For Transfer Applicants
Advanced standing students come from law schools across the country and make a substantial and welcome contribution to Berkeley Law's student body.
Click below for more information about each advanced standing category:
Transfer Applicants (2nd Year)
Special Status Applicants (3rd Year)
Advanced standing applicants are considered for the fall term only and admission decisions are made in early August.
In reviewing advanced standing applications, we consider each applicant’s performance in law school. Advanced standing applicants are required to provide two letters of recommendation from law professors with whom they have studied.
Admission to Berkeley Law with advanced standing is competitive. The school usually receives more than 200 applications for the 45 to 50 places available in the second-year class for transfer students, and those who are accepted are usually in at least the top 3-5 percent of their classes. We typically receive 25-30 applications for the five places available for special status students in the third-year class.
Transfer Students
A law student who has completed one year at another law school may apply for transfer status to enter Berkeley Law's second-year class if:
- before legal study, a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent was awarded by an approved college or university;
- the first-year curriculum has been completed in a full-time program at a law school that is fully-approved by the American Bar Association;
- a minimum of 24 semester units have been completed before entrance;
- the work for which transfer credit is sought is of very high quality; and
- the student has not been placed on probation or disqualified.
A maximum of 31 units completed elsewhere will be accepted toward a Berkeley Law J.D. degree, although students who have completed more units may apply. The school reserves the right to prescribe further conditions for the granting of such credit. The application filing period is April 1-June 15, 2009.
Transfer Applicants Must Submit the Following--
- An application form (electronic application through Law Services preferred)
- $75.00 application fee
- A personal statement
- LSDAS report available for our office to request from Law Services
- Two recommendations from law professors (these either may be attached to your LSDAS report or mailed directly to us at 2850 Telegraph Avenue, Suite 500, Berkeley, CA 94705-7220)
- Home law school transcript that includes final spring term grades (this must be sent directly to our office; do not send your law school transcript to Law Services)
- Letter of good standing sent from your home law school (can be included with transcripts)
- Financial aid applicants should follow the instructions given to first-year applicants
Transfer - Frequently Asked Questions
Is there anything I can do during my first year to enhance my transfer application?
Earn excellent grades during your first year. The predominant emphasis in our transfer admission program is on academic performance during the first year of law school.
When should I apply? What is the deadline?
We accept transfer applications from April 1 until June 15. We encourage transfer applicants to apply and provide all supporting documents through LSAC. Assuming you applied for first-year status in the past year, your Law Services subscription should still be active. An early application is encouraged to ensure that all documents are processed on time by LSAC. Please refer to the Transfer Checklist above for specific information on what you need to submit. Supporting documents, especially spring grades, may arrive after our deadline, but be forewarned that almost all of our decisions will have been made by mid-July. Admission decisions cannot be made until after spring grades are reported; these may be faxed to us to expedite your decision.
How many transfer applications are received? How many places are available?
We usually received 200-300 applications for 45-50 places in the second-year class.
May part-time students apply?
We offer a full-time program so, by definition, transfer students are full-fledged second-year students. Student enrolled in a part-time program do not have sufficient credits to transfer. Our decisions are released in July, so it is not possible for part-time students who are enrolled in summer courses to apply the same year.
I attend a law school that is not accredited by the ABA. Can I apply?
We only accept transfer credits from law schools that are either fully- or provisionally-accredited by the American Bar Association.
Does getting involved in extra-curricular activities (such as volunteering with a law-related non-profit) as a 1L enhance my transfer chances?
Outside activities will only enhance your chances if your first-year grades are also strong. Extra-curricular activities do not substitute for strong academic performance.
How high does my class rank need to be in order to transfer?
In general, successful transfer applicants usually come from the top 5-8 percent of their first-year class.
What should I highlight in my personal statement?
We recommend a two- to four-page personal statement in which you provide some insight on your background and your potential contribution to classroom dialogue and scholarly research. An indication of why you wish to transfer to Berkeley could be included, but it is not required. We recommend including a current resume.
From whom should I get letters of recommendation?
We require two letters from first-year faculty members. You may include one additional letter from a non-academic source. More than three letters is discouraged.
Are you able to get the classes you want considering that transfers sign up after all the other 2Ls?
In general, yes. The faculty reserve seats in their classes for new transfer students.
How many units do you take the first semester at Berkeley Law?
This depends on the individual and on how many units will be transferred in. We require 85 units to graduate; on average it would be 13-14 units.
How does being a transfer affect OCIP?
