Transfer Application Instructions
1. Transfer Early Action (Non Binding)
The University of Miami School of Law welcomes and encourages applications from students who have compiled strong records at other American Bar Association-approved law schools and wish to transfer. Transfer applications can be reviewed and students may be admitted on a conditional basis with strong midyear grades and supporting documents (application, application fee, LSAT/Credential Assembly Service (LSDAS) report, law school transcripts, and statement of good standing).
Students who attend law schools who are on trimester or quarter systems must present a minimum of two trimesters or two quarters worth of law school grades for early action consideration. Students who maintain or increase the mid-year performance, remain in good standing, and have no significant changes in the application which might affect their eligibility for consideration, will be granted full admission after final year end grades and an updated letter of good standing (including class rank) are received and reviewed by the Office of Admission. Final admission decisions will be made within two weeks of receipt of these documents and all offers of admission are conditional based upon receipt of these documents.
Under no circumstances will applicants be allowed to start classes without final full admission to the School of Law. The standard indicator of potential for admission for transfer students is prior performance in law school; however, your undergraduate record and LSAT score are also considered in the admissions process. To be considered for transfer, the University of Miami School of Law normally requires applicants to have a "B" average or better, or to be in the top 20 percent of their class at an ABA accredited law school. Exceptions may be made for students from highly competitive institutions. Transferring with less than two years of law study remaining is highly unusual. Normally 30 credits are required for transfer; however, if fewer credits comprise the entire first-year, full-time curriculum at your school, your application will be considered. The usual number of acceptable transfer credits is 27-30. The maximum number of acceptable transfer credits is 32; therefore, in order to earn the Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law, a minimum of 56 additional credits over four full-time semesters are required.
The School of Law is committed to a policy of further enhancing the diversity of its student body and encourages applications for transfer from members of all minority groups.
2. Character and Fitness and the Need for Full Disclosure
Applicants should take care to respond fully, fairly, and carefully to every question on the application. The School of Law is primarily an academic institution. In evaluating applications, the admissions committee is thus principally concerned with a candidate's potential for succeeding in and contributing to the academic program and School of Law community. The care, candor, and integrity evidenced by the application can be significant factors in that evaluation.
Applicants also should be aware that, in conducting character and fitness investigations (see section 13), bar authorities frequently request copies of candidates' applications for admission to law school to determine whether they have supplied erroneous or incomplete information in the admissions process. If discrepancies are found, bar authorities may conclude that they so far undermine a candidate's credibility as to call into question his or her fitness for admission to the bar.
In this regard, the School of Law places upon each applicant the continuing responsibility to notify the School of Law of any changes after submitting the application. This notification is required either prior to admission or at any time while enrolled as a student, and includes the information required by questions 1 and 2 under Additional Information on the application.
3. Time of Submission of Application
Although there is no formal deadline for transfer applications, you are encouraged to submit your application and all supporting documentation as early as possible. Transfer students may enroll for spring, fall, or summer semesters.
4. Application Fee--Method of Payment and Fee Waivers
The application fee is $60 and nonrefundable $60. When using the LSAC's electronic service, you may pay by credit card and electronic signature (no certification form required), or you may mail a check, payable to the University of Miami, along with the certification form to: University of Miami, School of Law, Office of Admissions, PO Box 248087, Coral Gables, FL 33124-8087.
If you have been pre-approved for a LSAC fee waiver or a University of Miami School of Law fee waiver, the process will be automatic when you apply through the LSAC e-application. If you have not been pre-approved for an application fee waiver, and you are unable to pay our $60 application fee, indicate on your electronic application that you will pay your application fee directly to the law school, complete the Certification Letter and check the "Applying for UM Application Fee Waiver" box, and mail it to the law school. Thereafter, you must have the financial aid office of your college or university send us a letter indicating financial need. If not available, you must submit a copy of your most recent income tax return with the Certification Letter. After receiving your documentation, we will then consider your application fee waiver request.
5. Law School Data Assembly Service
The School of Law requires an updated Credential Assembly Service report from each transfer applicant. We recommend that the report include the final undergraduate transcript, confirming receipt of the bachelor's degree, and a current law school transcript. It may not be necessary to reregister with Credential Assembly Service for this purpose since there is an extended Credential Assembly Service for law school candidates.
