A limited number of outstanding LL.M. students or graduates are selected each year to transfer to the Juris Doctor (J.D.) Program. If chosen, you will have the opportunity to complete the J.D. degree requirements in two years.
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Qualified LL.M. graduates may apply as transfer students during the transfer application period in the spring. Qualified LL.M. students may apply during their last semester of study at Cardozo. If admitted, Cardozo School of Law will grant up to 26 units in advanced standing credit toward the J.D. degree for classes taken during the LL.M. studies at Cardozo.
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is not required, however students who have taken the LSAT must report their score.
Eligibility
To be considered for this transfer program candidates must:
- Hold a foreign first degree in law
- Be currently enrolled in Cardozo’s LL.M. program or have obtained an LL.M. degree from Cardozo within the last 3 years
- Have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.4 in their fall and spring LL.M. studies, or have passed the New York Bar
Academics & Structure
All LL.M. transfer students admitted to the J.D. program must enroll full-time in the program during the two academic years and complete the remainder of the eighty-four (84) credits needed to qualify for the J.D. degree. Students must successfully complete all J.D. academic requirements, including the first-year curriculum and upper-level writing requirements.
Application Procedures
There is no firm application deadline since current law school grades are required; however, we recommend that you submit your application as early as possible and that it be completed no later than August 10 for the Fall term. Your file will not be reviewed until all required materials are received.
- A completed J.D. transfer application submitted electronically through LSAC.
- An official current law school transcript including all grades received from your LL.M. studies. Your application will not be reviewed until Cardozo Admissions has received all your LL.M. grades.
- A short personal statement about your reasons for transferring. You must submit this statement as an electronic attachment to your application. Please note that this statement should be submitted in lieu of the personal statement requested in our application.
- Two letters of recommendation, at least one of which must be from a Cardozo Law professor. We prefer that you submit these letters through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service, but will accept letters sent directly to Cardozo.
- An LSAT score is not required. However, if you have taken the LSAT, you must request that a report be sent to Cardozo from the LSAC. If you do not have an LSAT score to report, please email the Office of Admissions at lawinfo@yu.edu so we can update your LSAC status with a waiver of the LSAT requirement.
- A letter from the Dean of Students indicating that you are in good standing.
- A resume submitted via an electronic attachment.
If you intend to apply to the JD program as a transfer student and do not have an LSAT score to report in your transfer application, please email the Office of Admissions at lawinfo@yu.edu so we can update your LSAC status with a waiver of the LSAT requirement.