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Transfer Applicants​

Students currently enrolled at an ABA accredited law school may apply for admission with advanced standing.

Qualified applicants may transfer with advanced standing if they have successfully completed the equivalent of at least two full-time semesters at an ABA-accredited law school and have remained in good standing. Of the 87 credits necessary to graduate, 55 must be earned at Albany Law School.

Transfer applications for the spring (mid-January) semester must be completed by December 31. Applications for the fall (mid August) semester must be completed by August 1.

All transfer applications to the three-year J.D. program MUST be submitted electronically through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).

Paper applications are not accepted. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Please carefully complete all required sections within the EAPP - failure to do so may delay the processing of your application. In order to be considered, an application must be complete with all supporting documentation. All completed applications are carefully reviewed in their entirety to determine whether the applicant possesses the academic preparation and motivation to successfully complete a rigorous law school curriculum.

Admission Committee members attempt to gauge each applicant's prior academic performance, expected performance, and writing skills. Although the primary consideration will be prior law school performance, undergraduate grades, LSAT or GRE score(s), personal statements, letters of recommendation, and all other supplemental materials will also be considered.

Requirements

  • Must be transferring from an ABA-accredited law school.
  • Student must submit a description of the program along with course descriptions to the Registrar’s Office.
  • Upon completion of coursework, the student must request an official law school transcript be sent to Albany Law School.

Application

Checklist of Transfer Applicants:

  • Completed our Transfer EAPP on LSAC (no application fee is changed)
  • Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Law School Report, including all transcripts and letters of recommendation
  • LSAT score report (included with CAS) OR GRE score report directly from ETS
  • Two letters of recommendation.
  • Personal statement.
  • Resume.

Transfer Applicants must also submit:

  • Complete official transcript from your current law school
  • Letter of Good Standing from your current law school's Registrar's Office
  • Your cumulative GPA and class rank must be included in this documentation from your current law school

Submit a transfer application and all supporting documents online through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).

Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

Either an LSAT or GRE score is required for all JD applicants.

A valid reportable score must be received directly from LSAC or ETS.

Should you opt to take the LSAT more than once, Albany Law School will consider all LSAT scores presented by an individual applicant, but more weight is given to the highest LSAT score. Test scores older than five years from the anticipated year of matriculation will not be accepted.

We are currently accepting the GRE in lieu of the LSAT score for those applicants who do not have a reportable LSAT score. We recently adopted this change in order to offer more flexibility and opportunity to our prospective students who may have been impacted by COVID-19 related disruptions.

Applicants are welcome to submit a GRE score in lieu of an LSAT score if they have no reportable LSAT score.

If you wish to submit a GRE score, you can request one be submitted to us through ETS. The Albany Law School Code is 2946. You must then proceed with the remainder of our application procedures as listed on our website. All applications must be submitted through LSAC, and a CAS report requested for all transcripts.

For more information please contact the Admissions Office.

Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Law School Report

Registration with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) is required. The following materials MUST be submitted through this service:

  • Two letters of recommendation, preferably from faculty who can address your academic and intellectual Letters from employers or professional recommendations are also acceptable, especially from applicants who received their undergraduate degree five or more years prior. Only two letters are required, but up to four will be accepted.
  • Transcripts from ALL colleges, graduate, professional, or technical schools you have attended, as a matriculant or non- matriculant, whether or not a degree was Please note that the J.D. degree program requires that, at minimum, a Bachelor-level degree has been earned prior to the start of J.D. coursework.
  • If you have one or more reportable LSAT scores, those will also be automatically included in your CAS
  • If you elect to take the GRE in lieu of the LSAT, you must separately request that ETS send a score report to Albany Law School, in addition to requesting your CAS report from LSAC.
  • Complete transcript from your current law school
  • Letter of Good Standing from your current law school
  • Your cumulative GPA and class rank must be included in this documentation from your current law school

Personal Statement

A personal statement is required. Your personal statement should be written in your own words and limited to 2-3 pages on a topic of your choice that will provide additional insight into your qualifications and interests. While there is no required topic, if you are unsure of a topic, you may consider sharing why you are interested in pursuing a law degree and/or what your anticipated career goals/interests are at this time.

