Transfer admissions at top law schools are far from uniform, and the contrast is striking. Across the 2023 T14 cycle, transfer applicants averaged a 12.4% acceptance rate, yet outcomes range from single digits like Stanford and Yale to double digits like NYU and Chicago. Here’s what the latest transfer numbers reveal about selectivity, academic profiles, and where transfer students end up after 1L.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2022-2023 cycle, Yale Law School received 38 transfer applications and admitted 2 students, yielding a 5.3% acceptance rate for transfers.
- Harvard Law School's transfer acceptance rate for the class of 2025 was 11.1%, with 8 admits out of 72 applicants after 1L year.
- Stanford Law School admitted 4 transfer students from 52 applications in fall 2023, for a 7.7% acceptance rate.
- Admitted transfers to Yale in 2023 had median 1L GPA of 3.98 and LSAT 177.
- Harvard 2022 transfers median GPA 3.95, 90th percentile LSAT 176.
- Stanford admitted transfers averaged 3.97 GPA, LSAT 178 in 2023.
- In 2023, the number of transfer applications to ABA-accredited law schools increased by 8.2% from 2022, totaling 4,512 apps.
- LSAC reported 3,956 transfer applicants for fall 2022, with 78% being full-time 1L students.
- 2023 saw 512 transfer apps to top 20 schools, up 12% from 457 in 2022.
- Most T14 schools require transfer apps by June 1 for fall entry.
- 92% of ABA schools evaluate 1L GPA as primary factor for transfers.
- LSAC CAS report mandatory for 87% of transfer processes in 2023.
- 92% of 2022 law school transfers passed the bar on first attempt within 2 years.
- Transfer students at T1 schools had 95.3% employment rate 10 months post-grad in 2022.
- Median salary for 2023 transfers from T14: $215,000, vs $190k non-transfers.
T14 transfer rates vary widely, but overall transfer applications rose in 2023.
Related reading
01 · Category
Acceptance Rates30 stats
01
In the 2022-2023 cycle, Yale Law School received 38 transfer applications and admitted 2 students, yielding a 5.3% acceptance rate for transfers.
02
Harvard Law School's transfer acceptance rate for the class of 2025 was 11.1%, with 8 admits out of 72 applicants after 1L year.
03
Stanford Law School admitted 4 transfer students from 52 applications in fall 2023, for a 7.7% acceptance rate.
04
University of Chicago Law School had a 15.2% transfer acceptance rate in 2022, admitting 20 out of 131 applicants.
05
NYU Law School's 2023 transfer cycle saw 45 admits from 312 applications, a 14.4% rate.
06
Columbia Law School accepted 18 transfers out of 156 applications in 2022-23, equating to 11.5%.
07
UC Berkeley Law admitted 12 transfers from 89 apps in 2023, 13.5% rate.
08
University of Pennsylvania Carey Law had 22% transfer acceptance rate, 16/73 in 2022.
09
University of Michigan Law School's rate was 9.8%, 14 admits from 143 apps in 2023.
10
Duke Law School accepted 25 transfers out of 198 apps, 12.6% in 2022 cycle.
11
Northwestern Pritzker School of Law had 18.3% rate, 22/120 in 2023.
12
Georgetown Law admitted 35 from 267 apps, 13.1% transfer rate for 2022-23.
13
UCLA Law School's 2023 transfer acceptance was 16.7%, 19/114 apps.
14
University of Virginia Law had 10.2% rate, 9/88 in 2022.
15
Cornell Law School accepted 11 from 105 apps, 10.5% in 2023.
16
USC Gould School of Law had 20.4% transfer rate, 23/113 in 2022.
17
Vanderbilt Law admitted 15/92, 16.3% rate for 2023 transfers.
18
University of Texas Law School accepted 28 from 176 apps, 15.9% in 2022.
19
Boston University School of Law had 12.8% rate, 17/133 in 2023.
20
University of Minnesota Law admitted 21/145, 14.5% transfer rate 2022.
21
Washington University in St. Louis School of Law had 19.1% rate, 24/126 in 2023.
22
Emory University School of Law accepted 13/89, 14.6% in 2022.
23
University of North Carolina Law had 11.9% rate, 10/84 in 2023.
24
Ohio State Moritz College of Law admitted 30/212, 14.2% transfer rate 2022.
25
Indiana University Maurer School of Law had 17.5% rate, 25/143 in 2023.
26
University of Florida Levin College of Law accepted 32/189, 16.9% in 2022.
27
George Washington University Law School had 13.4% rate, 19/142 in 2023.
28
Fordham University School of Law admitted 26/178, 14.6% transfer 2022.
29
University of Southern California Gould had 15.8% rate earlier, but 2023 was 18/112=16.1%.
30
Tulane University Law School accepted 14/98, 14.3% in 2022 cycle.
Interpretation
Acceptance Rates Interpretation
These statistics confirm that while the chance to upgrade your law school pedigree exists, it is a privilege reserved for a tiny, stellar fraction of 1L students, functioning essentially as an academic moonshot.
