FWIW, I went to Berkeley and if you're willing to do the write on for law review, that's still an option as a transfer and they tend to anticipate transfers will participate so they leave some room for that.

Re having an advantage coming in with a real GPA, I don't see why you would. You'll be on the same system as everyone else once you arrive and it's not like it's a bunch of slackers. But I'm sure it won't hurt for OCI.

Keep the cost of living in mind. It's no joke. If you'd be living with your SO that would help of course.

I don't necessarily think transferring "makes sense" logically speaking but you're perfectly capable of managing the stressors it will cause you and if you want to be with your SO and are ok being in CA if anything happens to that relationship, no harm in applying.