Incoming Transfer Students Information
- Previous Communications
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Email 1 (7/18/23)
Email 2 (7/20/23)
Email 3 (7/25/23)
Email 4 (7/27/23)
Email 5 (8/4/23)
Email 6 (8/8/23)
Email 7 (8/10/23)
Email 8 (8/11/23) - Individual TCMs
Email 9 (8/22/23)
- Key Dates
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Friday, August 11 – Transfer Credit Memos (TCMs) will be sent out to all incoming students whose official transcript was received from their previous institution by July 31. This memo will indicate the number of credits transferring to the GW Law transcript and will show which, if any, course(s) a student must take. Before receiving your TCM, we encourage you to use this time to become familiar with the extensive course listing GW Law has to offer and to begin to plan a coherent academic program for your time at the Law School. The Law Bulletin contains course descriptions and you may find the Bulletin and the information for the Fall 2023 Semester on the Records Office web page.
Tuesday, August 15 – Transfer Orientation Check-in for orientation will open at 4:30 pm and the program will begin promptly at 5 pm. During the three-and-a-half-hour program dinner will be served. If you have any dietary restrictions, please notify the Dean of Students Office ([email protected]) so we can make the appropriate arrangements. Dress for this event is summer business casual.
Wednesday, August 16 – Academic Advising for incoming transfer students will be held from 12 pm to 2 pm. Academic Advising provides guidance on upper-level requirements, course selection, and a balanced academic program specifically tailored to the needs of each student. Though advising is not required, this session is offered by the Dean of Students Office specifically for incoming transfer students and participation is strongly encouraged. Representatives from offices and programs that will be critical to your experience here (e.g., Records, Field Placement, and the various subject matter programs) will be available for “one-stop” advising. Should you choose not to attend, you may attend general “first come-first served” advising sessions offered to all GW Law students during the “Add/Drop” period. The Add/Drop period is the time at the outset of the semester when a law student may add or drop a course or courses from their schedule without a required signature from the Dean of Students Office.
Wednesday, August 16 – SBA Transfer Panel This panel of, by and for transfer students is offered by the GW Law Student Bar Association. It is intended to provide incoming transfer students an opportunity to hear from GW Law students who transferred from other law schools into our community. These students will offer their advice for a successful transition that will be filled with challenges and rewards both socially and academically. Specific details on this afternoon event will be shared as they become available.
Wednesday, August 16 – Journal Transfer Competition Information Session This information session offered by the GW Law Journal Competition leadership will provide an opportunity for incoming transfer students to participate in Q&A about journal membership and participation in the competition. Specific details on this afternoon event will be shared as they become available. In the interim, please email [email protected] with any questions you may have.
Wednesday, August 16 – Online Registration begins for incoming transfer students via the GWeb Information System. GWeb is the system that allows students to access online services, including registration. GWeb is currently closed for registration transactions and is scheduled to open on August 16 so you can register remotely at that time. Information for law students on how to register using GWeb will be provided closer to this date but you may familiarize yourself with access instructions on the Records Office GWeb page. Note that registration is the beginning of the Law School’s Add/Drop period for the Fall 2023 semester and runs through Tuesday, September 5.
Thursday, August 17 – Wednesday, August 21 – Journal Competition GW Law’s student journals will conduct a write-on competition for transfer students beginning Thursday, August 17 at 9 am EDT and ending Monday, August 21 at 9 am EDT. Competitors will have the ability to rank participating journals to be considered for membership.
- Important Documents
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Fall 2023 Transfer Academic Advising Presentation
Journal Information Guide (2023 Transfer)
The George Washington University Law Journal Withdrawal Policy
- Orientation Recordings
Your GW Identity and Account Activation: (Due: ASAP)
Your GW identity is a collection of elements that uniquely identifies you as a member of the GW community. If you have not done so already, please activate/claim your GW identity as soon as possible. Please refer to the GW Account Activation for New Users for step-by-step guidance on how to claim your account. As part of the Identity claiming process, you will receive both GW and GW Law email accounts. These accounts use the same username and password. To access your GW Law email account, log in at https://mail.google.com/a/law.gwu.edu. Note that your law school email account will be created only once you have claimed your UserID. If you are not able to locate the account activation email, please contact GW IT at [email protected] or call 202.994.4948 for assistance. Finally, once you have claimed your UserID, please wait at least 24 hours before trying to access the health portal or submitting forms to register with DSS for accommodations.
Transcript Requirement: (Due: ASAP)
If you have not already done so, you must submit an official copy of your complete, final transcript from your prior institution in order to finalize your Admissions file and for review to determine transferable credits. We understand that it may take time for grades from the spring semester to lodge onto your transcript but it is important that once the transcript is complete it be sent to the law school as soon as possible.
