Application Process: JD Transfer Program

Yes. Miami Law encourages prospective transfer applicants who receive a 3.0+ GPA in their law school first semester to apply for conditional admission upon receipt of their first-semester grades. If a conditionally admitted applicant receives a 3.15+ cumulative law school GPA after the second semester and no other significant changes to the application occur, then the applicant will be offered full admission as a transfer. 

It is beneficial to apply for conditional admission, as these applicants are likely to receive their final admission decision sooner than those who wait to submit their application after receiving their second-semester grades. They will have more time for onboarding and be able to participate in the writing competition or on-campus interviews. 

If an applicant’s law school GPA is below 3.0 after their first semester, they may still apply with only one semester of grades. However, the Committee is unlikely to make a decision at that point. Instead, the Committee will likely wait for the applicant to submit their second-semester grades, allowing them the chance to raise their GPA above 3.0 before a final decision is made. 

Applications received with two semesters of grades will be considered for regular, not conditional, admission. 

No. Miami Law does not offer scholarship funding for transfer students.

Yes. Transfer applicants should submit their FAFSA using school code E00532 after submitting their Miami Law transfer application through LSAC. This will not impact the financial aid at the applicant’s current law school. Admitted transfer applicants may follow the steps outlined here.

Students who have completed more than 32 credits toward their law degree will not be considered for transfer admission and are advised to apply as visiting students.

Upon admission, the Law Registrar will evaluate and decide which and how many of the applicant’s credits will be accepted. The transfer credit evaluation will be communicated to the applicant via email. The usual number of acceptable transfer credits is 27 to 30. The maximum number of acceptable transfer credits is 32. The Law Registrar has complete discretion in making the transfer credit determination. Their decision is final and cannot be appealed. Shortly after admission, the applicant will meet with the Student Affairs Team to discuss course selection.

Possibly. Unlike many other law schools, Miami Law’s 1L curriculum includes Constitutional Law and Criminal Procedure. Transfer students must take both courses and are advised to take them in their first semester at Miami Law, as these courses are prerequisites for many upper-level courses. Miami Law often has a special transfer section for both of these courses, providing an excellent way to meet fellow transfer students. 

Yes. Miami Law students must earn 88 credits to graduate. If a transfer student took a standard, full-time course load of 30 credits in their 1L year, and even if one three-credit class was not accepted for transfer, the student would have 61 credits they would need to take at Miami Law. This means they would need to take 15 credits in three semesters and 16 credits in one semester at Miami Law, which is a fairly average course load. 

Yes. Deposited transfer applicants should work with the Student Affairs Team in selecting their preferred courses. 

Yes. The Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD) reaches out to deposited transfer applicants to provide information regarding OCI participation deadlines and other relevant details. However, fall OCI participation deadlines occur as early as June, so it is possible that a student will not be able to participate, depending on their application timing. Only those who have paid their seat deposit by July 1 are eligible to participate in the fall OCI process. Deposited transfer applicants should meet with their assigned career advisor to receive guidance on accurately representing their transfer status, GPA, and class rank on their resume.

Possibly. Traditional rising 2Ls and 3Ls complete the clinic application process in the spring before the clinic begins. Deposited transfer applicants may reach out to the clinic director regarding availability if they are interested in doing a clinic as a 2L. Transfer students may also opt to apply for a clinic as a rising 3L. 

Yes. Admitted transfer applicants should inform the Office of Admissions regarding their interest in pursuing a joint degree. The Office of Admissions will connect the student with the joint degree program coordinator. Typically, a joint degree program requires only 12-16 additional credits, or about one semester, beyond the JD degree requirements. Even if some transfer credits do not carry over, the student can often take summer classes to make up the difference and usually complete the joint degree with just one extra semester of study. 

Transfer students have their own Orientation and typically take Constitutional Law and/or Criminal Procedure in a section with fellow transfers. Miami Law encourages transfers to join student organizations. There is a dedicated transfer seat on SBA. Miami Law also offers wonderful resources for its students – a devoted Student Affairs Team, a comprehensive Academic Achievement Program, a strong Office of Career and Professional Development, a collegial environment of law students, and a campus filled with activities.