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The University of Texas School of Law
The University of Texas School of Law is one of the most highly respected law schools in the United States. It is consistently ranked in the top 20 by various publications, including US News and World Report. Additionally, it is a top choice for many students seeking to enter into legal careers. The school's location in Austin also makes it a great choice for those interested in Texas law.
The University of Texas School of Law is at its core a regional school with some national placement. Though it has respectable employment data, given the frigid legal hiring market, a solid majority of its graduates stay in Texas. It has long been on the cusp of U.S. News's traditional T14, but the magazine recently ranked Texas No. 1 in return on investment.
Contents
History
Boston University School of Law was established in 1883 as The University of Texas at Austin’s Department of Law. It is located in the university's Old Main Building. The law school has grown to more than 900 students and offers the Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) and the Master of Laws (LL.M.) degrees.
The law school has approximately 23,500 living alumni who have gone on to have successful careers in government, public-service organizations, corporations, and law firms throughout the country and the world. Notable graduates include former U.S. Secretary of State James A. Baker III; former U.S. Ambassador Robert S. Strauss; former Secretary of the Treasury Lloyd M. Bentsen Jr.; Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Diane Wood; Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Reynaldo Garza; U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison; Secretary of Energy Federico Peña; former Dallas Mayor and current U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk; presidential advisor Paul Begala; litigator Joe Jamail; criminal defense attorney Dick DeGuerin; and cartoonist Sam Hurt.
Admissions
Statistics
| Admissions Stats | ||
| Class of: | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 |
| 25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT | 164 - 168 - 169 | 167 - 169 - 170 |
| 25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA | 3.58 - 3.76 - 3.9 | 3.67 - 3.8 - 3.9 |
| Acceptance rate | 18.4% | 15.2% |
| Applications received | 5584 | 7679 |
| Acceptances | 1029 | 1170 |
| Matriculants | 1541 | 1366 |
Applicants whose numbers are not quite up to par with those of this entering class could see their chances at [[ https://www.lawcrossing.com/jobdetail/id-b5b3d8a602b66454781d8c56d3af1966%7Cacceptance]] improved if they can highlight ways in which they could bring diversity to the school, as the University of Texas, like most other top law schools, aims to form entering classes diverse in ethnicity, nationality, and experience. Usually, the personal statement is the best opportunity to highlight diverse backgrounds or experiences. Those accepted to the University of Texas in recent years opine that the personal statement holds much value in the school's admissions process.
Acceptance Rate
During the 2022 application cycle, 7,679 people applied to the University of Texas School of Law, and 1,170 were offered admission. Of those offered admissions, 399 accepted, meaning the yield was 34.10%. This means that 34.10% of the people offered admission ended up attending the school.
Application Fee
An application fee of $70 will be charged when you submit your application. This fee is non-refundable. This charge will be collected by LSAC, which is the Law School Admission Council.
Personal Statement
The personal statement is an opportunity for applicants to share aspects of their background, interests, and experiences that may not be apparent from their résumé or academic record with the Admissions Committee. The personal statement demonstrates an applicant's writing ability—a skill essential to success in the legal profession—and capacity for critical thought and reflection. While there is no specific topic or question that must be addressed in the personal statement, applicants should, at some point, discuss their motivation for pursuing a legal education. Applicants are allowed two double-spaced pages to complete their statement, with a minimum 11-point font size and 1-inch margins. For personal statements and application essays, check out the TLS Guide to Personal Statements.
Résumé
Please provide a résumé detailing your significant vocational, vocational, extracurricular, and community activities; any graduate work or degree; honors and awards; any service in the Armed Forces; job descriptions and major areas of responsibility, along with the location (city and state) and dates of employment; publications, or other information that you believe the Admissions Committee should consider in evaluating your application. Your résumé may not exceed three (3) pages.
Letters of Recommendation
The University of Texas School of Law requires two (2) letters of recommendation. These letters should be submitted through LSAC's Letters of Recommendation Service. An application will not be considered complete and ready for review until all required items have been received. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all application materials have been submitted and received by the law school. For additional advice on obtaining letters of recommendation, click here.
