Law Schools
15 Best Law Schools in Texas | Cost, Requirements, How to Apply
Texas is renowned for its independence and pride in being the only state to have existed as a separate country before joining the United States.
In Texas, everything is bigger, even the Texas law schools. It can be challenging to limit your options if you’re an aspirant attorney looking for the best law school in Texas. Selecting the best law school is a crucial choice that could significantly affect your potential lawyer earnings and career options.
You want to start your legal career off on the right foot, so how do you choose the best college? In that case, you’ve found the right location. A career in law starts with selecting the best law school. You want a university that will challenge you academically and position you for future success.
This article has been carefully put together to provide adequate and reliable information on the best law schools in Texas 2024.
Are there Law Schools in Texas?
One of the states in the US with the most accredited law schools in Texas. In Texas, there are up to 10 excellent law schools.
When you join the employment market, being unique in your law school experiences or specializing in your study might help you stand out from the competition. Some students’ involvement in extracurricular activities throughout law school helps them secure their first jobs.
When the employment market is competitive, as it has been since the Great Recession, all of this assumes even greater significance. Thankfully, there are many possibilities for Texas law students to stand out.
Many people who attended law school occasionally regret doing so. Therefore, it seems reasonable to consider whether it is still worthwhile.
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How Long is a Law School in Texas?
It takes three years to complete the Juris Doctor Program at law schools in Texas.
Texas Law’s three-year academic program is challenging and transformative. The first year of law school is devoted to the study of fundamental subjects that every lawyer must learn, such as constitutional law and civil process.
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How Much Does Law School Cost in Texas?
The affordable tuition and Cost of Attendance are two features that set the top law schools in Texas apart. The annual Cost of Attendance total includes fixed expenses like tuition and fees.
For the nine months that you attend for the fall and spring semesters, it also provides affordable living expenses. Depending on where you live will determine the expenses for each student. If you intend to borrow federal student loans, be careful about your financial decisions.
In Texas, the average cost of tuition is $36,429 per year. However, you will learn the exact price of law schools in Texas in this post.
What are Law Schools in Texas Ranked For?
Students who study law at law schools in Texas become highly analytical thinkers and professionals who change the world. In addition to receiving instruction from world-class academics in the classroom, they also participate in the best clinical programs in the nation, where they are trained by intelligent and devoted lawyers.
There are numerous chances and outstanding academic excellence at every Texas law school. Students who attend law schools in Texas gain experience as attorneys by defending actual clients in actual cases. They develop into advocates by debating on the spot. By affecting the lives of others, they affect their own.
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What are Requirements For Law Schools in Texas 2024?
Here are the fundamental prerequisites for law schools in Texas:
Letters of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation are required. Send these letters to LSAC immediately by using the LSAC Letters of Recommendation Service.
Background Statement
Texas Law is interested in learning more about a candidate’s social, economic, and/or personal background. It’s possible that the applicant’s statement or the rest of the application doesn’t make this obvious.
University Performance
If your grades for one or more terms were significantly different from those of other students, please explain. Please provide any additional information regarding your college transcript(s) or college preparation. The Admissions Committee would use this information to determine whether to accept you.
Individual Statement.
You have the opportunity to describe your background to the admissions committee in the personal statement. Include your hobbies and any other significant information about yourself that your CV doesn’t make evident. The admissions committee can see how you from your statement.
Additionally, it reveals your mental process and how you have analyzed and found significance in your events.
LSAT
Candidates for law schools in Texas need an outstanding LSAT score to stand a great chance.
Resume
Please list any significant volunteer, extracurricular, employment, or community activities on your CV. Your graduate work or degrees, honors and accolades, military service, job descriptions, and key areas of responsibility are all included in this. Your resume shouldn’t be longer than three pages.
What Are The Best Law Schools in Texas?
Texas law schools, which are among the best in the country, provide a wide range of dual degree programs and several legal clinics, including one for the Supreme Court. Imagine being able to discuss your combined master’s in community and regional planning or the petition for certiorari you wrote in a Supreme Court case during your first interview after graduating from law school, all of which you naturally accentuated with a little Texas ingredient.
The majority of Texas law schools offer part-time JD programs. The best Texas law schools in Texas are:
- University of Texas – Austin Law School
- Texas A&M University
- Baylor University
- SMU(Dedman)
- University of Houston Law Center
- Texas Tech University
- South Texas College of Law Houston
- St. Mary’s University
- Texas Southern University (Marshall)
- University of North Texas – Dallas
#1. University of Texas – Austin Law School
One of the top legal programs in the country is offered at the University of Texas in Austin. They boast an almost 95% bar passage rate. Your education motivates you and demands that you give it your all. The law school at the University of Texas has maintained the highest ranking among law schools in Texas.
