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Transferring law schools usually means switching to a new school after your first year (1L) to finish your JD at the new school. Your first-year law school grades carry the most weight in transfer admissions, so performing well can give you another opportunity to gain admission to a law school that previously turned you down.
But transferring law schools is often difficult, and getting an offer of admission is only part of the decision. You’ll also need to weigh the cost, any scholarship you would potentially leave behind, and whether the new school offers better opportunities for the career you want.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through transfer requirements, when to apply, and which law schools enroll the most transfer students so you can make an informed decision about whether moving to a new law school makes sense for you.
Transferring law schools is worth it if the new school gives you better access to the jobs you want, puts you closer to family, or offers something important that your current school lacks. The question to ask yourself is whether those benefits justify any potential added cost and opportunities you would leave behind.
Sometimes, after a year of law school, you have a clearer idea of what you need. You might realize you want to practice in another city, need to be closer to your support system, or want to specialize in an area of law that your school barely covers. These are all concrete reasons to consider a move.
Whatever your reason for thinking about transferring, before applying, make sure to consider:
Before committing, identify what you would gain and what it would cost you. If you need help comparing your options, consider expert law school admissions support.
Transferring law schools is difficult, particularly if you’re looking to transfer to highly selective schools. If you’re targeting a T14 school or other elite law schools, you’ll ideally need to finish your first year of law school in the top 5% to 10% of your class. For example, Harvard Law enrolled only 37 transfer students in 2025, with a median first-year law school GPA of 3.90. Georgetown Law enrolled 120, with a median transfer GPA of 3.73.
That’s a useful benchmark, rather than a requirement that applies everywhere. Law schools will consider other factors like your written materials and letters of recommendation alongside your grades, but your first-year law school performance carries the most weight in the decision.
Transferring can be challenging for several reasons:
Compare your first-year GPA with those of recent transfer classes at each school to build a realistic school list. Remember that you don’t need a 3.9 to get in everywhere, and being below a school’s median doesn’t rule you out.
Start by looking at each school’s application instructions, since eligibility rules and required materials vary.
You’ll generally need:
The law schools you apply to for transfer will look at your LSAT score and take it into account, but what matters more is your law school grades. Most of the time, you won’t have to retake the LSAT. For example, Harvard Law School asks applicants to report the LSAT or GRE scores used for their original 1L application. Check each school’s testing policy before applying.
Most law school transfer applicants apply for transfer during the spring or early summer of their first year (1L) of law school and begin at a new school in the following fall. However, some schools let you apply earlier, using just your first-semester grades, so check deadlines for each school before your spring semester begins:
Different schools have different deadlines for transfer applicants, so make sure to track each school’s deadline separately. If you’re applying for transfer at multiple law schools, consider making a spreadsheet where you can track deadlines for every law school and where you are in each application process.
Georgetown Law enrolled the most transfer students of any ABA-approved law school in 2025, with 120 students, followed by Columbia Law with 50 and George Washington Law with 46.
The following schools had the 10 largest transfer classes, according to 2025 ABA Standard 509 disclosures:
Just because a school has a larger transfer class doesn’t necessarily mean it has an easier admissions process. Note that the above figures count students who enrolled and don’t represent the number of students who applied or received an offer of admission. The GPAs reflect students’ first-year law school performance, not their undergraduate grades, and should serve as reference points rather than minimum requirements.
Most transfer students transfer after finishing their 1L year and begin their 2L year at the new school. It’s not impossible to transfer law schools if you’ve already started your 2L year, but your options will be more limited. Different schools have different limits on prior coursework and transfer credits before applying.
Not all law schools accept transfer students, and availability can change depending on the year. So make sure to look at each school’s transfer admissions page to confirm whether it accepts applications for the term in which you’re looking to enter.
You generally give up your current school’s institutional scholarship when you transfer. Any aid from your new school will depend on its policies for transfer students. For example, Georgetown doesn’t offer incoming transfers merit scholarships through admissions but encourages them to apply for need-based grants.
Your current law school will usually become aware of your plans because transfer applications often require a professor’s recommendation and a certification or letter of good standing from a school official. Requesting these documents doesn’t mean you have committed to leaving.
Different schools have different policies regarding whether they note transfer status on diplomas. Your JD diploma will come from the law school where you complete your degree requirements. If you’re not sure what a specific school does, reach out to the school’s registrar and ask. Your academic records will still document your previous law school attendance and transferred coursework.
Some schools allow you to apply using only your first-semester law school grades, but receiving an early offer doesn’t necessarily mean you can switch schools right away. Most law schools that offer early transfer admission make it contingent upon successfully completing your full 1L year. Check separately when you can apply and when you can enroll.
It is possible to transfer to a different law school with lower grades, but low grades will limit your options. The law schools you’ll be applying to for transfer will primarily be looking at your law school performance when deciding if to grant you admission, so not having performed well can make gaining admission quite difficult.
If you’re concerned about your academic record, look at each school’s minimum GPA and good-standing requirements and compare them with your profile. Focus on acquiring strong letters of recommendation that endorse your academic potential and submitting compelling written statements. These can also serve as opportunities to address circumstances that led to lower grades, but remember that they won’t totally erase concerns about your academic abilities.
Co-Founder of Juris Education, Dartmouth College
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