Transfer Students

Transfer Students

Each summer, between 30 and 35 students successfully transfer from other law schools accredited by the American Bar Association. These students join the rising 2L class during the fall semester. To be eligible to apply as a transfer student, you must have completed 28 credit hours and a 1L curriculum similar to that of Northwestern Pritzker Law’s at a school accredited by the American Bar Association. Furthermore, you must intend to complete your last two years of legal study at Northwestern Pritzker Law.

Northwestern Pritzker Law transfer students are eligible to participate in practically all of the Law School's offerings, including but not limited to the on-campus interviewing program, the Bluhm Legal Clinic, and our journals. Binding Early Decision transfer students may participate in June on-campus interviewing while regular decision transfer students may partake in August on-campus interviewing. These upper division JD students may apply to the West Coast Initiative, or register for an International Team Project course.

Transfer students are not eligible for institutional scholarships or grants. Northwestern Pritzker Law is dedicated to offering a comprehensive financial aid program for students seeking assistance, and financial aid packages for transfer candidates consist of loan funding. The financial aid application process occurs after transfer candidates are offered admission, and Northwestern's Chicago Office of Financial Aid offers detailed guidance for those seeking financial aid.

Transferring of Credit

  • Successful transfer candidates must have completed a minimum of 28 credit hours as of the completion of their first-year JD coursework at their originating law school.

  • The amount of credit a transfer student will receive for completed first-year work will not exceed 28 semester units.

  • Grades below a C or its equivalent will not be accepted for transfer credit.

  • Because of the differences in curriculum among law schools, students who are admitted on a transfer basis may not receive full credit for all first-year courses.

Applying to Transfer

Thank you for your interest in becoming a transfer candidate at Northwestern Pritzker Law! We offer two opportunities to apply for transfer admission. You may apply through our Binding Early Decision – JD Transfer program or through our traditional Regular Decision – JD Transfer program. Here are detailed instructions for the Fall 2025 JD Transfer application process.  

Binding Early Decision – JD Transfer

We encourage candidates who have identified Northwestern Pritzker Law as their top choice for transfer admission to apply through our inaugural Binding Early Decision – JD Transfer program.   

Northwestern Pritzker Law evaluates Early Decision – JD Transfer applications according to the same selection criteria as Regular Decision – JD Transfer applications. However, an Early Decision – JD Transfer applicant’s particular interest in Northwestern Law, evidenced by their Early Decision – JD Transfer application designation, is specially considered by the admissions committee. And because of the timing for the Binding Early Decision – JD Transfer program, the admissions committee will evaluate applicants’ performance for the first semester of law school. Otherwise, Early Decision – JD Transfer applicants do not have a significant advantage in the selection process. 

This is a binding admission program. If admitted through the Early Decision – JD Transfer program, Early Decision applicants commit themselves to matriculating at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.  Applicants may not apply to any other binding Early Decision – JD Transfer programs during the same transfer admission cycle. Early Decision – JD Transfer applicants may only apply to other law schools through those institutions’ regular decision programs. Please review the conditions for candidates admitted to the Early Decision – JD Transfer program within the Binding Early Decision – JD Transfer Certification Form.

The applicant portal for the Binding Early Decision - JD Transfer program will be available on February 20, 2025. To get started, click on this application link.* You will be prompted to create an account and you must review the JD Transfer Application Instructions before beginning the Binding Early Decision - JD Transfer appliation. *The Early Decision application link closed at 6:00 p.m. CT on April 1, 2025. Candidates who have created an account and have submitted their application prior to 6:00 p.m. CT on April 1 will be able to log into the applicant portal after the link is closed.

To be considered for the Binding Early Decision - JD Transfer program, candidates must ensure that all application requirements, including the submission of an online video interview, are completed and submitted to the Office of Admissions by April 1, 2025.  

The Office of Admissions will contact applicants to the Binding Early Decision – JD Transfer Program in late April. The candidates who submitted all application requirements on or before the deadline will be notified of a decision on their file; this decision may be an offer of admission, a denial, or the opportunity to remain under consideration through our Regular Decision – JD Transfer Program. 

Regular Decision – JD Transfer Program

The Regular Decision - JD Transfer application portal will open on this webpage and on the Apply webpage on April 2, 2025. A complete transfer application consists of several requirements. Applicants to the Regular Decision – JD Transfer Program are responsible for submitting and completing every application requirement prior to the deadline on June 25, 2025. 

The Office of Admissions will make offers of admission on a rolling basis as early as June 2025. We encourage you to apply as early as possible to be considered for admission through the Regular Decision – JD Transfer Program. 

 

As always, we encourage you to review our detailed instructions and guidance if you are applying for transfer admission this year.