Longhorns, go! The University of Texas School of Law may be the top institution for legal education in Texas. It has one of the top 10 constitutional law programs, one of the top 20 criminal law (crime justice) programs, and was named the best law school overall by U.S. News and World Reports for its starting salary to debt ratio.
The University of Texas at Austin School of Law charges $70 for applications to its full-time programs. Full-time in-state tuition is $36,429; full-time out-of-state tuition is $54,096. (out-of-state). 5.8:1 is the student-to-instructor ratio.
#2. Texas A & M University Law School
The practical approach is one of Texas A&M University’s and its School of Law’s main foci. To prepare for a future in law, students are urged to gain practical experience.
Students can obtain a sense of what they will be dealing with in real-world scenarios by participating in activities like Moot Court, Mock Trial, and Alternative Dispute Resolution.
There are more than 69,000 students enrolled at Texas A&M’s main campus in College Station. There are an additional 5,200 students at the branch campuses in Galveston and Qatar, as well as in Texas at the locations of the School of Law, Higher Education Center in McAllen, and Health Science Center. The American Bar Association has accredited it.
There is no application cost for the full-time program at Texas A&M University’s School of Law. There is no application cost for the part-time program at Texas A&M University’s School of Law. Full-time in-state tuition is $32,634; full-time out-of-state tuition is $48,618; part-time in-state tuition is $25,361; and part-time out-of-state tuition is $37,350. (out-of-state). The faculty-to-student ratio is 6.1 to 1.
#3. Baylor University Law School
Baylor Law was a national leader in providing students with a mix of cognitive, problem-solving, and professional abilities to prepare them for the practice of law long before other law schools in the country started using the term “practice-ready.”
As a prominent participant in the national dialogue on legal education, Baylor Law maintains its position as one of the top institutions for training future practitioners.
The school currently has one of the best bar passage rates in the country, is ranked no. 1 in the percentage of Super Lawyers by the National Jurist, and is ranked no. 2 in the country for advocacy by U.S. News & World Report. Outstanding lawyers are produced by Baylor’s demanding program.
There is no application cost for the full-time program at Baylor Law School at Baylor University. Full-time tuition is $61,877. 5.8:1 is the student-to-instructor ratio.
#4. SMU – Dedman Law School
Students can complete a full-time J.D. at SMU Dedman School of Law in Dallas in three years just like other law schools in Texas.
Several joint degree programs are also offered by the law school, including a four-year J.D./MBA program through the Cox School of Business, a three-year fast-track J.D./MBA program through the Department of Business in Dedman College, a four-year J.D./MA in Economics program through the Department of Economics in Dedman College, and a three and a half-year J.D./LL.M. in Taxation.
Students can gain practical experience and act as community champions in several legal fields through the 11 specialty clinics. There are numerous legal journals, including the Journal of Air Law and Commerce and the SMU Law Review.
The Dedman School of Law at SMU (Dedman) does not charge an application fee for its full-time programs. Full-time tuition is $59,286. 8.7:1 is the student-to-instructor ratio.
#5. University of Houston Law Center
The University of Houston Law Center is a prestigious Texas university known for its part-time law school, healthcare law, and intellectual property law programs.
In addition to the Center for Consumer Law, the Institute for Intellectual Property and Information Law, and the Environment, Energy, and Natural Resource Center, the school also runs several other legal centers and institutes.
Through the school’s clinics, which offer instruction in immigration law, criminal defense, and other areas, students can gain practical legal experience. A J.D./M.B.A. program is offered in collaboration with the University of Houston C.T. Bauer College of Business, and a J.D./M.D. program is provided by the Baylor College of Medicine, giving students the option to complete a combined or concurrent degree program.
There is no application cost for the full-time program at the University of Houston Law Center. There is no application cost for the part-time program at the University of Houston Law Center. Full-time in-state tuition is $34,930; full-time out-of-state tuition is $49,748; part-time in-state tuition is $23,990; and part-time out-of-state tuition is $34,028. (out-of-state). The ratio of faculty to students is 6.2:1.
#6. Texas Tech. University Law School
The commitment to putting students first is the key to their success, permeating everything the Law School does. You may find page after page on their website showcasing their outstanding accomplishments in advocacy, skill development, legal writing, live-client clinics, externships, law journals, and a ton more.
