J.D. Transfer Student FAQs

Find answers to FAQs by topic:

Application component FAQs

Does Fordham Law provide application fee waivers for transfer applications?

No, we do not have application fee waivers for transfer applications.

Does Fordham Law have a minimum GPA requirement for transfer students?

No, but we generally admit transfer students who are in the top 15-20% of their law school classes. In addition to 1L grades, we also consider an applicant’s: statement detailing why they’re interested in transferring to Fordham Law; resume; and letters of recommendation.

Can I apply as a transfer student if I didn't take the LSAT?

Yes, the LSAT isn’t a requirement for transfer applications. 

How many transfer students does Fordham Law enroll?

We enroll approximately 15-30 transfer students each fall.

Academic programs and resources FAQs

Can I apply as a transfer student to start in the spring?

No, we only enroll transfer students once per year in the fall. The Fall 2024 transfer student application will open on March 15, 2024. Keep in mind that we can't start reviewing an application until it is complete.

Are transfer students eligible for scholarships?

No, transfer students are not eligible for merit-based scholarships, but they can apply for need-based grants. If admitted, transfer students will receive access to a comprehensive Admitted Student Portal where they can find the need-based grant application.

If my transfer application was denied, then can I ask to be reconsidered?

All transfer decisions are final.

Can I transfer if I've completed more than 1 year of law school?

Yes, but we accept a maximum of 31 credits, which includes all your grades from your 1L year. likely lose credits in the transfer process if admitted to Fordham Law.

Can I apply as a transfer student if I've completed just 1 semester of law school?

You can still apply to Fordham Law, but not as a transfer student. You would need to complete the regular application. In addition to the regular application requirements, you would also need to submit a letter of good standing and a transcript from your current/previous law school. If admitted, you would not be able to transfer any previous law school credits.

Can I apply as a transfer if I attended law school multiple years ago?

Yes, as long as it was within the last 5 years; you would adhere to the same transfer admissions requirements. If you attended law school more than 5 years ago, you would need to submit a regular application. In addition to the regular application requirements, you also need to submit a letter of good standing and a transcript from your previous law school. If admitted, you would not be able to transfer any previous law school credits if they were taken more than five years ago.

Am I eligible to apply if I was academically dismissed from another law school?

You cannot apply if you were dismissed from a law school, regardless of when you were dismissed.

If admitted, then how long will I have to make a decision?

Admitted transfer students are given approximately two weeks before they’re asked to make a $600 deposit.

Transfer student eligibility FAQs

Can I transfer from a part-time J.D. program to Fordham Law's part-time J.D. program?

If you’re currently enrolled in a part-time J.D. program and applying for Fordham Law’s part-time J.D. program, we need a full year of law school grades (fall and spring semesters) in order to make a decision. If you’re taking summer classes at your current law school, there’s no guarantee those credits will transfer over if admitted to Fordham Law. You must have approximately 22 credits to be considered for the part-time J.D. program. We accept a maximum of 31 credits.

Can I transfer from a part-time program to Fordham's full-time J.D. program?

Yes, but you must take summer classes at your current law school in order to have enough credits for Fordham Law’s full-time J.D. program. We can’t make a decision until we have grades from your summer classes. You must have at least 28 credits to be considered for the full-time J.D. program. Since grades for summer classes are usually posted later in our transfer admissions cycle, please be aware that this would decrease your chances of admission. We usually finish transfer admissions by the beginning of August.

Can I transfer to Fordham Law's J.D. program from an LL.M. program?

No, you cannot transfer to Fordham’s Law’s J.D. program from an LL.M. program. You would need to complete the regular application, applying to either the full-time J.D. program or the part-time program.

Transfer student experience FAQs

Can transfer students participate in on-campus interviewing (OCI)?

Incoming transfer students can potentially participate in three segments of Fordham’s Summer/Fall recruiting program, which take place during these time periods:

  1. Early Interview Week (“EIW”) (July)(employers in EIW are almost entirely “BigLaw” firms)
  2. Fall Weeks 1-6 (September and October) (employers in Fall Weeks are a mix of small and midsize firms, government agencies, and public interest organizations)
  3. Two Fall Semester Resume Collects (August and September) (employers in the Resume Collects are similar to Fall Weeks employers)

Each of those segments has its own student bid deadline:

  1. Friday, June 21, 2024 for EIW
  2. Friday, August 16, 2024 for Fall Week 1, the first of the six Fall Weeks
  3. Friday, August 16, 2024 for the first of the two Fall Semester Resume Collects

In order to participate in any of these segments of the Fall recruiting program, a transfer student must be admitted and fully deposited no later than six (6) business days before the student bid deadline for that segment. For example, in order to participate in EIW, a transfer student must be admitted and fully deposited no later than Wednesday, June 12,
2024 (six business days before the student bid deadline of June 21, 2024). If you have any questions, please contact Ann Murray ([email protected]).

Special Note re EIW: Large law firms will begin recruiting and interviewing rising 2L J.D. candidates in the spring and early summer, well before the start of any law school’s OCI or EIW
programs – in some cases, as early as March of the students’ 1L year. Therefore, any prospective transfer students interested in those firms should begin applying as soon as the applications open in the spring and early summer before their admission as transfer students. Many large firms will be well on their way to filling their 2025 summer classes before our July EIW program.

Can transfer students join law journals?

Yes, transfer students are invited to participate in a writing competition (generally during the first week of the fall semester) in order to be considered for one of Fordham Law’s six student-edited law journals. More information is provided during orientation.

How do transfer students register for classes?

After submitting your deposit, someone from the Registrar’s Office will be in touch to assist with class registration.

What if the 1L classes I took at my current law school differ from Fordham's 1L law courses?

Many 1Ls follow very similar class schedules regardless of the law school they attend. If you took classes that don’t count toward Fordham Law’s 1L curriculum, they will likely count as electives. If you haven’t taken a course that is required as a 1L at Fordham Law, you’ll take it as a 2L.