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Hi, I am thinking about applying to Harvard Law School as a transfer student and I had some questions regarding the transfer process:

1. When should we submit our transfer application? Should we apply as soon as possible (when the transfer application becomes available on LSAC) and forward the second semester law school transcript later on? Or should we wait until the second semester grades are available and submit everything at once? If the former is a better option, is there something that we have to do for the second semester grades (eg. get something from the professor predicting our grades, etc? )

BTW, the website says: Although we prefer an official transcript, we realize that it may be difficult in some cases to obtain one until late summer. Therefore, we will consider photocopies of your grade reports or some other account of your grades. Although we may be able to reach a tentative decision to admit on the basis of unofficial grades, we are not able to offer admission to any applicant without first receiving an official transcript.

Do you have any idea what this means? what are grade reports or some other account of your grades?

2. Letters of Recommendation: HLS only states that 1 out of 2 LoRs should be from a law professor. Do you have any idea if HLS prefers 1 recommendation from Legal Writing instructor and 1 from a 1L professor or 2 LoRs both from 1L professors?

3. Resume: Should this be in a law school resume format (like when we are applying for summer jobs?) or can we re-use the resume (With the updates) that we submitted when we were initially applying for law schools?

p.s. What do you think are my chances? I am currently attending Columbia Law School with the first semester GPA of 3.77
(My undergraduate GPA was 4.03 and LSAT 170)

Thank you so much for all your help and good luck with your applications

Just curious, but what makes you want to transfer? Biglaw position isn't you goal? I'd imagine it isn't, since your current school and GPA would make it a cakewalk to get a position with any NYC firm.

kaiser wrote:Just curious, but what makes you want to transfer? Biglaw position isn't you goal? I'd imagine it isn't, since your current school and GPA would make it a cakewalk to get a position with any NYC firm.

Hi! That's a very good point. I do agree that Columbia is a great school to get a good NYC Biglaw position. Whilst that is a very tempting option, I think I am more interested in international work than working at a law firm in New York. Also, although Columbia is a great school to learn actual practice of law, I think I am more interested in the balance between theoretical and practical work. (I am thinking about going into academia).

transfer75 wrote:

kaiser wrote:Just curious, but what makes you want to transfer? Biglaw position isn't you goal? I'd imagine it isn't, since your current school and GPA would make it a cakewalk to get a position with any NYC firm.

Hi! That's a very good point. I do agree that Columbia is a great school to get a good NYC Biglaw position. Whilst that is a very tempting option, I think I am more interested in international work than working at a law firm in New York. Also, although Columbia is a great school to learn actual practice of law, I think I am more interested in the balance between theoretical and practical work. (I am thinking about going into academia).

Well then you will very likely have that option open if your grades stay up, and Harvard is obviously the best choice if you want to do international work or academia.

I am a former transfer, so I'll provide whatever advice I can. I would apply as soon as spring grades come out. They wouldn't be able to consider your application without those grades anyway, so might as well have everything all set and ready to go, but wait until you have those grades to hit "send". Their little disclaimer is to make sure that they at some point receive an official transcript. Like they said, they can at least consider your app with something unofficial, but no concrete offer of admission will come unless you get them an official transcript.

For LOR's, I would err on the side of caution and get 2 profs if you can. They give you leeway if you want someone else, id go with a prof unless the alternative person could really speak to your ability in a way that no one else can.

Doesn't really matter what resume you use, so long as it has all the information you want it to have. I just used the one from the 1L job search, with a few updates added on once I got my spring grades, academic honors info if you have it, etc.

kaiser wrote:

transfer75 wrote:

kaiser wrote:Just curious, but what makes you want to transfer? Biglaw position isn't you goal? I'd imagine it isn't, since your current school and GPA would make it a cakewalk to get a position with any NYC firm.

Hi! That's a very good point. I do agree that Columbia is a great school to get a good NYC Biglaw position. Whilst that is a very tempting option, I think I am more interested in international work than working at a law firm in New York. Also, although Columbia is a great school to learn actual practice of law, I think I am more interested in the balance between theoretical and practical work. (I am thinking about going into academia).

Well then you will very likely have that option open if your grades stay up, and Harvard is obviously the best choice if you want to do international work or academia.

I am a former transfer, so I'll provide whatever advice I can. I would apply as soon as spring grades come out. They wouldn't be able to consider your application without those grades anyway, so might as well have everything all set and ready to go, but wait until you have those grades to hit "send". Their little disclaimer is to make sure that they at some point receive an official transcript. Like they said, they can at least consider your app with something unofficial, but no concrete offer of admission will come unless you get them an official transcript.

For LOR's, I would err on the side of caution and get 2 profs if you can. They give you leeway if you want someone else, id go with a prof unless the alternative person could really speak to your ability in a way that no one else can.

Doesn't really matter what resume you use, so long as it has all the information you want it to have. I just used the one from the 1L job search, with a few updates added on once I got my spring grades, academic honors info if you have it, etc.

Thank you so much for all your advice! Yeah. As much as I am enjoying my time at Columbia (without a doubt, it is a great school too ) I really wish I have a good chance at transferring to Harvard. Hopefully, I will have luck on my side

If you don't mind me asking, did you transfer to Harvard? If so, can I ask about your experiences as a transfer student? How did your OCI/Early Interview Program go? Did you feel like you experienced any disadvantages because you were a transfer student?