Top Law Schools

I'm a 1L at a state law school ranked in the top 40 (not really sure what "tier" that puts it in), and I'm considering a transfer for mostly geographic and cultural reasons, specifically with an eye towards the east coast or the northwest. I'm not a biglaw type and not terribly concerned about rank, so I'm looking at schools in either area that are ranked in the same range as the one I'm at. I've heard that you need to be at the top of your class to transfer up, but does the same thing apply to lateral transfers?

If it's any indication, my first-semester GPA is a 3.52 at a school with a B+ median. We haven't been told our rank yet.

I would call the prospective schools and ask the admissions personnel about it. Somebody here can probably chime in with a better answer, but you'll get the requirements and deadlines and any tips with just a few calls. Good luck.