Michigan State Law welcomes students transferring from other ABA-approved law schools. When evaluating transfer applications, primary attention is given to class rank and grades earned in law school and secondary consideration is given to the applicant's undergraduate record and the highest score earned on the LSAT. While scholarship offers are very rare, admitted transfer students who have an especially strong record of performance in law school may be considered for scholarship assistance.
To be eligible for transfer admission an applicant must have completed a minimum of 18 credits of law school course work. The College of Law will grant a maximum of 43 credit hours for courses completed at other law schools when a grade of "C" or higher is earned.
Prospective transfer applicants are encouraged to begin their studies at MSU Law during the fall semester; however, admission for the winter semester is also an option. The recommended application deadline for fall entry is June 15th; the recommended application deadline for winter entry is November 1st. The following items are required as part of the transfer application:
- a completed application form;
- an application fee of $20;
- a Credential Assembly Services Report issued by the Law School Admission Council;
- a brief (maximum of two-page) statement addressing the reason(s) for seeking transfer admission and what your first year of law school has taught you;
- a transcript from the applicant's current law school reflecting at least 18 credit hours of completed course work (an unofficial copy is acceptable for purposes of file review, but an official, school-issued transcript must be on file prior to a student's matriculation)*; and,
- a letter of good standing and indication of the applicant's class rank at the current law school.*
*Sent directly to the Office of Admissions at MSU Law from the applicant's current law school.
Admission decisions for transfer applicants are made on a "rolling basis," typically within four weeks after the application file is complete with all required documents.
A transfer applicant who wishes to accept MSU Law's offer of admission must complete the Enrollment Intention Form and submit a nonrefundable deposit of $700. Upon receipt of the Enrollment Intention Form and deposit (which will apply toward tuition charges), the Assistant Dean for Student and Acadeimc Affairs will complete a Transfer Credit Evaluation in order to determine how courses transfer and whether such courses fulfill MSU Law's required curriculum. In turn, the transfer student may then schedule their courses at MSU Law.
Important Information for Prospective Transfer Students (PDF)