Transfer Application Procedure
Each year the Admissions Committee entertains applications from students who contemplate transferring to Stanford Law School with advanced standing. Transfer applicants are accepted, however, only to the extent that vacancies exist in the second year class, and only applicants with superior academic records in law study will be considered. The previous law study must have been undertaken at a law school which is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.
Applicants must have completed one full year of law study. The Admissions Committee will only grant admission with advanced standing to students who intend to spend two full academic years in residence at Stanford. Candidates may only apply for admission to begin the second year of law study commencing in the fall term.
The unit and residence credit to be given transfer students shall be formally determined by the associate dean for admissions and financial aid. Typically, a transfer student will receive three quarters of residency and no more than 39 quarter units of credit. In extraordinary cases, a student may receive more credit, but in no case shall a student receive more than 45 quarter units of credit for courses completed at another law school. Semester units are translated to quarter units as follows: one semester unit equals 1.3 quarter units. A student's offer of admission shall set forth the residency and unit credit given.
Each transfer student's transcript from the other law school will be evaluated to determine whether the student has completed the courses required of a Stanford Law School student in the first year. To the extent that a student has not completed those requirements, his or her offer of admission will set forth the required courses that must be completed.
Candidates applying for Fall 2015 transfer admission must submit the following documents:
- Application for Admission. Applicants are required to complete the entire application form and submit it electronically through LSAC. The deadline to apply is June 15, 2015.
- Application Fee. The application fee of $100 must be submitted by credit card through LSAC. The fee may be waived in cases of extreme personal hardship. Applicants who are unable to pay the fee should review the SLS Fee Waiver Application Instructions, complete the SLS Application Fee Waiver form and submit it to the Office of Admissions. Please allow 5-7 business days for a decision regarding your fee waiver request. Applicants should allow sufficient time for our office to process the fee waiver request so that the application is transmitted by the stated deadline of June 15.
- Resume. Stanford requires a one–to–two page resume describing your academic, extracurricular, and professional activities. The resume must be submitted electronically with your electronic application.
- Personal Statement. The personal statement describes important aspects of yourself not otherwise apparent in your application and provides your reasons for wishing to transfer to Stanford. The personal statement must be submitted electronically with your electronic application.
- Credential Assembly Service Report. We will request this report from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) upon receipt of your application. Please note that your subscription service with LSAC is active for five years from your original registration date. If you have not registered with LSAC, you must notify us in writing and arrange to have a copy of your report on file at your law school sent directly to us.
- Law School Admission Test. Stanford applicants for Fall 2015 transfer admission must have taken the LSAT no later than the June 2015 administration. Tests taken prior to June 2010 will not be accepted.
- Undergraduate and Non–Law Graduate Transcripts. The official undergraduate transcript on file at LSAC must show conferral of your degree. Official transcripts for any graduate work (non–law) should also be on file at LSAC. If a graduate degree was granted, the transcript must show conferral of your degree.
- Law School Transcript. An official law school transcript showing full first–year grades and class standing must be sent directly to us from your current law school.
- Letters of Recommendation. Two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a law professor, are required.