Any graduate of U.S LL.M program thinking of applying to Columbia Law School as a transfer applicant to their JD program?

I gradauted from the LL.M program at Northwestern with a CGPA of 3.71, and when I called CLS admissions office for information about their transfer admission process, I was advised to apply as a transfer applicant to their JD program.

I would welcome any insight on the comparative admission process for someone in my position vis-a-viz a regular L1 JD student seeking to transfer to CLS JD program.

First, Congs on the work well done. I think they might want you to have sat for the LSAT but probably you should inquire if they can grant you a waiver ( that is if you did not sit for the LSAT)

If you do not mind my asking, what subjects did you do for your LLM?

No waiver of LSAT will be granted to transfer students, particularly those from schools other than CLS itself.
I'm afraid you have to score somewhere between 170 and 175...

I've spoken to Texas, Boston and George Washington Universities about the same thing and they all said that you have to apply in the normal way for the JD course but that, once accepted, you can apply to have 'advanced standing' on the JD course - which in effect means having upto 31 hours of credit (ie one year of the JD already done).

This means you still have to apply to the JD and take the LSAT (but there are past papers available from the LSAC website and books you can get that improve your cognitive and logic skills, making the test easier). If you have a GPA of 3.71 and are still young, you should get a good score on the LSAT anyways.

I'm sure you're aware but Northwestern has a two year JD programme and with your LLM being from there it might be easier, quicker and cheaper to apply for credits there?

It seems LSAT scores are not relevant to transfer applications at CLS. This link from LSAT website said so except they are midleading. https://os.lsac.org/Release/apply/applications/EApps/CHECKLIST.ASPX?LAW_SCHL_CODE=2163&LSAC_pgm_term_code=1&APPL_TYPE=A2&APPL_YEAR=2009