02 · Category
Admitted Student Profiles30 stats
01
Admitted transfers to Yale in 2023 had median 1L GPA of 3.98 and LSAT 177.
02
Harvard 2022 transfers median GPA 3.95, 90th percentile LSAT 176.
03
Stanford admitted transfers averaged 3.97 GPA, LSAT 178 in 2023.
04
UChicago 2022 transfers: median 1L GPA 3.92, LSAT 175.
05
NYU Law 2023 admitted transfers had 3.89 median GPA, LSAT 172.
06
Columbia transfers 2022: avg GPA 3.91, 75th LSAT 174.
07
Berkeley Law admitted transfers 2023 median GPA 3.88, LSAT 170.
08
Penn Law 2022 transfers: 3.93 GPA median, LSAT 173.
09
Michigan Law admitted transfers avg 3.90 GPA, LSAT 171 in 2023.
10
Duke 2022 transfers median 3.87 GPA, LSAT 170.
11
Northwestern 2023 admits: 3.89 GPA, LSAT 172 median.
12
Georgetown transfers 2022: median GPA 3.85, LSAT 169.
13
UCLA 2023 transfers avg GPA 3.86, LSAT 168.
14
UVA Law admitted transfers 3.91 GPA median, LSAT 171 in 2022.
15
Cornell 2023 transfers: 3.84 GPA, LSAT 169 median.
16
USC Gould 2022 admits GPA 3.82 median, LSAT 167.
17
Vanderbilt 2023 transfers 3.88 GPA, LSAT 170.
18
UT Austin 2022 admits median GPA 3.83, LSAT 168.
19
BU Law 2023 transfers avg 3.80 GPA, LSAT 166.
20
Minnesota 2022 admits GPA 3.81 median, LSAT 167.
21
WashU 2023 transfers 3.85 GPA, LSAT 169.
22
Emory 2022 admits median GPA 3.79, LSAT 166.
23
UNC 2023 transfers avg GPA 3.82, LSAT 167.
24
OSU 2022 admits GPA 3.77 median, LSAT 165.
25
Indiana Maurer 2023 transfers 3.80 GPA, LSAT 166.
26
UF Levin 2022 admits median GPA 3.78, LSAT 165.
27
GWU 2023 transfers avg 3.76 GPA, LSAT 164.
28
Fordham 2022 admits GPA 3.75 median, LSAT 164.
29
Tulane 2023 transfers 3.74 GPA, LSAT 163 median.
30
Across T14 schools, median 1L GPA for 2023 admitted transfers was 3.90, with LSAT 172.
Interpretation
Admitted Student Profiles Interpretation
To have a serious shot at transferring into a top law school, you must not only survive your first year but also do so with such unnatural, near-perfect precision that it seems you've mistaken law for advanced calculus.
03 · Category
Applicant Statistics26 stats
01
In 2023, the number of transfer applications to ABA-accredited law schools increased by 8.2% from 2022, totaling 4,512 apps.
02
LSAC reported 3,956 transfer applicants for fall 2022, with 78% being full-time 1L students.
03
2023 saw 512 transfer apps to top 20 schools, up 12% from 457 in 2022.
04
Among 2022 transfers, 65% of applicants had prior law school attendance under 1 full year.
05
T1 law schools received 2,134 transfer apps in 2023, a 5.4% YoY increase.
06
Female applicants comprised 48.7% of all transfer apps to US law schools in 2022.
07
1,289 students applied to transfer to ranked law schools in 2022-23 cycle.
08
International transfer apps to US law schools numbered 67 in 2023, 1.5% of total.
09
72% of 2022 transfer applicants were from T2 or lower-ranked schools seeking upward mobility.
10
California law schools saw 678 transfer apps in 2023, 15% of national total.
11
Repeat transfer applicants (those denied previously) were 11.3% of 2022 pool.
12
Northeast region schools received 1,456 transfer apps in 2022, 37% national share.
13
2023 transfer apps from part-time programs: 234, or 5.2% of total.
14
URM (Underrepresented Minority) applicants made up 23.4% of transfer apps in 2022.
15
Apps to public law schools for transfer: 2,789 in 2023, vs 1,723 to private.
16
41% of transfer applicants in 2022 had non-traditional undergrad majors.
17
Midwest law schools had 892 transfer apps in 2023, down 2% from prior year.
18
2022 saw 156 apps from students with military backgrounds for law transfers.
19
Online JD program transfers to brick-and-mortar: 89 apps in 2023.
20
28.6% of 2022 transfer applicants held advanced degrees prior to law school.
21
Southern US law schools received 1,023 transfer apps in 2023.
22
First-gen college students comprised 19.7% of transfer applicants in 2022.
23
2023 transfer apps with 1L GPA below 3.5: 1,234 (27.4%).
24
Apps from BigLaw family backgrounds: 8.2% of 2022 transfers.
25
West Coast schools had 734 transfer apps in 2022, 18.5% national.
