The University of San Diego School of Law believes that transfer students enhance the quality of USD's law program. Because of this, a select number of spaces are available for transfer applicants each year. Applicants from another ABA-accredited U.S. law school must have completed at least one full academic year at their law school and have fulfilled equivalent entrance requirements in order to qualify for advanced-standing status to USD Law's Full-Time or Part-Time JD programs. All transfer students will also need to satisfy the School of Law's academic, graduation and residency requirements.
Transfer Application Checklist
Review Pre-application Requirements
Ensure you have completed requirements to apply and gain admission as a transfer student to the Juris Doctor program. These requirements include:
- A baccalaureate degree from an approved institution.
- Have successfully completed your first year of study towards a Juris Doctor degree at a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).The law school must be accredited by the ABA during the time the 1L year is completed. Students from law schools that are only state bar approved or who have been disqualified from their current law school are not eligible for transfer admissions.
Applicants who intend to practice law should also be aware that admission to the bar in all states involves character, fitness and other qualifications. Applicants are encouraged to determine what those requirements are in the state(s) in which they intend to practice by consulting the National Conference of Bar Examiners website.
Review Credit Transfer Policies
- Students who have completed JD credits as a JD student at another ABA-accredited U.S. law school may, upon approval by the Dean, be allowed to transfer credits toward the JD degree.
- Students who have graduated from a foreign law school, may, upon approval by the Dean, transfer credit toward the JD degree.
- Students who have graduated from a foreign law school and who have earned course credits in a USD School of Law LL.M. program may, upon approval by the Dean, transfer credits toward the JD degree.
- Transfer credits shall not, individually or in combination, exceed one-third of the total required by the USD School of Law for the Juris Doctorate degree. USD Law offers no other advanced standing or transfer credit programs.
Review Admissions Deadlines
USD uses a "rolling admissions" process. However, deadlines are as follows:
- Fall Admission – July 15
- Spring Admission – December 15
Complete your USD Law Application
All prospective transfer students must submit completed application of admission and CAS Report provided by LSAC. All admissions materials are submitted through your LSAC portal. Application components include:
- A completed and dated admission application with transfer indicated for entering status
- A personal statement and current resume
- Official Law School transcript(s) forwarded by your current school's registrar
- Letter of good standing and class rank forwarded by your current school's dean
- Official CAS report (from LSAC)
- 2 Letters of Recommendation - we require 1 of the letters to be from a law school writing professor. However, you may submit an additional letter from an academic source.
GRE or JD Next-only applicants must provide all valid exam scores. Please email jdinfo@sandiego.edu for questions regarding this requirement.
For additional information on the USD School of Law JD application, selection process, notification of decision, our commitment to diversity, and our Non-Discrimination, Non-Harassment Policy, click the button below.
Transfer Applicant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Your LSAT, GRE, or JD Next and undergraduate GPA are no longer the primary determining factors for admission. The main considerations are your class ranking and performance in each class at the school you are currently attending. To be competitive, you should have at least a B+ average GPA or be in the upper 15-20 percentile of your first-year class.
Students who have completed JD credits as a JD student at another ABA-accredited law school in the United States may, upon approval by the Dean, be allowed to transfer credits toward the JD degree. Students who have graduated from a foreign law school, may, upon approval by the Dean, transfer credit toward the JD degree. Students who have graduated from a foreign law school and who have earned course credits in a University of San Diego School of Law LL.M. program may, upon approval by the Dean, transfer credits toward the JD degree. Transfer credits shall not, individually or in combination, exceed one-third of the total required by USD School of Law for the J.D. degree. University of San Diego School of Law offers no other advanced standing or transfer credit programs.
No. However, if you plan to attend your current school during the fall semester, it is unlikely that we will have your fall semester grades and class ranking in time for a decision since we usually start the spring semester in early January.
Yes, the University of San Diego School of Law seeks to enroll a highly qualified and diverse student body. We consistently strive to ensure academic excellence and enrichment through the participation of students with different perspectives and backgrounds.
Due to the large number of applications, it is not possible to grant personal interviews. You should highlight pertinent information about your experiences in your personal statement.
Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis. Generally, the admission committee will consider an application shortly after all materials including the first year transcripts are received.
When you apply you must indicate which program you are applying to. If you have interest in either program you are permitted to note that in your application.
USD offers concurrent degree programs with MBA (Master of Business Administration), MSRE (Master of Science in Real Estate), MAIR (Master of Arts in International Relations), MAPJ (Master of Arts in Peace and Justice) and MPA (Masters of Public Administration with SDSU). The master's degree programs require a separate graduate admissions application and may necessitate a separate entrance exam. Many students decide to apply for these programs in their first year of law school.
USD will typically accept those letter-graded credits earned in the first year of law school, provided students have earned a "C" or better in those courses. USD will accept a maximum of 29 transfer credits. Upon admission, you will receive a letter indicating which classes will be accepted for transfer. Transfer credits shall not, individually or in combination, exceed one-third of the total required by USD School of Law for the J.D. degree. Once a transfer applicant is admitted, Law Student Affairs will determine which transfer credits will be accepted. For questions, please email jdinfo@sandiego.edu.
Absolutely. Once enrolled, transfer students have full access to Career Services and are treated as if they had always been USD students. In order to maximize your career opportunities, you should contact the Career Services office once you enroll. You can then connect with our online and live programs and find out how to participate in resume uploads and other recruiting programs. You will need to obtain a transcript from your original school for first-semester recruiting programs.
Take advantage of all that Career Services offer. Meet regularly with the office's experienced attorney career advisors to create a personalized strategy for effective career advancement. Participate in fall and spring USD recruiting programs, national and regional recruiting programs, mock interview programs, application material workshops, attorney panels and alumni networking events. Use the online job board, reciprocity privileges, employment data and comprehensive resource library. By taking such advantage, you will be well positioned in the legal market.
Transfer students can participate in the write-on competition for the San Diego Law Review, the San Diego International Law Journal and the Journal of Climate & Energy Law. This competition usually begins in late July.
Can't find the answer you're looking for?
Our friendly and knowledgeable team of admission advisors can answer any questions you have about our programs and the admission process at the USD School of Law. Sign up to attend an info session, request a JD Bulletin, or contact us at (619) 260-4528 or jdinfo@sandiego.edu.