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Transfer Applicants

Thank you for your interest in applying to transfer to Whittier Law School. We recognize the many outstanding achievements and efforts of students who began their studies at other ABA law schools. Please be assured that our goal is to assist all transfer students through the acclimation process and continuing on through the successful completion of your J.D. program at Whittier Law School and your extensive Bar preparation.

Transfer students are eligible to participate in all of the activities the Law School offers.

Eligibility

In order to apply for admission as a transfer student to the J.D. program, you must have satisfactorily completed at least one full year of study at another ABA accredited law school. Individuals admitted as transfer students will receive their J.D. from Whittier Law School, although up to 30 hours of course credit from another ABA law school may be applied to that degree. Conditional acceptance can be granted for those applicants who wish to get a head start on their planning.

Transfer Application Procedure

Transfer applicants should follow the same application procedure as for regular admission. In addition, transfer applicants seeking admission should submit the following to the Office of Admissions:

a completed application form through the LSAC
a $60 application fee
a brief personal statement, including reason(s) for transfer
a letter stating academic good standing and class rank from the Dean or Registrar at the school from which the student is withdrawing
a current official LSDAS/LSAT report
two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a law professor whose class you have taken
an official transcript from the law school with all first-year grades and course descriptions

Assessment Criteria for Transfer Credit

The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs will assess your possible transfer credit based upon a review of the official transcript submitted to our Office of Admissions by the ABA accredited law school from which you seek to transfer. Additional information, such as applicable course descriptions from your current law school, may be requested in order to assist in the assessment of possible transfer credit.

A maximum of 30 hours of course credit from another ABA law school may be transferable to Whittier Law School. Transfer credit will not be granted for any units/courses in which the applicant received less than a “C” or equivalent grade, based upon the grading scale of the law school from which you seek to transfer. Your Whittier Law School transcript will reflect your transfer credits only as units. Your cumulative grade point average at Whittier Law School will not include the grade point average you earned at your prior school. Only the grades you earn at Whittier Law School will count toward your cumulative grade point average at Whittier Law School. Moreover, once you transfer to Whittier Law School only your Whittier Law School cumulative grade point average will determine your academic status and good standing. Once admitted, in order for a transfer student to qualify for good academic standing at Whittier Law School, the transfer student must achieve a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least a 2.5 at the end of the second semester in residence at Whittier Law School.

Inquiries concerning transfer status should be directed to the Office of Admissions. Admission decisions are made in late July or early August. Transfer students assume the risk of losing credits if, in the opinion of the Law School, the course(s) are incompatible with Whittier’s required curriculum. Whittier Law School reserves the right to refuse any part of, or all, transfer credits for advanced standing. The amount of credit an accepted applicant will receive at Whittier for completed first-year work will not exceed 30 semester units (48 quarter units).

Visiting Students

Students currently enrolled in other ABA-accredited law schools may be admitted to Whittier as visiting students for a single term or an academic year.

To be considered, you must apply to the Registrar Office. Visiting students are not considered candidates for degrees from Whittier.

Visiting students are also encouraged to get involved in student life at Whittier and are eligible to join any student organization. However, visiting students cannot participate on the law journals or moot court.