Transfer Application Process

The transfer application for the Columbia Law Review consists of two elements: the Writing Component and the Personal Statement. This year, the transfer application period will open on Thursday, June 22 at 12:00 PM ET. You must register for the transfer application by Thursday, June 29 at 12:00 PM ET. The application is due Thursday, July 6 at 12:00 PM ET. For further information on how to register and apply, please see the section below titled “Logistics.”

Successful applicants will receive offers by phone on July 18, and all new members are expected to attend Orientation and begin their editorial duties on August 5.

Writing Component

The Writing Component consists of (1) a closed-universe prompt that asks you to analyze a legal question and fact pattern presented, and (2) a citation exercise. Writing exercise topics vary from year to year. In the past, students have been asked to write an essay justifying a position on a cutting-edge legal issue, a bench memo, or a classic law school-like issue spotter response.

All the information you will need to complete the Writing Component—including relevant, modified Bluebook rules—will be included in the packet. You will not be permitted to consult with anyone else or to use any outside sources. The citation exercise will be weighted less heavily than the writing exercise.

The time allotted to complete the Writing Component affords an opportunity to produce a well-organized and sophisticated piece, taking into account that transfer students will likely be working during the same period. As such, the component is not designed to take the entire period, but rather to accommodate the varied obligations of students during that time.

Personal Statement

In addition to the Writing Component, the Review requires each transfer applicant to submit a Personal Statement. This statement is intended to offer applicants an opportunity to share information about their background, identity, life or work experiences, areas of legal interest, or other relevant information that will help them contribute to the work and the community of the Review. More information about the Personal Statement will be available in the application packet.

Logistics

To apply, please follow the steps below:

  1. Email the Columbia Law Review Business Office (business@columbialawreview.org) and the Executive Notes Editor (ene@columbialawreview.org) with your name, law school, graduation year, and telephone number. You will then receive an anonymous registration number during regular business hours that day or the following day. The deadline to register is Thursday, June 29 at 12:00 PM ET. Note that applicants who register after Thursday, June 22 at 12:00 PM ET (when the application opens) will have less time to complete the application.
  2. You will receive the transfer application packet on Thursday, June 22 at 12:00 PM ET or at a reasonable time thereafter (or at a reasonable time after you register if you registered after the application opened).
  3. Complete your application by following the instructions in the transfer application packet. Those instructions include only using your anonymous registration number, and not your name, on all documents.
  4. Email your completed application to the Business Office (business@columbialawreview.org) prior to Thursday, July 6 at 12:00 PM ET.

Any questions about the transfer application process or the Law Review in general should be directed to Margaret Hassel, Editor-in-Chief (eic@columbialawreview.org). Questions about the Writing Component should be directed to Luke Anderson, Executive Notes Editor (ene@columbialawreview.org).