UNC School of Law only accepts transfer students for full time study (at least nine credit hours).
As a result of collaborative conversations with deans of other North Carolina law schools, the University of North Carolina School of Law will no longer accept transfer applications from students currently enrolled at law schools in North Carolina -- even from students who are academically qualified -- unless they present a compelling case for enrollment at UNC. Better job opportunities, better course selection or lower tuition are not viewed as compelling reasons.
UNC School of Law offers a very limited number of transfer opportunities. The school prioritizes academically qualified residents of N.C. attending law schools outside of N.C. who present compelling reason(s) for attending UNC. A desire to follow a spouse who has been transferred to North Carolina by the military or a business, for example, might be viewed as a compelling reason. After meeting this preference, the school will offer any remaining opportunities to qualified residents and nonresidents attending law schools outside of the state of N.C., who present compelling reasons for wanting to attend the UNC School of Law. Files will otherwise be evaluated using the standards below.
Eligibility, Requirements & Process
Applicants must have successfully completed one year of study at a law school approved by the Association of American Law Schools or the American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar. No more than 30 credits of work from another law school will be credited. No student will be admitted who is ineligible to return to the institution last attended.
UNC School of Law will accept up to 30 transfer credit hours. These credits are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the associate dean for academic affairs who reviews the transcript, makes the determination and notifies students before they enroll what courses will be accepted for transfer credit. The criteria for transfer credit hours include that:
- The student must have received a grade of "C" or better in the courses at the original school
- The courses must either be courses that are typical first-year courses or law school courses in which an upper level student would receive credit at UNC
After enrolling, transfer students may take no more than 11 additional hours of ungraded courses at UNC.
Application
Transfer applicants are most competitive for admission if their records indicate that they would have been eligible for acceptance as a first-year student. Transfer students should be performing superior academic work at their current law school.
Transfer candidates must submit the following:
- Application for admission. After May 14, 2012 electronic applications are available at http://www.lsac.org/.
- $75 application fee
- An updated CAS (formerly LSDAS) report, evidencing your matriculation in law school.
- A letter of good standing from the associate dean for academic affairs at your current law school.
- An official transcript, sent directly to the Office of Admissions, from your law school, reflecting law courses completed and grades received.
- Two letters of recommendation.
- A statement of the reason for the proposed transfer, in lieu of the personal statement.
- A resume or comprehensive listing of experience and achievements.
Important Dates
We will begin accepting applications for transfer applicants for fall 2012 on May 14, 2012. The application deadline is June 25, 2012, and grades for courses completed after that date must be submitted to the Office of Admissions as soon as they are available. Admissions decisions regarding transfer applications are typically made after mid-July.