JD Program (Transfer Applicants)

Candidates for the JD Program apply to and receive their degree from the College of Law. This is the application process for students transferring to Iowa from another law school.

UI General Catalog Description

Admission requirements
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. Only 30 hours of credit may be transferred from another law school. When evaluating your first year's performance, we primarily look at your law school rank. Most accepted transfer students are within the top 10-15% of the class.

English Language (TOEFL) Requirements

Estimated costs of attendance
Tuition and fees vary by degree program and the type of student you are.

Estimated Costs of Attendance

Application deadlines
Transfer students may apply for fall semester admission only. The transfer application deadline is June 1.

Application process
Materials supporting your online application (below) should be on file in the College of Law as soon as possible after the June 1 application deadline. All of these items must be received by the College of Law before your application will be considered:

• Your Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS) report.
• Your official law school transcript.
• A report of your law school class rank.
• A letter of good standing from the dean of your law school.
• Letters of recommendation from your current law school that evaluate your work during your first year.
• A two-page personal statement explaining why you want to transfer from your current law school to the University of Iowa College of Law. If you previously applied to the University of Iowa College of Law and your application was submitted within the last four years, you may ask us to review your previously submitted personal statement in lieu of submitting a new personal statement. Otherwise, write a statement that answers the following topics:
  • Why do you wish to study law?
  • What has been your most significant accomplishment?
  • How would you contribute to our law school community and the legal profession?
• Describe any life experiences that would indicate your drive, determination, motivation, or leadership characteristics.

Apply
Transfer applicants complete a different application than first-year applicants. The non-refundable $60 application fee ($85 for international students) is payable by MasterCard or Visa.

Apply Online

Contact information

• College of Law Admissions Office
  The University of Iowa
  320 Melrose Ave.
  Iowa City, IA 52242
  law-admissions@uiowa.edu
  319-335-9095
• Office of Admissions
  The University of Iowa
  107 Calvin Hall
  Iowa City, IA 52242-1396
  admissions@uiowa.edu
  800-553-IOWA