sjk wrote:
T2 in CA.
I was really involved as a 1L. Most of the 1Ls who got amazing grades didn't do anything but study as a 1L. I was super involved in everything. Student organizations, outside volunteer work that I got through law school, work with youth, etc. So I think they were impressed that I had pretty good grades while doing everything that I did. Oh and I also had a job working a few hours a week. So I think it showed balance, that I could succeed in law school while still having a life.
I remember Dean Tom called me at 4:45pm on a Friday afternoon to tell me that the committee met that day and decided to admit me. He said, "We were extremely impressed with your success a first year student, and you have an amazing story."
When he said I got in, I ALMOST said, "Are you shitting me????" Buuuuuut then I thought I should refrain from swearing at the dean lol
I think I got most of my application turned in during the beginning of June (a few weeks before the deadline), and the grades in the 3rd week of June.
SJK got in because she is super amazing and super cool, and even more so in person. Unlike SJK, I did not get a phone call.

I also turned mine in around mid-June once grades came out.
As for law review, they told us that they can take around 5-7 people every year from the transfer pool, and this year 6 people got in. This is actually around the same acceptance percentage (10-15%) as the normal write-competition, so it is all good. Plus, there are alternate ways of getting on to law review (like getting your law review submission published), which one of my transfer friends did and got into law review his 3L year.