Resume Submission: (Due: July 24)
Please complete and submit the Incoming Transfer Student Resume Form. Responses will be used to compile the entire class profile for faculty so they have a better sense of the transfer cohort.
Immunization Requirement: (Due: August 1)
All matriculating students who will be under the age of 26 as of August 1, 2023, must submit their immunization records directly to Student Health Services. Once you receive access to your GW email address later this month, you will be able to access the portal.
Register for your GWorld Card (Due: August 5)
The GWorld Card is the official ID card at GW and is required to access academic buildings, campus libraries, the health and wellness center, and other services. Want to avoid waiting in long lines of new students needing GWorld cards? Upload your photo today (no later than August 5, 2023); the GWorld team will have your card pre-printed and ready for pickup at the GWorld Office.
Update Your Chosen Name, Gender Identity and Pronouns (Due: August 5)
If you indicated a preferred name in your application to GW Law, that name will be entered into the various digital records across campus. If you need to update this information or want to change it, you can find more information on the process on the Office of Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement website.
Purchase the Tuition Refund Plan (Due: August 14)
Although we hope each student will sail through the semester without incident, we know from experience that is not always the case. As a result, the university partnered with GradGuard so students can purchase insurance to protect their educational investment by reimbursing up to 100% of tuition, room, and board in the event of a medical or mental health withdrawal, based on your level of coverage. Please note that your financial aid award may affect refunded amounts. Tuition insurance is available for purchase via Student eBill prior to the start of each fall and spring semester. Tuition insurance may also be purchased from GradGuard directly via their website or by calling 877-794-6603. Tuition Insurance must be purchased prior to the start of each semester to cover tuition and other covered expenses for that term. For more information, please see the GradGuard website.
Character and Fitness Disclosures (Due: August 20)
Please ensure your application to GW Law provides disclosure of any legal volitions, college disciplinary matters, or similar issues, including any that may have occurred after you submitted your application. State boards of bar examiners will note any issue disclosed in your bar application that occurred before you enrolled in law school and specifically ask both your prior institution and GW Law whether the law school was aware of that issue when you enrolled. If an inconsistency exists between information obtained by the bar examiners and your law school admission applications, that inconsistency could impact your admission to the bar.
Please make any necessary disclosures to the Admissions Office on or before Sunday, August 20, using the [email protected] email address. Please err on the side of disclosure. If you have questions regarding whether something needs to be disclosed, please contact the Dean of Students Office. It is in your best interest to review your law school application to GW and email any updates to Admissions now before you formally "matriculate" as a law student.
Mandatory GW SHIP Enrollment (Waiver due September 12)
New this year, all law students will be automatically enrolled in GW Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) for 2023-2024. If you have other acceptable coverage you must waive it by September 12, 2023, at University Health Plans. Please note the waiver form will be available in mid-July.
Registration for Accommodations (Complete as soon as possible, but no later than November 15)
Students requesting accommodation based on the potential impact of a disability must contact the University’s Disability Support Services Office to establish eligibility and to coordinate reasonable accommodations. For additional information on this process for law students, please refer to the GW Law Dean of Students Office website.
Connect With Your Colleagues (At your Convenience)
We encourage you to prioritize making connections with other GW Law students as soon as possible. The relationships you cultivate will support your successful transition into GW Law. Some of your fellow transfer students have joined the Transfer Student Facebook Page and are waiting for you! The Student Bar Association (SBA) is working on other opportunities for you to connect including the SBA Transfer Mentor Program. If you are interested in being matched with a current student, please fill out the Transfer Student Mentorship Program Questionnaire. More information about this program is forthcoming.
Sign up for Information from the Law School Affinity Groups (At Your Convenience)
The law school has over 80 student-led organizations that serve as the backbone of the law school community. Chief among them are the many student affinity groups which include:
- Asian/Pacific American Law Student Association (APALSA)
- Black Law Student Association (BLSA)
- Christian Legal Society (CLS)
- Disability Law Society
- J. Reuben Clark Law Society - international law society composed of LDS attorneys, law students, and others
- Jewish Law Student Association (JLSA)
- Lambda Law - an organization of students interested in gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) legal issues, employment concerns
- Latin American Law Student Association
- Law Association for Women (LAW)
- Middle Eastern and North African Law Student Association (MENALSA)
- Muslim Law Students Association (MLSA)
- Parents in Law
- South Asian Law Student Association (SALSA)
- Veteran Law Student Association (VLSA)
Each of these groups would like to welcome you personally. If you are interested in outreach, please complete this Affinity Group Interest form.
Student Bar Association: Tips for Transfers (At Your Convenience)
GW Law Transfer Students Tips 2023 is produced by GW Law Students for incoming transfer students. It is not intended to replace referencing the Law Bulletin for information on academic regulations nor seeking academic advising from the Dean of Students Office but does emphasize information that prior transfer students have found particularly helpful.