Transfer Applicants

Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for admission as a transfer student into the Juris Doctor program at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, you must have completed at least one school year (two semesters) in the JD program at another ABA-approved law school. However, we do not accept transfers from ABA approved online only JD programs. Transfer applicants may be admitted in either the fall or the spring semester.

Important Dates
January 1 - Application deadline for candidates who would like to enroll as transfer students in the spring semester
August 1 - Application deadline for candidates who would like to enroll as transfer students in the fall semester

Fees
The application fee is $70 and may be paid online by credit card through LSAC. All fees and deposits are non-refundable. 

Review Process
The Admissions Committee at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law makes decisions on a rolling basis. The Committee evaluates the academic potential of applicants through a thorough assessment of each applicant's academic record, professional and educational experiences, and accomplishments. In addition, the Committee identifies candidates who will enhance the professional development of their peers and will contribute positively to the law school community as a whole. Maryland Carey Law will not review applications from students who are not in good standing or who have been dismissed from a law school within the past five years.

Transferable Credits
In order to earn a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, you must obtain 53 of the 85 credits required for graduation in courses or other credit programs offered by the School of Law. Therefore, no more than 32 credits may be transferred. Furthermore, grades will not transfer.

Transfer credit granted for courses taken at a law school outside the United States or for courses completed in an LLM or other post-JD program cannot, individually or in combination, exceed one-third of the total required for the JD degree at University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.

In order to satisfy the graduation requirements for specific required courses, course descriptions of courses previously taken must be substantially similar to the course as offered at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. During the application review process, transfer applicants may be asked to provide course syllabi to demonstrate similarity of subject matter covered

Policy for Transfer of Credit from Other Institutions of Higher Education

Transfer Application Checklist
A completed application for JD Transfer admission consists of the following:

1. The application form, submitted online through LSAC. 
2. Please also submit the following online through LSAC when completing your application:
   1. A non-refundable $70 application fee, submitted online by credit card through LSAC.
   2. One letter of recommendation from a current law school professor who has instructed and evaluated the applicant’s work. Please do not submit letters of recommendation from personal friends and relatives as they will not be considered.
   3. Personal statement: Applicants are required to submit a personal statement. We recommend that you use the personal statement to present to the Admissions Committee information and perspectives regarding your background, experience, special circumstances, and interests that you believe will help the Committee understand your unique story. In addition, the statement should address why you are interested in obtaining a law degree and, more specifically, in transferring to the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. The personal statement should be no longer than 750 words, double-spaced, and must be typed and not hand-written. Upload attachment(s) when completing the application form.
   4. Résumé: Submit a résumé or curriculum vitae detailing your education, employment, skills, honors, awards, and accomplishments. Upload attachment(s) when completing the application form.
   5. Course description: Please submit course descriptions of the law school courses you have completed and those in which you are presently enrolled at your current law school.
3. Please submit the following directly to the Office of Admissions:
   1. Official law school transcript: In order for the Office of Admissions to make a timely decision regarding an applicant’s file, applicants must request that the Registrar at his/her current law school email an official transcript directly to the Office of Admissions at the University of Maryland, Francis King Carey School of Law at admissions@law.umaryland.edu.
      1. If an applicant cannot obtain a final transcript before our application deadline, we will accept an unofficial copy of their current transcript to conduct a review of the application. However, applicants are still required to submit an official transcript when it becomes available prior to enrolling at Maryland Carey Law.
   2. Letter of good standing including class rank from applicant's current law school. This letter must state that the applicant is currently in good standing, is eligible to continue, and is not subject to any disciplinary action. The letter should be sent directly from the Registrar or Dean of Students at the applicant's current law school to the Admissions Office of the University of Maryland, Francis King Carey School of Law at admissions@law.umaryland.edu.
4. CAS report: The School of Law will request the applicant's original Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report from LSAC, including all undergraduate and graduate transcripts. Applicants need not submit these transcripts again.
5. Application for in-state classification (Maryland residents only): The Office of the Registrar for the University of Maryland, Baltimore makes residency determinations. Applicants claiming Maryland residency must complete an Application for In-State Classification, and submit the application to the University’s Office of the Registrar. All applicants are considered non-residents for tuition purposes until the Application for In-State Classification has been submitted and approved. 
6. Free Application for Federal Student Aid: The University of Maryland, Baltimore requires submission of the FAFSA for every student expecting to receive any form of financial aid, including those receiving merit-based aid only. Please submit your FAFSA form as soon as possible after October 1. Our FAFSA-priority deadline is March 1. Submit this form online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ using the code for the University of Maryland Baltimore campus: 002104.

Attachments
Please upload the following documents through the Attachments tab:

• personal statement,
• résumé or curriculum vitae,
• detailed explanation of character and fitness disclosures,
• course descriptions,
• and any other addenda.

Responding to Character and Fitness Questions in the Application
Please carefully read and respond to the 11 questions in the application that relate to your Character and Fitness for Admission to the Bar. The failure to provide honest and accurate answers to the questions on the application is very serious, often more significant than the act or event requring disclosure. Failure to disclose this information in a timely manner may result in disciplinary action by the School of Law and could delay or even prevent your admission to the bar. 

For any affirmative answer, please electronically attach a statement marked “Character and Fitness.” Your answer should include the date and location (city, town and state) of each incident, a description of the incident, and a full explanation of the circumstances surrounding – and the resolution of – each event. Upload attachment(s) when completing the application form. The University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law reserves the right to request additional information from you, including further explanation concerning the incidents in question, court records, documents, or any other relevant information.

Applicants have a continuing duty throughout the application, admission, and enrollment process to inform the Office of Admissions of any changes in the information provided in the application to ensure that it remains complete and accurate.

Signature and Date
Please type (or sign) your name, and date the application. By signing this application and transmitting it electronically, you certify that the information in this application is complete, accurate and honestly presented. You also certify that any information submitted on your behalf is authentic, including letters of recommendation, academic transcripts and certifications. You understand and agree that any inaccurate, misleading or omitted information will be cause for an investigation of misconduct in the admissions process, rescission of any offer of admission, or cause for disciplinary action, dismissal or revocation of degree if discovered at a later date. You further agree to abide by the rules, policies, and regulations of the University of Maryland if you are admitted as a transfer student.