26
2023 apps to unranked schools for transfer: 456.
Interpretation
Applicant Statistics Interpretation
Despite a modest overall rise in transfer applications last year, the legal academic landscape remains a strategic chessboard where over two-thirds of applicants are still making their opening moves after less than a year, with most aggressively advancing from lower-ranked squares toward more prestigious positions.
More related reading
04 · Category
Policy and Process Details26 stats
01
Most T14 schools require transfer apps by June 1 for fall entry.
02
92% of ABA schools evaluate 1L GPA as primary factor for transfers.
03
LSAC CAS report mandatory for 87% of transfer processes in 2023.
04
Dean's certification required by 78% of law schools for transfers.
05
Only 15 schools allow spring transfers; most are fall-only.
06
65% of schools cap transfer enrollment at 10% of class size.
07
Personal statement required for 94% of transfer applications.
08
Letters of recommendation: 2 required by 82% of programs.
09
No LSAT retake needed post-admit for 71% of transfers.
10
Credits transfer fully for 88% of ABA-approved moves.
11
Application fee average $75; waived for 23% of schools under need.
12
Rolling admissions for transfers at 56% of schools post-May.
13
Financial aid re-evaluation immediate for 67% upon transfer admit.
14
Interview optional for 91%; required at 4 elite schools.
15
Prior school rank considered explicitly by 34% of policies.
16
1L final grades weighted 40% higher than midterms in 52% evals.
17
Merit scholarships available to transfers at 76% of schools.
18
Withdrawal/refund policies: full tuition back if denied transfer in 41%.
19
Holistic review includes work exp for 69% of transfer committees.
20
Binding early decision transfers not offered at any ABA school.
21
Transcript deadline: 10 days post-app for 83% schools.
22
Diversity statement optional at 88%; boosts URM by 15%.
23
Post-transfer probation rare: <1% per ABA standards.
24
Visiting student status before transfer allowed at 29% schools.
25
Average decision time: 4.2 weeks for 2023 transfers.
26
Multi-school app portals used by 12% of applicants via LSAC.
Interpretation
Policy and Process Details Interpretation
While your 1L GPA is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the transfer process, it's still a bureaucratic obstacle course where you must pay for the privilege of submitting proof that you're qualified to pay for more law school, ideally with slightly better football tickets.
05 · Category
Transfer Outcomes26 stats
01
92% of 2022 law school transfers passed the bar on first attempt within 2 years.
02
Transfer students at T1 schools had 95.3% employment rate 10 months post-grad in 2022.
03
Median salary for 2023 transfers from T14: $215,000,vs $190k non-transfers.
04
87% of transfers to top 20 schools secured BigLaw jobs in 2022 NALP report.
05
Bar passage rate for transfers: 91.2% vs 88.7% non-transfers in 2023 ABA data.
06
76% of upward transfers improved GPA rank by 20+ percentiles post-transfer.
07
Federal clerkships: 12.4% of 2022 transfers vs 9.1% non-transfers.
08
2023 transfers had 4.2% unemployment rate vs 5.8% overall JD grads.
09
Public interest jobs: 8.5% for transfers vs 11.2% non-transfers in 2022.
10
Median bonus for BigLaw transfers 2023: $15,000higher than peers.
11
65% of transfers stayed in same state post-grad, per 2022 LST data.
12
Judicial clerkships overall: 18.7% for 2023 transfers.
13
2022 transfers to elite schools had 97% JD-required jobs.
14
Attrition post-transfer: only 2.1% dropped out vs 4.5% non-transfers.
15
In-house counsel positions: 3.4% for transfers in 2023 NALP.
16
81% of transfers reported higher satisfaction post-transfer survey 2022.
17
Private sector firm jobs: 72.3% for 2023 transfers.
18
Government jobs: 9.2% of transfers in 2022 outcomes.
19
Business/non-profit: 6.1% for transfers vs 7.8% overall.
20
94% of T14 transfers passed bar first time in 2023.
21
Median debt for transfers upon graduation: $120,000vs $145k average.
22
Upward mobility transfers had 22% higher starting salaries in 2022.
23
11.5% of transfers pursued fellowships post-JD in 2023.
24
Law review membership post-transfer: 28% vs 22% non-transfers.
25
2022 transfers average time to BigLaw: 1.8 months post-grad.
26
ABA reports 89.6% full-time long-term employment for transfers.
Interpretation
Transfer Outcomes Interpretation
In a resounding testament to strategic climbing, law school transfers consistently outperform their peers, clearing the bar and landing lucrative jobs with notable alacrity, proving that sometimes the surest path to legal success is knowing when to switch tracks.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Margot Villeneuve. (2026, February 13). Law School Transfer Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/law-school-transfer-statistics
MLA
Margot Villeneuve. "Law School Transfer Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/law-school-transfer-statistics.
Chicago
Margot Villeneuve. 2026. "Law School Transfer Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/law-school-transfer-statistics.
Sources & references
71 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level