
Overview
Transfer admissions is an opportunity for rising 2L students to join the Harvard Law School community after completing their 1L year at another law school. We encourage all interested and eligible applicants to apply.
The transfer application typically opens up in early May and the submission deadline is usually in mid-June. We aim to notify transfer applicants of their admission decision in early July.
Eligibility
Applicants for transfer admission must meet the following criteria:
- Applicants have completed one year of full-time study in a J.D. program (or one-third of the total credits required in a part-time program) at a United States law school.
- Applicants attend a law school that is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).
Applicants are not eligible for transfer admission if they have completed more than one-third of the total credits required for the J.D. program in which they are currently enrolled. Students may apply for transfer to begin the second year of J.D. studies in the fall semester only. Additionally, students are required to spend at least two years in residence at HLS.
Current LL.M. (Masters of Laws) students are not eligible to transfer to the J.D. program at HLS. Current and former LL.M. students interested in applying for the J.D. program at HLS should instead apply through the regular J.D. application pathway.
Application Timeline
Application Opens | Submission Deadline | Decision Release |
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Monday, May 1, 2023 | Monday, June 12 @ 12:00 p.m. (Noon) | Early July 2023 |
Information Sessions
Transfer Cohort
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Number of Undergrad Institutions 79
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Number of 1L Law Schools 47
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Languages 21
Additional Information
Transfer Blog Posts

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The HLS Transfer Community
The transfer law student community was recently featured in Harvard Law Today. Read the story below.
October 6, 2022
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Should I Stay or Should I Go? Advice About Transferring After the 1L Year
Assistant Dean for Admissions Kristi Jobson joined a virtual panel with current student Susan and HLS alum Paras (both transferred to HLS after their 1L year) to discuss the considerations that many law students face when deciding to transfer law schools.
June 10, 2022
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Choosing to Transfer to HLS
Susan, a rising 3L who joined HLS after 1L year, reflects on the considerations she grappled with before ultimately choosing to transfer law schools, and on the meaningful opportunities she has found here.
June 8, 2022
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Joining the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau (HLAB) as a Transfer Student
Rising 3L Sara shares her experience transferring to Harvard Law School, and joining the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau.
May 24, 2022