Early Decision Admission
The Early Decision (ED) admission program at the University of Texas School of Law is designed for applicants who have carefully determined that Texas Law is their number one choice. If admitted, the applicant agrees to withdraw pending law school applications from further consideration and immediately decline any other admission offers. An admitted ED applicant must submit an enrollment deposit and Letter of Intent (LOI). The admission offer will be withdrawn if the applicant does not submit the deposit and LOI by the deadline or fails to comply with other program requirements. All applicants who elect to apply under the ED program must agree to the ED Binding Admission Agreement portion of the application. To read a TLS article about deciding between ED and RD (or Regular Decision), click here.
Transfer/Transient Admission
The University of Texas School of Law welcomes students from other law schools with advanced standing. These candidates are usually excellent students who demonstrate leadership potential. Transfer and visiting students can join the Texas Law community and take advantage of all the school has to offer.
For more information about the admissions policies and application instructions, please visit:
To read a fantastic article about transferring, click here.
Tuition and Expenses
The total annual cost of attendance at the University of Texas School of Law covers fixed expenses (e.g., tuition and fees) and reasonable living expenses for the nine months students are enrolled in classes during the fall and spring terms. Individual expenses will vary based on student-specific living arrangements, whether they intend to borrow federal student loans, and personal spending decisions. In addition, students funding their legal education through student loans may only borrow up to the annual cost of attendance. The chart shows the 2022-23 annual budget for first-year students taking 30 hours (16 credits in the fall/14 credits in the spring).
Cost of Attendance
| Cost of Attendance 2022-2023 | ||
| Expenses | Resident | Non-Resident |
| Tuition & Fees | $36,429 | $54,096 |
| Books & Supplies | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| Room & Board | $9,513 | $15,998 |
| Travel | $1,618 | $1,618 |
| Misc. | $4,208 | $4,208 |
| Total Costs | $59,753 | $77,420 |
Tuition, fees, and charges are subject to change by administrative, legislative, or regent action, and changes become effective on the date enacted. The exact figures will vary depending on when you first started law school. Please refer to the tuition table for current rates and dual degree students should refer to the graduate dual degree program tuition tables. The information above should only be used as a guideline for estimating the cost of attendance.
Tuition Refunds
Law students who withdraw from the University may receive a refund of a percentage of their tuition. Please refer to the General Catalog to determine the refund percentage based on the official withdrawal date. In addition, scholarship recipients who withdraw must return scholarship funding back to the Law School according to the Scholarship Requirements and Policies. Please contact the Law School Financial Aid Office if there are any questions about any of these policies.
Financial Aid
Texas Law is committed to providing every student with the important information they need on financial aid options and helping them navigate the process to obtain support that meets their educational and professional goals. Financial aid experts help students understand their options and make informed decisions about financing their legal education. There are a variety of financial resources available to applicants and students, and Texas Law is here to help you explore your options.
Employment Prospects
The University of Texas at Austin School of Law prepares its students for success in a variety of legal fields. Private-sector employment offers the highest median salary for new graduates at $190,000, while those choosing to work in the public sector can expect to make a median salary of $62,000. The majority of law graduates from the University of Texas at Austin, 60.3%, go on to work for law firms, while 15.9% clerk for a judge and 11.9% enter public interest legal fields. The school has an impressive 95.1% pass rate for students taking the bar exam for the first time.
Employment by Geographic Location
A significant portion of University of Texas School of Law graduates find employment outside of Texas. In fact, in the last five years, graduates have taken jobs in 41 states across the country, as well as Washington D.C. The most common out-of-state destinations for University of Texas law graduates include California, New York, and Washington D.C. Additionally, graduates have also found opportunities to work overseas in countries like Argentina, China, Hong Kong, Japan, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Vietnam.
