Overview

Current Cincinnati Law LLM students who wish to transfer into the Cincinnati Law JD program will be considered for admission under this policy. This policy does not apply to LLM students at or graduates of other schools. The transfer admissions process is more selective than the LLM admissions process, and only exceptional applicants will be admitted. LLM students should not expect to be admitted to the JD program. This policy will take effect on August 15, 2018.

Criteria for Admission

The decision to admit an LLM student requires a determination by the Admissions Committee that the applicant is likely to be successful in law school classes; able to pass a bar examination in the U.S.; and

a valued addition to the Cincinnati Law community and the legal profession. 

Admission will be based primarily upon two criteria:

1)     the applicant’s academic record as an LLM student at Cincinnati Law, with particular focus on the courses completed and the applicant’s performance in those courses, and
2)     recommendations from Cincinnati Law faculty. 

To a lesser extent, the admissions decision will also consider the applicant’s pre-Cincinnati Law background, including schools attended and work history.  Although applicants are not required to take the LSAT exam, if an applicant has taken the exam, the admissions decision will also consider that score.

Timing of Application

Students must complete at least two courses from this list before applying for admission[1]:

• Civil Procedure
• Criminal Law
• Constitutional Law
• Contracts
• Property
• Torts
• Business Associations
• Criminal Procedure
• Evidence
• Sales
• Secured Transactions
• Wills

Students may apply after receiving grades from the first semester at Cincinnati Law but no later than 30 days after receiving second semester grades. The Admissions Committee will accept only truly outstanding applicants based on first semester grades. If the Committee denies an application after the first semester, the student may reapply after receiving second semester grades. Students who elect to be graded on a “High Pass/Pass/Low Pass” scale are not eligible to transfer into the JD program.

Application Process

To be considered for transfer admission to the Cincinnati Law JD Program, LLM students must:

1. Complete the Transfer/Visiting Student application.
2. Submit all of the following:
   1. A personal statement explaining the applicant’s interest in transferring into the Cincinnati Law JD Program;
   2. A transcript from Cincinnati Law;
   3. A copy of the application package submitted to Cincinnati Law’s LLM program;
   4. A written recommendation from the Assistant Dean of the LLM program; and
   5. Written recommendations from three full-time professors from Cincinnati Law who have had the applicant as a student. The professors’ recommendations should address these factors:

• the applicant’s class performance, particularly as compared to that of J.D. students in the class;
• the applicant’s likelihood of success in first-year and upper level law school courses; and
• any other observations about the applicant’s suitability for enrollment in the J.D. program.

The applicant may be invited to sit for an interview with the Admissions Committee.

Advice for LLM Students Considering Applying to JD Admissions >>

Relationship to JD Transfer Applications

The space available for transfer students varies from year to year, and LLM applicants for transfer will be considered alongside the pool of traditional J.D. transfer applicants.

Financial Aid

Scholarship decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.  Even if the applicant received a scholarship to enroll in the LLM program, that scholarship may not apply to classes taken as a J.D. student.  

Transfer of Credit

If offered admission, school work completed at Cincinnati College of law will be evaluated and credited toward the JD degree as determined by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and subject to requirements of the ABA Standards for law schools.