Hi [LR Prof] So good to hear from you!

Of course I am more than willing to give you my comments. But first I have to attempt to profusely apologize for not being in contact with you since I left [school] or thanking you for your wonderful letter of recommendation. I can’t begin to explain such craziness but only hope you can forgive my rudeness. I would love an opportunity to take you to lunch or just get some coffee down in [town] on the weekend to attempt to further apologize, catch up, and soak up your wisdom on this crazy profession I’m entering.  My comments on your questions follow. If you have any questions or want to follow up on any of my comments let me know.

First, I would transfer again if given the opportunity. I feel that I needed to be in a more challenging environment with stiffer competition and that it was too easy for me to coast through [school] and I have gotten that by transferring to [school]. Also, although as of now just an impression as I have yet to get a job lined up for this summer, it still feels like more doors are open to students leaving here than at [school]. Although only a couple transfer students obtained big firm jobs through OCI, I feel that post-grad opportunities will be better for transfers since during OCI we did not yet have any grades from [school].

Second, I’m not sure whether I would recommend transferring to other students. Much of my motivation for transferring was the idea that if I wanted to be teaching at a law school in the future I would be better off graduating from a top 20 school so this is a rather particular motivation. I also want to get a post-grad federal clerkship and that’s going to be easier being at the top of [school] than [school]. Although I’m not particularly drawn to big firm jobs this would obviously be another reason to transfer. It’s difficult to go from being a big fish in a small pond to being a nameless face on the first day of your second year of law school. If a student was interested in these career paths I would recommend transferring, but if a student is interested in public interest or government work, working for the DA for example, I think I would recommend staying at [school], not racking up huge debt while still being at a school with great professors, and staying in a comfortable environment where they already spent the last year developing relationships with students and faculty.

Finally, I would advise any student considering transferring that you can’t underestimate the difficulty of entering a new school as a 2L and finding were you fit in. You make strong bonds as a 1L with your fellow students and it is difficult to leave what is familiar. I still keep in touch with all of my friends from last year who also transferred and we have all had similar experiences and difficulties adjusting to a new school and trying to find your niche. Also, coming to a school as a transfer not all of the opportunities are available to you that are available to the students who were there first year. At [school] this year transfers were not given an opportunity to try out for Moot Court, something I was most looking forward to if I had stayed at [school]. Also there was only one slot open for 26 transfer students competing for law review, although there were 5 other spots on two other journals here (I got a spot on the social justice journal). From what I’ve heard that is pretty standard for most schools.

I’m sure I have more to say on transferring but can’t think of what to add at the moment. If I think of anything interesting I’ll pass it along. Also if you want me to elaborate on anything I’ve said let me know and I’d be happy to take the time to write more.