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Background:
I am a rising 2L going to a T2 school at sticker. I was an idiot and did not pursue scholarship money as hard as I should when I applied. I just received my 1L grades and placed in the Top 10% with a very good shot at LR.

The Rub:
Despite my fairly good grades, I know that I'm a long shot for BigLaw based on my school ranking and therefore I'm looking at debt problems if I keep paying sticker. I've thought about trying to leverage money by putting in some transfer applications, but the problem is I am a research assistant with a professor this summer, and my school's policy is that initiating formal transfer procedures (requesting that my school send a packet to another school) will basically void my RA position.

I don't want to do this because (1) I like my job, (2) I like my professor and don't want to leave her hanging, and (3) I don't want to burn any bridges especially because I'd only be applying to transfer to leverage money and I've been accepted into a clinic next year run by the same professor.

So, my question (which I ask already anticipating the answer) is whether it's at all possible for a rising 2L to ask for scholarship money and receive it without any leverage. Will my grades matter at all? Is it worth it to include in my email, letter etc. to my school that I am thinking about transferring (for money reasons)? Basically, is there any way at all I can make this happen or is it better for me to burn the relationship with the professor and transfer laterally to a cheaper school?

Thanks.

Transferring will not give you leverage. They won't give you money either way. Since they have nothing left to report about you to US News, they basically could give a shit at this point. If you leave, they'll just take a transfer to fill your seat.

Gideon is wrong. Many 2L's have received money. Meet with the person in charge of FA and inquire. You don't need to initiate a transfer for that to be a viable option and therefore some bit of leverage.

kalvano wrote:Gideon is wrong. Many 2L's have received money. Meet with the person in charge of FA and inquire. You don't need to initiate a transfer for that to be a viable option and therefore some bit of leverage.

I agree. And it never hurts to ask.

At my school, if you don't have a scholarship and end up in the top ten percent, they give you $10,000 automatically. You might bring up what other schools do.

Further, I suspect asking contains a veiled threat of transfer. You don't even have to mention it; they might just infer it.

kalvano wrote:Gideon is wrong. Many 2L's have received money. Meet with the person in charge of FA and inquire. You don't need to initiate a transfer for that to be a viable option and therefore some bit of leverage.

Not only do I know people that have done it, but my school automatically gives money to the top few people. I plan on taking advantage of all of this.