Transfer & Non-Degree Application Procedures
Policy Statement for Applicants for Transfer or Non-Degree Status
A student who has completed at least one year at a member school of the Association of American Law Schools may apply to this school for admission with advanced standing with credit for no more than one year of coursework. A student who has completed or expects to complete at least two years of work at a member school of the Association of American Law Schools and who expects to graduate from that school may apply to this school for admission as a non-degree candidate.
Students are accepted only to the extent that vacancies exist. Selection of the applicants is based on evidence either 1) that the candidate can produce above-average work at this law school or 2) the candidate will contribute to the diversity of the student body. Please see Appendix A, Policy Statement Regarding Admission to the Entering Classes of the Juris Doctor Program.
Students expecting to graduate from the University of Washington School of Law have priority over non-degree candidates in the selection of courses. This policy parallels the general University Policy on the registration of non-matriculated students.
Application Procedure
By July 10, the law school Admissions Office must receive:
- Form A Application
- $50 application fee attached to the application.
- A cover letter stating your reason for applying as a transfer or non-degree student.
- Form B and letter from the Dean of your law school
- For Transfer Applicants: This letter must be prepared after your first year of law study and must a) provide your class standing and cumulative grade-point average, and b) state that you are in good standing and eligible to continue.
- For Non-Degree Applicants: This letter must be prepared after your second year of law study and must a) provide your class standing and cumulative grade-point average, and b) state that you are in good standing and expected to graduate from that school upon completion of credits earned at the UW School of Law.
- The Dean should attach the letter to Form B and mail them directly to our Admissions Office. Before giving the form to the Dean, be sure to indicate on the front of the form whether you wish to waive your right to see the completed form or not, and advise him or her of our July 10 deadline.
- Official Law School Transcript
- For Transfer Applicants: The transcript must show the completion of one full year of law study (45 quarter credits or the equivalent).
- For Non-Degree Applicants: The transcript must show the completion of two full years of law study (90 quarter credits or the equivalent).
- LSDAS Report
You may not need to re-register with LSDAS. Instead, you should ask your current law school to send us a copy of your LSDAS report including undergraduate transcripts; a report sent by the applicant is not acceptable. If your subscription to LSDAS remains active, you may ask us to order your report from LSDAS. Those who have applied previously to this law school should request that the file copy of their LSDAS report from their previous application be used.
- Recommendations
Letters of recommendation are optional, but are strongly encouraged. We accept up to two. Your recommendations should be from law school professors and should include an evaluation of your academic capabilities. Your recommenders should send their letters directly to the Admissions Office or to Law Services for inclusion with the LSDAS report. Please advise your recommenders of our July 10 deadline.
Interviews
Prospective applicants may visit the school and meet with the admissions staff to answer any questions they may have. A formal interview, however, is not part of the admission process. We are happy to discuss our policies and procedures with applicants or prospective applicants, but these discussions do not affect the admission decision.
Journals/Law Review
Transfer students interested in writing on for a journal should read the write-on competition application information for transfer students. Completed applications and fee must be received by June 9th.
Decision Notification
The Law School will notify you of its admission decision shortly after July 10.
NOTE: All records become part of the official file. They will not be returned or duplicated.