Transfer Students

WELCOME

Each year, students with advanced standing are welcomed to the William & Mary family as degree-seeking students.  The Administration and Student Bar Association orient you, as a transfer student, the week prior to school's start so you can hit the ground running as an active participant both in the curricular and extra-curricular life of the Law School.  (Learn how to apply.)

Degree Requirements

Normally, we will accept as transfer credits to the William & Mary law degree only 30 credit hours from your former law school and then only those credits where the grade earned is a "C" or better.  Under no circumstance will we accept more than 35 credit transfer credit hours.  Degree Requirements  for transfer students differ from those of the standard three-year JD student only in the number of credits which must be earned in a William & Mary Law School course graded by letter grade.  As a transfer student, you must earn 42 graded credits and meet all other degree requirements.

Ranks

Our students are ranked only after one full year of legal education at William & Mary.  As a transfer student, you will be ranked at the end of your second William & Mary Law School term.

Legal Skills

Transfer students are placed by the Legal Skills Program to a firm.  Because you are joining a group of students that has worked together for one year on joint assignments, the Program assists you as much as possible to be prepared for your first semester's work.

The Job Search

Upon accepting admission to William & Mary, you should immediately contact the Office of Career Services.  Our students begin their second-year job search process in early August.

Journals and Competition Teams

While you may have earned a position to a Journal, or Moot Court, Trial or ADR team at your former school, that position doesn't transfer to William & Mary upon admission here.  Placement to such organizations is made after inter-school competitions held during our student's first year at the Law School.  As a transfer student, you will be invited to participate in these competitions during your first year with us.