Consider This Before You Transfer

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Another factor not mentioned here - during OCI week, many of the biglaw firms will evaluate a new transfer as if they are still at the prior school, on the grounds that they can't predict how the new transfer will stack up against the classmates at the better school.
If bigfirm A would have considered a top 10% candidate from the local second-tier school, they still might invite that person for a call-back - but they will evaluate them against any other call-backs from that same second-tier school.
If bigfirm B would never have considered a top 10% candidate from that second-tier school, it probably doesn't matter that the candidate has now transferred into at a top 14 law school.
Some firms may decide to take a chance on the transfer candidate thriving at the new school, but transfers shouldn't just assume that trading up to a better school will help them much during 2L OCI.

hc member of NY 3:38PM January 04, 2011

In response to Don's comment, I was a transfer student. There were several transfers from my class who received "meaningful" summer employment through OCI, and others, including myself, who obtained paying summer employment through other means. However, not all of us obtained paying summer employment. If I had to guess, of the 24 transfer students that year (this was an abnormally large transfer class mind you), 12 of us had good paying jobs for the summer. My job offer happened to come because of the geographical relocation and a willingness on my part to move again. I transferred to the University of Utah, mainly for the cheaper tuition, and loved the school and the surroundings: snowboarding on the best snow I have ever experienced all winter and amazing outdoor activities in the summer. Law review allowed transfer students to write on, but the entries are due the same time as applications, so it required a little extra effort.
In response to the article, I sure hope Loyola has gotten their priorities straight... Taking the top 25% at Southwestern over Chapman?!? I have seen a couple Chapman grads in the courtroom and I would hate to go up against one of them. There is this criminal defense attorney in San Diego who wins every motion I have seen him bring... ridiculous. I will stick to corporate work and just keep dating attorneys doing that kind of work.

KM 11:34AM January 04, 2011

Transfers like Mr. Gilbertson have a tendency to rationalize everything and stay that transferring was "worth it." Absent from this article is any indication that Gilbertson obtained meaningful (paying) summer employment. Also missing is an explanation of how his experience on the Southern California Review of Law and Social Justice (?) will be perceived by employers. Did USC let any transfers on Law Review?

Don of CA 10:36AM January 04, 2011