Top Law Schools

I’m a 1L at the lower end of a T2 school. I went to Yale as an undergraduate and I’m hoping to transfer back to there, but any of HYS will be great of course. I don’t have official numbers, but I’m guessing my 1st semester grades put me near the top of my class, probably in the top 1-3%. I have a few decent softs. My general question would be, what are the chances of pulling this off?

What would be the best way to frame my personal statement for HYS, especially Yale since I did my undergraduate there? Does previously attending the school give me an advantage in the transfer decisions?

Greatly appreciate your thoughts.

Getting into HYS in the bottom 100 is an unbelievable long shot. I'd say it's probably impossible at Yale, but I could be wrong.

I think if you're not #1 in your class, it's going to be nearly impossible. There are plenty of people who are 1-3% in their class in schools in the 20-50 range that are going to be trying that same move (maybe some at school above #20). I don't know how many transfers Harvard takes, but I don't think Yale and Stanford take that many. Good luck. The consolation is that even if you can't get into HYS, if you're in the top 5% of your class, you stand a decent shot at another couple T14 schools.

Judging by what I've seen at transferapps, you have a small but worth-the-application-fee shot at Harvard if you make it to #1 or #2 in your class. Perhaps a really high LSAT or something that makes them think, "wow, this kid could've done way better" would help. Yale is basically a no-go. Historically they only reach down about as low as Tulane. If you're really dying for Yale and Harvard, then yes, have your professors tailor the letters directly. But realistically, you should be looking at a broader swath of schools if you want to move up, and in that case don't bother hassling them with letter-tailoring, as we're probably talking about ten or so schools you should be applying to.

No chance at Yale, almost no chance at H or S. It changes slightly if you are #1 at the end of the year, and you're completely out of the running if you're top 5%.

I don't know much about this, but I have a gut feeling that going to Yale for undergrad may help you, since it might assauge them of fears that you can't hack it at a top school.