LLM students are eligible to apply to transfer to the JD program at the end of their LLM year. The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is not required. To qualify for this transfer option, LLM students will inform the Assistant Dean for International and Graduate Affairs of their intention to be considered as a transfer student during the fall semester of their LLM year (by the announced deadline which shall not be later than Nov. 30).
The admissions process is extremely selective and we anticipate that only applicants with distinguished grades will be the most competitive. References from Ohio State law faculty will also carry significant weight. With the exception of the LSAT, all other application requirements must be met for consideration in the pool of J.D. transfer applicants.
If the applicant is accepted into the JD Program, most credits acquired during the LLM year will be transferable into the JD program, except the U.S. Legal Systems and LLM Legal Research and Writing courses (a total of 5 credits). J.D. transfer students must complete the remaining components of the established first-year curriculum in the second year of study at Moritz. Advanced JD course and graduation requirements must be completed in the third year of study. No LLM degree is awarded.
If the applicant is not accepted into the JD program as a transfer applicant, he or she may still apply as a traditional JD applicant to the three-year program. Note that LLM students at other schools and those who have already been awarded an LLM degree (from Ohio State or elsewhere) are not eligible for the transfer option. They, however, may apply as traditional JD applicants to the three-year program. This will require the submission of an LSAT score.
Financial Aid
If a transfer applicant received scholarship assistance as an LLM student, that assistance would not automatically continue if the applicant is admitted to the JD program. A limited number of scholarships for transfer students are available, and LLM transfers will be eligible for these. It should be noted, however, that the majority of financial assistance is in the form of federal loans. These funds are restricted to students who are U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Resources for foreign nationals are extremely limited. Therefore, when applying to transfer from the LLM to the JD program, a student must be prepared to fully finance his or her JD studies.
Questions
Questions about the JD application process should be directed to the Admissions Office. Details about the transfer process can be found in the College’s Faculty Rules governing the LLM program.