J.D. Transfer Students
Eligibility
A student who has successfully completed the traditional first-year curriculum (usually 27-30 hours) at another law school that was at the time of the student's study a member of the Association of American Law Schools or approved by the Section on Legal Education of the American Bar Association may apply for admission with advanced standing. On a limited basis, a student who has successfully completed at least 20 hours in a part-time program at another law school that was at the time of the student's study a member of the Association of American Law Schools or approved by the Section on Legal Education of the American Bar Association may apply for admission with advanced standing. Admission is selective. A student who has been excluded from or who is on probation at another school will not be admitted.
Dates of Admission
An applicant may be admitted in any semester or session. Applications for transfer are reviewed for fall, spring, or summer admission. Applications will not be considered until all law school grades have been received.
Applications for fall admission and all supporting documentation must be submitted by June 15. Applications for spring admission and all supporting documentation must be submitted by December 1. Applications for summer admission and all supporting documentation must be submitted by May 1.
Important Deadlines for On-Campus Interviews and Law Review write-on competitions
Please email the Admissions Office at lawadmit@smu.edu for important information about application deadlines and procedures for OCI and the summer Law Review write-on competitions.
Application
Transfer applicants must submit the following:
- Complete transfer application via LSAC.org
- CAS report
- Law school transcript with all grades
- Dean's letter of good standing including class rank
- Two letters of recommendation (law school letters are preferred, but you may use your letters from your original law school application) submitted via CAS
Transfer Credit
The amount of advanced credit given for work completed in another law school will be determined by the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs based on a comparison of course descriptions and/or syllabi from the other law school with SMU Dedman Law J.D. program requirements. In no event can a transfer student receive more than 29 hours of transfer credit. Credit for work completed at another law school transfers as pass/fail credit. Credit will only be given for coursework completed at an ABA-accredited law school.
Minimum Hours Requirement
A transfer student may not qualify for a degree from the Dedman School of Law until the student satisfactorily completes at least 58 semester hours at the Dedman School of Law.
Scholarships
Incoming transfer students are not eligible for scholarships.
Texas Bar Exam/Declaration of Intent to Study Law
Transfer students from outside the state of Texas are expected to file a Declaration of Intent to Study Law with the Texas Board of Legal Examiners (BLE) by October of the year in which they transfer if they intend to sit for the Texas Bar Exam upon graduation. Failure to file in a timely manner will result in increased fees due to the BLE upon filing. For more information, see the BLE website.