Transcripts submitted through Credential Assembly Service, while required to process your application, are not official transcripts. In keeping with American Bar Association standards, we require that an official final transcript from the degree-granting institution be sent to us directly by the registrar's office. All acceptance offers are conditional until receipt of your official final transcript.
6. Law School Transcripts
In order to process your application for conditional acceptance consideration (see section 2), it is necessary that we receive an official transcript reflecting at least mid-year grades. In order for final review, we must receive transcripts reflecting all of your law school work. All acceptance offers are conditional until receipt and review of your official final law school transcript.
7. Class Rank and Letter of Good Standing
We require a letter from the registrar or office of the dean at your present law school indicating that you are in good standing. If available, this letter should also state your class rank. If your school does not rank its students after the first year, the letter from your dean or registrar should state that fact. If conditionally admitted, an updated letter of good standing will be required for full admission.
8. Recommendations
You should submit your application to the School of Law prior to having your recommendations forwarded. University of Miami School of Law prefers that your two recommendations be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service that serves all member schools. This service is included in your Credential Assembly Service registration. Your letters will be copied and sent to us along with your Credential Assembly Service report. Letters received by LSAC after your report has been sent to us will be forwarded to the School of Law on a weekly basis as they are received at LSAC.
Please be sure to include your Social Security number or LSAC account number and full name (identical to that on your application) on all recommendations. At least one (and preferably both) of these recommendations should be from a faculty member who is familiar with your academic performance and has had an opportunity to evaluate some significant aspect of your academic work.
9. Address/Name Change
It is important that we have a current postal and e-mail address for you at all times. If either of the addresses you provided on your application changes at any time, notify us promptly in writing. If you should legally change your name, it is necessary for you to submit documentation to that effect to the Office of Admissions.
10. Financial Aid Information
If you wish to receive financial aid information, please indicate on the first page of the application.
11. Acknowledgments
You will receive a postcard or e-mail acknowledging our receipt of your application and application fee.
12. Communications
All correspondence relating to your application should be addressed to the University of Miami School of Law, Office of Admissions, PO Box 248087, Coral Gables, FL 33124-8087. The telephone number of the Office of Admissions is 305.284.2795 (9:00 AM-5:00 PM, Monday-Friday). The school's website address is www.law.miami.edu. You may also e-mail admissions@law.miami.edu. Admission decision notification will be made either by mail, e-mail or the University's portal myUM.
13. Conviction of a Crime and State Bar Requirements
States subject applicants to the bar to a comprehensive and rigorous character and fitness investigation before admission to practice. Applicants are strongly encouraged to check with the state bar in the states in which they desire to practice to determine the rules that will apply to their bar admission in those states. Applicants with criminal convictions may find it difficult to gain admission to the bar of some states. Because the rules and procedures of the states differ, you should consult the bar authorities in each state in which you intend to practice if you have been convicted of a crime. Furthermore, you
should keep in mind that state bar authorities are concerned about the veracity of prospective lawyers and thus with an applicant's truthfulness in supplying and updating information requested on law school application forms. Should you fail to disclose on this application form a crime for which you have been convicted, you may experience, on that ground alone, unusual delays or other problems in being admitted to the bar. (See also section 1.)
14. Law Review
Students transferring to the University of Miami School of Law who have completed one year of study at another accredited law school should inquire as to their eligibility for membership on the University of Miami Law Review and the University of Miami Inter-American Law Review. A transfer student admitted to the School of Law will normally be added, upon admission, to the list of students eligible to participate in the writing competition for the law school journals, where the student's class rank at the other law school would result in inclusion in the list had that class rank been earned at the University of Miami School of Law. Inquiries should be made to the Office of Admissions at 305.284.2523.
15. Career Development Office
If you are admitted as a transfer student, all placement materials normally sent to beginning second-year students will be mailed to you at your current address on file. Because time is essential in arranging second-year clerkships, you should notify the Office of Admissions promptly of any address changes.
