Program Overview
Perennially on the edge of the distinguished “T14” list of top law schools, the University of Texas School of Law is one of the more prominent legal institutions in the South. Unsurprisingly, Texas Law grads have occupied important roles within the Lone Star State, including Steve Adler, the mayor of Austin; Harriet Murphy, the first African American woman appointed to a regular judgeship in Texas; and John B. Connally Jr., former Texas governor and US secretary of the treasury.
To house its award-winning Advocacy Program, Texas Law built a large, fully functional courtroom featuring judicial chambers, jury rooms, conference rooms, teaching courtrooms, and video review rooms. The school’s moot court teams have brought home 12 national titles.
If you go to Texas Law, be ready to incorporate “Hook ‘em” into your vocabulary, as pride in the university and its hometown, Austin, runs deep. Texas student life is inextricably linked to the city, which is one of the fastest growing in the country and is known for its vibrant arts and culinary scene. The majority of students elect to live off campus, many in neighborhoods that are within walking distance of the school.
Curriculum
Each entering class at Texas Law consists of approximately 300 students. First-year students enroll in a required foundational curriculum and do not have elective options. Upper-class students are eligible for elective classes and also must complete the “Criminal Procedure,” “Capital Punishment,” or “Advanced Constitutional Law” course, along with the “Professional Responsibility” course, a writing seminar, and six hours of experiential learning.
Texas Law offers dual degrees with several different graduate school programs at the university. Students can obtain one of nine dual degrees including a JD/Master of Arts in Latin American Studies; JD/Master of Arts in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies; JD/Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning; and JD/Master of Science in Social Work. To be admitted into any of the dual-degree programs, students must apply to both schools independently. Texas Law also offers JD/PhD programs with majors in philosophy and government. In addition, a combined-degree program enables students to earn both a JD from Texas Law and a Licenciatura en Derecho from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México.
Third-year students interested in a more global experience can spend a semester abroad at a law school in such countries as England, Italy, Netherlands, Argentina, Mexico, and Brazil.
Texas Law follows an alpha grading system and does not rank its students.
Clinical and Experiential Learning
Upper-class students at Texas Law must complete at least six hours of experiential learning. Students can enroll in the 15 clinics offered at the law school, including the Capital Punishment Clinic, Transnational Worker Rights Clinic, and Domestic Violence Clinic. Each clinic requires students to complete both courses and casework and is graded on a pass/fail basis.
Internships allow students to earn credit while working at different sites, including at US Attorney offices, in various courts, and in the Texas Legislature. Texas Law also has a nationally recognized Advocacy Program, which encompasses a variety of courses in advocacy techniques and sponsors mock trial teams.
Statistics
Class Profile (Class of 2023)
Class Size: 295
Average Age: 24
Women: 57%
Students of Color: 30%
Median LSAT: 169
Median GPA: 3.80
Career Placement (Class of 2020)
- Law Firms: 60.339%
- Judicial Clerkships: 15.932%
- Public Interest: 11.864%
- Government: 7.797%
- Business and Industry: 4.068%