Résumé

Please include all employment, publications, any substantive extra-curricular activities, and community service.

Character & Fitness

If you answer “yes” to any of the character and fitness questions, you must submit a statement reciting, in detail, the facts and circumstances of each reported event. The statement should include dates, exact name and location of courts (if any), and final disposition of all matters. Proof of final disposition is preferred, when available. If not available, please explain the reason. Your statement must be attached in order to submit your application. Failure to provide sufficient description and/or explanation of reported events may prompt the Admissions Committee to request additional information from you, thereby causing a delay in the processing of your application.

In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Bar Examiners may ask additional questions beyond those listed on this application. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the

jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

Please note that in regards to answering “yes” to questions involving academic or criminal records, the Board of Bar Examiners may ask for more detailed or additional information. Inconsistencies between your law school application and your application to the Bar may cause difficulty with bar admission. Failure to make a complete disclosure when answering the below questions may also subject a student to disciplinary action.

Diversity Statement and Additional Addenda (optional)

Albany Law School values the diverse perspectives and experiences that our students contribute to our community and classes. We also acknowledge that many applicants have overcome obstacles or hardships to achieve their current level of education. If you feel there is information not shared elsewhere in your application that the Admissions Committee may find relevant to their review process, you may choose to submit one or more optional addenda.

Brief optional addenda may also be useful to explain LSAT score discrepancies, grade inconsistencies, gaps in work history, or to provide context for reviewers on any other topic you feel is relevant to their decision.

Certification

All applicants must electronically certify that the information provided in this application, including supporting documents and attachments, is correct, true, and subject to verification. The applicant understands that any offer of admission and/or financial assistance is contingent upon the accuracy and completeness of this application. The applicant has an ongoing obligation to promptly notify the Albany Law School Admissions Office should there be any change to information included in this application, supporting documents, or attachments, even after acceptance or enrollment.

Evidence of English Proficiency

If English is not the primary language in which your prior education was delivered, applicants are required to provide evidence of English proficiency. TOEFL® or IELTS is preferred.

Financial Documentation (not required for U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents)

A completed "International Student Financial Statement" is required to document the applicant's ability to pay the cost of attendance and in order to prepare the I-20 necessary to obtain the F-1 student visa. This financial statement should be submitted upon receipt of an official offer of admission.

Questions

Contact the Admissions Office at 518-445-2326 or admissions@albanylaw.edu.

Check Application Status

Check the status of your Albany Law School application.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do I qualify as a transfer student?
You must successfully complete two semesters at an ABA-approved law school and must be eligible to return to that law school. You are requir​ed to earn at least 55 credit hours at Albany Law School to graduate with our degree. The minimum grade for transfer credits is a C.

Can credits earned in a master's degree program or a Ph.D. program transfer towards the J.D. degree?
No, the only credits that are allowed to transfer are those earned at an ABA-approved law school.

How do I obtain an application for admission?
You may complete our online application at LSAC.org . We do not charge an EAPP fee

Will I qualify for financial aid as a transfer student?
Students may apply for federal and/or private loans and federal work-study. The financial aid application will be sent to you upon receipt of your application for admission. Click here for additional information about the financial aid process or contact the Financial Aid Office at 518-445-2357 or finaid@albanylaw.edu

What is the deadline for submitting an application for transfer?
The application deadline date  for transfer applications is August 1.

What supporting documents must I submit in addition to the application?
You must arrange to have an official copy of your law school transcript sent to Albany Law School, including your class rank. If an exact rank is not available, please approximate your rank. You must also submit a letter of good standing from your law school indicating your eligibility to return to that school.

Do you require my LSAT or GRE score?
If you have not applied to Albany Law School within the last year you may have to re-subscribe to CAS to have an updated report sent to us. You are also required to submit two letters of recommendation. These letters must be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service (may include one from a Law School Professor).  

When are transfer applications reviewed?
Transfer applications are generally reviewed in July providing all supporting information has been received and the file is considered complete. Decision will be emailed as soon as possible.