Changes of Status

There are four types of Changes of Status within the Law School:

  1. Visiting Out (Attending Third Year at Another Law School)
  2. Leave of Absence
  3. Resignation or Withdrawal
  4. Transfer to Another Law School

Students who have initiated procedures to transfer or obtained approval to visit out must notify the Law School Registrar’s Office of their decision whether to transfer or visit out by August 1. Students who have decided to transfer or visit out must meet with the Assistant Dean of Students; students who have chosen to remain at the Law School must provide written notification (in print or by email). If you fail to notify the Registrar’s Office of your decision by August 1, a fee to cover administrative costs associated with your failure to provide timely notification will be assessed as follows:

  1. There is a $125 fee for students who remain at the Law School after initiating transfer procedures or obtaining approval to visit out.
  2. A $100 fee is charged to students who transfer or visit out.

In addition, all students who have initiated procedures to transfer or obtained approval to visit out but have not informed the Registrar’s Office of their decision in a timely manner will have their registration canceled and removed from all classes they are registered for. Those students who remain at the Law School despite having initiated transfer procedures or obtained approval to visit will have to submit new registration materials.

Students shall normally earn at least 82 of their JD credits in residence. Additionally, a request to attend any fall and/or spring semester at another institution will be granted only under compelling circumstances that are beyond the control of the student and will be granted only for a visit at another ABA/AALS-approved law school.

A student must submit to the Associate Dean a written request for permission to visit out on or before May 15. The request must identify the school(s) the student seeks permission to visit and must set forth the student's reasons for requesting permission and include any relevant documentation to support those reasons. If the request is approved, the student must submit the list of courses to be taken at the host school and descriptions of those courses intended for transfer of credit; the Associate Dean will review those courses for approval. The student also must notify the Law School Registrar's Office of his or her final decision whether or not to visit out by August 1. (See "Notice of Decision to Transfer, Visit Out, or Remain at the Law School."

 

A student who completes the first year of law school may petition the Office of the Dean for a leave of absence. This petition must be in writing, setting forth the circumstances of the request and the length of leave desired. Approval is generally not given for more than one year, and the approval may be conditional. A petition for a leave of absence will not be considered during an examination period.

The student must submit the Leave of Absence Request to the Vice Dean at least two months before the end of leave or when otherwise requested indicating his or her intention to return to the school. If the student fails to submit a letter or goes beyond the time of leave granted, the student will not be eligible to return automatically. The student must petition for readmission. In addition, the student must complete the University Student Resignation Form if he or she preregistered for the term in which the leave has been granted.

In order to officially resign from the School of Law and the University a student must complete the following procedures:

  1. Submit notice in writing to the Dean stating the reason for resignation; and
  2. Notify the Law School Registrar (412) 648-1407/1409 and the Student Appeals Office, G-12 Thackeray Hall, or call (412) 624-7585 for 24 hour answering machine. Note that once a student has processed a University Registration Form, notices of resignation must be received before the first day of classes of the term for which the student has registered.

Students who resign after the last day of the University's add/drop period are liable for a percentage of their charges and will be issued "R" grades, denoting resignation, on their transcripts. If a student resigns by mail, the reduction percentage of the resignation will be determined by the postmark date on the envelope, considered to be the notification date of resignation.

In accordance with the School of Law policy, a student cannot officially resign in good standing during an examination period. Once an examination period starts, all scheduled examinations must be taken before the student can resign.

Withdrawals

A student may withdraw from all courses through the School of Law if ineligible to do so through the University. A student who wishes to pursue this option must consult with the Vice Dean or the Dean of Students..

If you are an online student, please contact Beth Ann Pischke at pischke@pitt.edu rather than following the instructions below.