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• College of Law home
• > Prospective Students
• > About Iowa's JD Program
• > Transfer to Iowa

Transferring to Iowa

We encourage and welcome applications from law school students who are interested in transferring to the University of Iowa College of Law.  The following steps will serve as a guide for the transfer process:

1. To apply, please visit our Online Application  page for the Transfer Application.
2. As a transfer student you must have completed at least one full academic year of law school by June of the year in which you are seeking the transfer, and the courses must have been completed at an ABA-accredited law school.    We will accept a minimum of 24 hours of credit and a maximum of 30 hours of credit from another law school.
3. The transfer application deadline is June 1. Materials supporting your application, including your Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report, official law school transcript, report of law school class rank, and a letter of good standing from the dean of your law school should be on file in the College of Law as soon after the deadline as possible. All of these items must be received by the College of Law before your application will be considered.
4. Write a statement explaining why you want to transfer from your current law school to The University of Iowa College of Law (please attach separate sheets).
5. Write and submit a personal statement (limited to two pages) that addresses the following topics:

   a) Why do you wish to study law?;
   b) What has been your most significant accomplishment?;
   c) How would you contribute to our law school community and the legal profession?; and
   d) Describe any life experiences that would indicate your drive, determination, motivation, or leadership characteristics.

6. You must submit letters of recommendation  from your current law school that evaluates your work during your first year.
7. When evaluating  your first year's performance, we primarily consider whether or not you are in good academic standing.
8. A non-refundable $60 fee ($100 for international students) is required of all applicants and must accompany your application in order for your request for admission to be considered. Payment should be in the form of a check or money order. Make check payable to "The University of Iowa." Do not send cash.
9. Membership in the Order of the Coif is governed by the Coif Constitution.  Section 5.1.a. of that Constitution provides: 
   "Eligibility of Law Students.  For each academic year, measured from July I to June 30, or any other twelve-month period designated by a member school, a Chapter may elect to membership in The Order any graduating senior (1) who has completed at least 75 percent of his or her law studies in graded courses and (2) whose grade record ranks in the top 10 percent of all the graduating seniors of the school.  "Graded courses" are those for which academic accomplishment is recorded on the basis of educational measurement involving four or more discriminators." This provision means that transfer students will not be eligible for Coif membership.
    

If you have any further questions, please contact Admissions Office.

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