Possible to transfer after beginning 2nd year? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Just wondering how late someone can transfer to schools in the T20. It looks like you have to start at the new school at the beginning of your second year. Any schools in this range that accept transfers after the start of the 2nd year? It'd be nice to have a little more time to get the GPA up.

[cinephile]

You can transfer. You just have to repeat 2L.

[Anonymous User]

You can transfer. You just have to repeat 2L.

Sorry, I had to work on a project for a bit. Is that really the case though? If so, I suppose I could undertake a dual degree in that second 2nd year to feel somewhat productive...would you mind explaining this a bit more? I'd really appreciate it.

[Randomnumbers]

There is a limited number of credits that can be accepted by the new school. So yes, it really is the case that you would have to repeat everything you did after 1L ended.

[patrickd139]

This has been discussed ad naseum on this forum.

The short answer:
a) It depends entirely on the transfer policies of the school you're trying to transfer into.
b) There are only anecdotal stories of students successfully transferring after the start of their 2L year. Almost every law school requires that you attend as a visiting student.
c) You will face huge (insurmountable?) obstacles explaining yourself during OCI, if the school even allows you to participate in it in the first place. There are equitable reasons to keep someone from participating in OCI twice (and presumably you've already participated in OCI at your former school.)
d) You're almost assuredly giving up more than you will gain.

[RaleighStClair]

Purely anecdotal, but I have a friend who transferred from a T50 to a T20 after completing two full years. He had family circumstances requiring him to move back home (T20's market) but he is graduating on time. Grades weren't anything special. Top 1/3 I believe.
Anyway, point is it definitely depends on the school but is very much possible.

[cinephile]

Purely anecdotal, but I have a friend who transferred from a T50 to a T20 after completing two full years. He had family circumstances requiring him to move back home (T20's market) but he is graduating on time. Grades weren't anything special. Top 1/3 I believe.
Anyway, point is it definitely depends on the school but is very much possible.

Did he really transfer, though, or was he just a visiting student? Because I thought it was like an ABA rule that you needed 2 years in residence to graduate from any particular school.

[RaleighStClair]

Purely anecdotal, but I have a friend who transferred from a T50 to a T20 after completing two full years. He had family circumstances requiring him to move back home (T20's market) but he is graduating on time. Grades weren't anything special. Top 1/3 I believe.
Anyway, point is it definitely depends on the school but is very much possible.

Did he really transfer, though, or was he just a visiting student? Because I thought it was like an ABA rule that you needed 2 years in residence to graduate from any particular school.

I believe it was a legit transfer. He'll be getting a degree from the new school, on time. I don't know anything about that rule, but maybe it's because he lived in the new school's state for his entire life (aside from the 2 years away at the T50). It was also his UG.