Each year the Admissions Committee entertains applications from students who contemplate transferring to Stanford Law School with advanced standing. Transfer applicants are accepted, however, only to the extent that vacancies exist in the second year class, and only applicants with superior academic records in law study will be considered. The previous law study must have been undertaken at a law school which is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.
Applicants must have completed one full year of law study. The Admissions Committee will only grant admission with advanced standing to students who intend to spend two full academic years in residence at Stanford. Candidates may only apply for admission to begin the second year of law study commencing in the fall term.
The unit and residence credit to be given transfer students shall be formally determined and awarded by the dean only after satisfactory completion of one term's work at the law school.
Candidates applying for fall 2010 transfer admission must submit the following documents:
- Application for Admission. You must apply for transfer admission by submitting the electronic application. The electronic application will become available on March 1, 2010. Transfer applications will be transmitted to Stanford Law School after April 15, 2010. The deadline to apply is June 15, 2010.
- Application Fee. The application fee is $75.
The preferred method of payment is by credit card through LSAC. Please note this method allows us to process your application in a more timely manner. If you are unable to pay the fee by credit card, please print, sign and submit the Certification Letter along with the $75 fee by check (made payable to Stanford Law School) directly to the Office of Admissions.
The fee may be waived in cases of extreme personal hardship. Applicants who feel unable to pay the fee should (1) review the Stanford Law School Fee Waiver Application Instructions, and (2) complete and submit the Stanford Law School Application Fee Waiver Form directly to the Office of Admissions.
- Statement of Dean (Form B). Form B must be given to the dean of students (or a comparable college official with access to the school's official records) at the college from which you received your baccalaureate degree. The official completing the form should send it directly to the Law School.
- Resume. Stanford requires a one-to-two page resume describing your academic, extracurricular, and professional activities. The resume must be submitted electronically with your electronic application.
Any updates to your application must be submitted via e-mail to the Office of Admissions.
- Personal Statement. The personal statement describes important aspects of yourself not otherwise apparent in your application and provides your reasons for wishing to transfer to Stanford.
- LSDAS Report. We will request this report from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) upon receipt of your application. Please note that your subscription service with LSAC is active for five years from your original registration date. If you have not registered with LSAC, you must notify us in writing and arrange to have a copy of your report on file at your law school sent directly to us.
- Undergraduate and Non-Law Graduate Transcripts. The official undergraduate transcript on file at LSAC must show conferral of your degree. Official transcripts for any graduate work (non-law) should also be on file at LSAC. If a graduate degree was granted, the transcript must show conferral of your degree.
- Law School Transcript. An official law school transcript showing full first-year grades and class standing must be sent directly to us from your current law school.
- Statement of Instructor (Form C). Two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a law professor, are required.