve as many of my undergraduate profs taught and did tests/assignments similar to law school, so I’d say I’m decently familiar. I was wondering:

1. Do you do extra curriculars during 1L to "beef up" your application like for undergrad?

2. How would you recommend making professor connections for LORs in such a short period? About when did you ask?

3. Any other tips and tricks any of you recommend

For reference, I’m not really shooting for Harvard but would welcome it if the opportunity arose. I’m mainly aiming for KU, Mizzou, WashU, etc. I’d also welcome any school suggestions you guys have as well. I’ve also thought about doing a tax LLM after law school. I’m also aware that transfers usually don’t get much scholarship if any. I don’t have anyone to ask these things so I’d be super grateful for any advice/information! Thank you!!

I'm a rising 3L (gulp) transfer student who wrote on to law review at my current school and since I know there's a lot of interest in doing so from prospective transfer students I thought I'd compile some of the top schools' policies re: transfer membership on law review:

Harvard: transfer students can either participate in the main write-on competition in May with the rising 2Ls or write on between their 2L and 3L year. no transfer-specific process.

Yale: transfer students may either participate in a transfer-specific write-on between their 1L and 2L years or wait to write on until the end of their 2L year.

Stanford: says that membership is open to transfer students, but no specific info about their process.

Chicago: transfer students may participate in the main write-on or may attempt to gain membership through the Topic Access Program (similar to a note-on process).

Columbia: transfer students may participate in a transfer-specific write-on or note on.

NYU: transfer students may participate in a transfer-specific write-on. they will select at least two and possibly more members.

UVA: doesn't usually take transfers, but they do say that transfer students are eligible to write on or grade on.

Duke: often doesn't take transfers, but does say that transfers may participate in either their first-year casenote competition or their second-year note-on program.

Michigan: transfer students may participate in a transfer-specific write-on.

Penn: transfer students may participate in a transfer-specific write-on.

Northwestern: transfer students may participate in a transfer-specific write-on.

Berkeley: transfer students may participate in a transfer-specific write-on.

Cornell: transfer students may participate in a transfer-specific write-on.

GULC: transfer students, including prospective transfer students, participate during the same write-on period as current students.

Wash U: transfer students may participate in the general write-on.

UCLA: transfer students may participate in a transfer-specific write-on.

Texas: transfer students may participate in a transfer-specific write-on.

Vanderbilt: transfer students may participate in the general write-on.

Notre Dame: transfer students may participate in the general write-on.

Some schools state that they reserve a certain number of spots for transfer students and others don't. Also, this is only for membership on the flagship journal.

Hi everyone! So Im currently at a T160+ school, on no aid. But after this past year Im looking at a 3.48 gpa, and will be offered a $35k scholarship from my school for my 1L performance. My issue is Im not sure whether to stay here and take the scholarship, or possibly transfer to a T50-70 and pay full tuition? Does the school you graduate from hold that much weight?

Looking forward to what you guys think

Edit: should add I’m leaning towards crim area wise and would love to open my own firm within 10 years after graduation.

Im looking at incurring ~20k compared to like $140k for my next two years. I just dont know because 120k is alot

I also already am kind of in the city i want to be in. Just more of do i make the hop over to the main “school” in this city or atleast jump up to a decent ranked school in a different city which I also wouldn’t mind

T80->T6. Moving to a different market. Should I let my employer know I’m transferring? If so, wondering whether I should do it now or when I actually start classes there.

The firm has offices in the area I’m moving to so I was also planning to ask if I could do the summer there or practice there post grad.

I'm really hoping to transfer (haven't heard back yet), and my current law school write on competition for journal is currently active. If I make it onto law review, do I have to compete in another write-on competition at the school I'm transferring to?

I know this may be very school-dependent but is there a typical path law schools have for transfer students who made it onto law review at their previous school?

I go to a T100+ regional school and did well in 1L. There are basically two main in-state schools which feed into the market I want to practice in -- mine and a T50 school. I was just accepted into the T50 and wanted to hear some advice/input on whether it would be worth it to transfer.

I have one summer internship at a great firm that I would love to work for after graduation. However, I was sadly rejected from most of the other top firms in the area. The few students from my school that got these top jobs seem to be from the area (which I am not originally from) or already had great connections. From what I have seen, students from the T50 primarily go Big Law or go to these top firms within the area.

What are the pros/cons of transferring? I would be paying about the same amount in tuition + living costs if it makes any difference. Will I have a better chance at securing more options in terms of job opportunities if I transfer? Is it hard to make friends? (friends aren't really a main consideration but I am curious).

I would love to hear any thoughts from transfer students or anyone who has knowledge on the transfer process/outcomes. Thank you!

hi everyone!im curious how transferring from a t100+ to a t14 would be like? Would it be impossible? whats the process like? thank you for any advice you’re able to give!

T6% at a T150 with texas ties

My girlfriend of 5 years is currently based in that city. My current 1L school is 4 hrs flight away from it. Should I also briefly mention this point at the end of my PS?

I’m down to choosing between UH and St. Mary’s but my goal in either scenario is to transfer to UT Austin. St. Mary’s and UH both serve my needs well and I’d be happy graduating from either, but UT is my dream and would open so many doors. So my question is, should I go to the lower ranked school and aim for top 10%? Or would I be better off at UH even if I’m closer to top 25%-30%?

My undergrad GPA is awful so even if I wait a year and increase my LSAT, my chances of getting into UT from the get-go are pretty dismal, so this is my best pathway to get there.

applied last week and just received email couple hours ago the turnaround is crazy!

3.6 at t60 :)

If you are above the median transfer gpa on a school's 509 report, how confident can you be that you will get in?

Hi, so I'm pretty sure I'll be attending Texas Tech in the fall, but that is not where I want to graduate from. I was wondering if transferring from Texas Tech to SMU as I am from Dallas and want to be closer to home or UH my alma mater is a feasible option ? And if you have any transferring tips even prior to 1L fall, please help me out as I want to be more than ready and equipped to transfer. (Money is not a concern My parents will be paying regardless.)