| Geographic Location of Employed Graduates | Class of 2021 | Class of 2020 | Class of 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | CT, MA, RI | >1% | 1% | 1% |
| Mid-Atlantic | NY, NJ, PA | 6% | 8% | 6% |
| East North Central | IL, IN, MI, OH, WI | 2% | 2% | 1% |
| West North Central | IA, MN, MO | 1% | 0% | 0% |
| South Atlantic | DE, D.C., FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA | 5% | 6% | 6% |
| East South Central | AL, KY, MS, TN | 1% | 2% | 0% |
| West South Central | AR, LA, OK, TX | 77% | 70% | 77% |
| Mountain | AZ, CO, ID, NV, NM, UT | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Pacific | AK, CA, OR, WA | 6% | 6% | 5% |
| International | 0% | 2% | 1% |
| Top Employment Locations | Class of 2021 | Class of 2020 | Class of 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 77% | 68% | 76% |
| California | 4% | 5% | 4% |
| New York | 6% | 7% | 4% |
| Washington, D.C. | 2% | 4% | 4% |
Academics & Curriculum
The University of Texas has a reputation for having an outstanding faculty, boosted in recent years by former dean Larry Sager and current dean Ward Farnsworth. Many leaders of various fields of law teach at UT Law, and students and alumni have continuously expressed their admiration for the school's esteemed, yet accessible, faculty. There was a bit of a scandal in the past few years when Dean Sager resigned amid allegations related to sketchy loans to new faculty members and alleged gender discrimination in faculty pay. But so far, Dean Farnsworth has been getting positive reviews.
During the first year, students are placed in small groups of around 20 students and will share course schedules with their group mates throughout the year. Large sections are composed of four small sections, and societies are two small sections apiece. Like every law school, UT requires first-year students to enroll in standard courses, including legal writing. After this first year, and three more course requirements (legal ethics, a writing seminar, and advanced constitutional law), students are free to choose from about 250 courses to round out their J.D. degrees.
UT offers 17 clinics in diverse areas. Categories of clinics include community representation, criminal justice, immigration/international, individual rights, and legal process (including the well-known Supreme Court Clinic).
According to recent graduates, the school's grade curve, which has a fixed mean, keeps professors from rewarding too many students with high grades, because they would have to give out an equal number of low grades. Some graduates have complained about the school's refusal to place emphasis on class rank, while others have expressed concerns that the size of the law school can keep many students from having a chance to meet.
Quality of Life
Austin is a major selling point for UT. The city is consistently ranked among the top cities for singles because of its relaxed, youthful vibe and diverse, something-for-everyone social scenes. One recent graduate described the city as having "a mentality that encourages a positive quality of life." Activities seem endless; Austin and the surrounding Texas countryside (including the Colorado River areas and the Hill Country) offer plentiful outdoor activities alongside Austin's many cultural landmarks, bars, clubs, and restaurants.
On Austin's famous 6th Street, live music flows out of the innumerable bars that line both sides. South By Southwest and the Austin City Limits music festival draw visitors from all over the world, helping to give the city its nickname "Live Music Capital of the World." Rainey Street is another fun area just starting to come into its own. Dogs are welcomed in many outdoor bars and cafes.
UT Law also hosts its own social events, including its famous Halloween party (Ex Parte) and weekly "bar reviews" at various Austin hotspots. Many students have noted that the school's placement of students into small sections gives them great opportunity to make friends early on.
Unfortunately, the law facilities tend to be a bit dated -- except the primary faculty offices, which recently underwent a major renovation. The rest of the building gets periodic updates, and the recent overhaul included some student study spaces.
Austin has many housing options as well as social scenes. Many law students choose to live in Hyde Park, the quaint, inexpensive neighborhood just north of the law school. For those who want more updated but more pricey options, the Triangle on Guadalupe and the Mosaic at Mueller are examples of popular large complexes near campus. Generally, it is recommended that grad students avoid living in areas south of the river, because of Austin's notorious traffic issues, and West Campus, the area dominated by undergrads.
With our year-round sunshine, beautiful Hill Country setting, world-famous live music scene, robust economy, booming job market, and a strong sense of community, Austin offers a wonderful quality of life, making it an excellent place to live, work and play.
Contact Information
The University of Texas School of Law
Admissions Office
727 E. Dean Keeton St.
Austin, TX 78705
512-232-1200
admissions@law.utexas.edu
http://www.utexas.edu/law/
Summary
| Established | 1883 |
| Austin, Texas | | |
| Dean | Robert M. Chesney |
| 2022 US News Ranking | 17th |
| LSAT Median Score | 169 |
| GPA Median Score | 3.83 |
| Bar Passage Rate | 97% (2022) |
| Employment Rate | 79% (2022) |
| Cost | $68,264 |
| Average Debt | $119,589 |
| Application Deadline | March 1, 2023 |
Forum and Discussion
University of Texas School of Law Discussions
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Reference
https://law.utexas.edu/
Rank #17
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