You are not at a disadvantage as a transfer student. OCIP begins after you begin classes. A representative from our Career Development Office is an integral part of transfer orientation. Our transfers have traditionally done well in the job market and have been pleased with the opportunities afforded them at Berkeley Law. An advantage to Berkeley Law’s on campus interview program (in which hundreds of employers participate) is that employers do not "pre-screen" students and designate the candidates they want to interview. Rather, interviews are assigned through a bidding and randomized assignment process. In addition, as a transfer student, your superior academic performance at your former school, and the initiative you have demonstrated by transferring to Berkeley Law, are attributes that are meaningful and attractive to employers. For advice about your specific circumstances, feel free to contact one of the Career Development Office's attorney-counselors.
Can transfer students be on moot court teams/trial teams their 2L year?
Yes.
When does the write-on competition happen for journals?
Berkeley Law has 13 student-run law reviews and journals. Students may join 12 of them simply by volunteering. The California Law Review (CLR) runs a write-on competition which is held shortly after transfers begin classes. A representative from CLR gives a presentation about the competition at each transfer orientation.
Are transfers welcomed at Boalt?
Most definitely. In fact, we have found that transfer students not only integrate quickly, but that they often become some of our top students.
Any general housing advice?
Because the transfer admission process occurs so close in time to when classes begin, it is imperative that transfer students make their enrollment decision quickly. There are many housing resources available, both through the University’s Housing Office and through on-line services, like craigslist.com. We attempt to release all of our transfer admission decisions by mid-July, and it is rare that new transfer students are without housing by the time we begin classes the third Monday in August.
Other questions?
Contact Admissions: 510.642.2274 or admissions@law.berkeley.edu.
Contact Financial Aid: 510.642.1563 or financial-aid@law.berkeley.edu
Special Status Students
The School of Law admits a few special status students who study at Berkeley Law for a year but who receive their law degrees from their school of origin. Special status admission is available to students who have completed two years of high-quality work at another law school and who have demonstrated a compelling need to spend their third year at Berkeley. Special status applicants should discuss their compelling need to attend in their personal statements.
Before an applicant is considered for special status, the dean of the school of origin must send a letter agreeing to accept work satisfactorily completed at Berkeley as credit toward the student's law degree. Moreover, law students will only be considered for special status if:
- before legal study, a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent was awarded by an approved college or university;
- the law school curriculum has been completed in a full-time program at a school fully-approved by the American Bar Association; and
- the student has not been placed on probation or disqualified.
Admission to special status is not granted to fulfill individual academic interests. The application filing period is April 1-June 15, 2009.
Special Status Applicants Must Submit the Following--
- Berkeley Law application forms. Do not apply via the Law Services Electronic Application Service (EApp); use the PDF application found on this website instead,
- $75.00 application fee,
- A personal statement,
- Two recommendations from law professors mailed directly to us at 2850 Telegraph Avenue, Suite 500, Berkeley, CA 94705-7220,
- A copy of the first page of your LSDAS report from your home law school registrar's office,
- A letter from your home law school dean's office confirming permission for you to do coursework at Berkeley Law,
- A home law school transcript that includes final spring term grades.
Special Status - Frequently Asked Questions
When should I apply? What is the deadline?
We accept special status applications from April 1 until June 15. Special Status applicants must submit a paper application directly to our office. An early application is encouraged to ensure that all documents are processed on time. Supporting documents, especially spring grades, may arrive after our deadline, but be forewarned that almost all of our decisions will have been made by mid-July. Admission decisions cannot be made until after spring grades are reported; these may be faxed to us to expedite your decision.
How many special status applications for third-year visitors are received? How many places are available?
On average, we receive 20-25 applications for 5-7 visitor places. Admission is based solely on a compelling need to be at Berkeley..
What should I highlight in my personal statement?
Special status applicants should discuss their compelling need to attend Berkeley Law in their personal statements. We recommend including a current resume.
From whom should I get letters of recommendation?
We require two letters from faculty members at your home law school.
Any general housing advice?
Because the transfer admission process occurs so close in time to when classes begin, it is imperative that transfer students make their enrollment decision quickly. There are many housing resources available, both through the University’s Housing Office and through on-line services, like craigslist.com. We attempt to release all of our transfer admission decisions by mid-July, and it is rare that new transfer students are without housing by the time we begin classes the third Monday in August.
Other questions?
Contact Admissions: 510.642.2274 or admissions@law.berkeley.edu.
Contact Financial Aid: 510.642.1563 or financial-aid@law.berkeley.edu
