Transferring, what does this mean? Forum

[JustBelieve]

Several of the websites for law schools that discuss admissions for transfers list that the home law school must be "Approved by the Section on Legal Education of the American Bar Association"

What exactly does that mean? Does it mean that if the home law school is a member of the ABA that that is enough or does it imply more?

Thanks

[Thane Messinger]

Several of the websites for law schools that discuss admissions for transfers list that the home law school must be "Approved by the Section on Legal Education of the American Bar Association"

What exactly does that mean? Does it mean that if the home law school is a member of the ABA that that is enough or does it imply more?

Thanks

The former. The originating law school must (also) be accredited by the ABA. If there's any doubt, it's good to check. If either law school is not ABA-accredited, beware.

Thane.

--

Thane Messinger
Author of:
Law School: Getting In, Getting Good, Getting the Gold
The Young Lawyer's Jungle Book: A Survival Guide

[chitown825]

Several of the websites for law schools that discuss admissions for transfers list that the home law school must be "Approved by the Section on Legal Education of the American Bar Association"

What exactly does that mean? Does it mean that if the home law school is a member of the ABA that that is enough or does it imply more?

Thanks

The former. The originating law school must (also) be accredited by the ABA. If there's any doubt, it's good to check. If either law school is not ABA-accredited, beware.

Thane.

--

Thane Messinger
Author of:
Law School: Getting In, Getting Good, Getting the Gold
The Young Lawyer's Jungle Book: A Survival Guide

TITCR.

--

Stephen Hawking, CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA
Author of:
A Brief History of Time
Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays

[romothesavior]

Several of the websites for law schools that discuss admissions for transfers list that the home law school must be "Approved by the Section on Legal Education of the American Bar Association"

What exactly does that mean? Does it mean that if the home law school is a member of the ABA that that is enough or does it imply more?

Thanks

The former. The originating law school must (also) be accredited by the ABA. If there's any doubt, it's good to check. If either law school is not ABA-accredited, beware.

Thane.

--

Thane Messinger
Author of:
Law School: Getting In, Getting Good, Getting the Gold
The Young Lawyer's Jungle Book: A Survival Guide

TITCR.

--

Stephen Hawking, CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA
Author of:
A Brief History of Time
Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays

180

[Thane Messinger]

Several of the websites for law schools that discuss admissions for transfers list that the home law school must be "Approved by the Section on Legal Education of the American Bar Association"

What exactly does that mean? Does it mean that if the home law school is a member of the ABA that that is enough or does it imply more?

Thanks

The former. The originating law school must (also) be accredited by the ABA. If there's any doubt, it's good to check. If either law school is not ABA-accredited, beware.

Thane.

--

Thane Messinger
Author of:
Law School: Getting In, Getting Good, Getting the Gold
The Young Lawyer's Jungle Book: A Survival Guide

TITCR.

--

Stephen Hawking, CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA
Author of:
A Brief History of Time
Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays

Steve -

Glad you could join us!

= : )

--
Thane Messinger
Author of:
Law School: Getting In, Getting Good, Getting the Gold
The Young Lawyer's Jungle Book: A Survival Guide

[CanadianWolf]

Do AALS members still only accept transfer credits from other AALS member schools?

[nahgems]

Do AALS members still only accept transfer credits from other AALS member schools?

I don't know if it is still the case for *all* AALS schools, but I it is for many of them. Its often listed in a fairly obvious spot on the website (i.e. for Temple, the first thing it says on their website under the "Transfer Application" heading is: Temple Law School accepts into the J.D. program a very limited number of transfer students from law schools which are ABA approved and are members of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS).)

[CanadianWolf]

Thanks for responding.Probably the best source for an authoritative answer to my question is the AALS. My question should have been phrased differently, such as does the AALS have rules regarding transfer applicants & admissions ?

[nahgems]

Thanks for responding.Probably the best source for an authoritative answer to my question is the AALS. My question should have been phrased differently, such as does the AALS have rules regarding transfer applicants & admissions ?

According to the AALS website (--LinkRemoved--): In awarding a Juris Doctor degree, a member school may grant a student academic credit up to the equivalent of three semesters for full-time students or up to four semesters for part-time students, for work successfully completed at another member school and two semesters for full-time students or 2.6 semesters for part-time students for work successfully completed at a nonmember law school.

It doesn't look like AALS prohibits member schools from accepting academic credit from non-member schools (up to 2 semesters for full-time).

[CanadianWolf]

Thanks again! Went to the AALS website & was surprised to learn that 171 law schools belong to the association. More importantly, however, for those planning to transfer is the list of about 30 law schools that are not AALS members.

[Thane Messinger]

Thanks again! Went to the AALS website & was surprised to learn that 171 law schools belong to the association. More importantly, however, for those planning to transfer is the list of about 30 law schools that are not AALS members.

Indeed. The ABA and the AALS are not synonymous. The question you raise is an interesting one: whether an ABA-and-AALS-accredited law school could exclude credits from an ABA-but-not-AALS law school. If this is at all a question, it's best to confirm this directly with the law school to which you wish to transfer (and, if possible, prior to starting at your first law school). This would most likely correspond with a T4 to T3-and-higher transfer.

Perhaps the authors of Art of the Law School Transfer might have additional information. Have you checked with them?

Thane.

--
Thane Messinger
Author of:
Law School: Getting In, Getting Good, Getting the Gold
The Young Lawyer's Jungle Book: A Survival Guide