The faculty there is excellent. Law professors at Texas Tech are well-known for their ardent dedication to teaching, research, and service both in the state and beyond the country. The faculty members are most committed to the students. They impart knowledge, serve as mentors and coaches, and create bonds that endure forever. The Texas Tech University School of Law is evidence that obtaining a law degree doesn’t need incurring significant debt.
There is no application cost for the full-time program at Texas Tech University’s School of Law. Full-time in-state tuition is $27,232; full-time out-of-state tuition is $38,572. (out-of-state). 9.2:1 is the student-to-instructor ratio.
#7. South Texas Law College Houston School of Law
Training a diverse group of students for leadership positions in the legal profession, business, and government is the goal of the South Texas School of Law. The Law School continues to teach and train a sizable number of African-American and Hispanic lawyers in keeping with its long history.
The Law School has also welcomed students from all walks of life, earning it a reputation as one of the most diverse law schools in the nation. The Law School is dedicated to having an impact on urban populations as part of a special purpose institution for urban programs.
The application fee for the full-time program at South Texas College of Law Houston is $55. The application fee for the part-time program at South Texas College of Law Houston is $55. Full-time tuition is $36,150, while part-time tuition is $24,300. 12:1 is the student-to-instructor ratio.
#8. St. Mary University Law School
One of the Top 4 Advocacy Programs in the country and one of the Best Part-Time Law Schools are both offered at St. Mary’s University School of Law.
In 2020, students volunteered more than 10,000 hours in support of social justice. Even before you get on campus, you will be asked to participate. Before graduating, incoming law students must perform 30 hours of community service. St. Mary’s Law School may be the place for you if you want to change the world.
There is no application cost for the full-time program at St. Mary’s University’s School of Law. There is no application cost for the part-time program at St. Mary’s University’s School of Law. Full-time tuition is $41,058 and part-time tuition is $27,204. 10.8:1 is the student-to-instructor ratio.
#9. Texas Southern University (Marshall) Law School
One of the most diversified law schools in the nation is Texas Southern University. This legal school is dedicated to affecting urban neighborhoods and has a long history as an HBCU. Additionally, it is Texas’ most reasonably priced law school, which is always a great relief! It is one of the cheapest law schools in Texas.
TSU Law’s admittance rate is still very low, even if the typical LSAT scores and GPA requirements are less stringent than those of other law schools. This is so that the admissions committee can assess an applicant’s character in addition to their academic achievements.
Considerations include leadership potential, involvement in the community, professional experience, the student’s background, extracurricular activities, and graduate work in a different field.
The Tuition fee is $21,038.
#10. University of North Texas – Dallas Law School
An American Bar Association-accredited law school is the University of North Texas at Dallas College of Law. It is situated in the UNT Dallas Law Center at 106 S. Harwood St. The sole public law school in Dallas has the University of North Texas at Dallas as its parent organization.
UNT The American Bar Association (ABA) granted Dallas College of Law provisional accreditation on June 3, 2017. The ABA considers graduates of temporarily authorized law schools to be graduates of ABA-approved law schools, and thus are qualified to take most state bar tests, including those in Texas.
The University of North Texas School of Law in Dallas does not charge an application fee for its full-time programs. The University of North Texas School of Law in Dallas does not charge an application fee for its part-time programs. Full-time in-state tuition is $18,807; full-time out-of-state tuition is $31,775; part-time in-state tuition is $13,183; and part-time out-of-state tuition is $21,969 (out-of-state). 10:1 is the student-to-instructor ratio.
Best Law Schools Close to Texas
Although there are several law schools in Texas, exposing yourself to these law schools close to Texas can positively influence your preference.
#11. University of Oklahoma Law School
The University of Oklahoma College of Law in Norman is the sole public law school in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma University Early Admissions Program allows about 20 applicants who might need a little more help to start coursework in the summer in addition to the law school’s regular academic timetable.
The University of Oklahoma offers a combined J.D./M.B.A. program for law students. OU offers a J.D./Master of American Indian Studies degree program, as well as a certificate program in American Indian law, for students interested in this area of law, in addition to a conventional J.D. at the Michael F. Price College of Business.
For applications to its full-time programs, the University of Oklahoma College of Law levies a $50 application fee. Full-time tuition in-state is $22,283; full-time tuition out-of-state is $34,718. (out-of-state). The student-to-instructor ratio is 10.9:1.
#12. The University of Tulsa School of Law
The University of Tulsa College of Law is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, about a hundred miles northeast of Oklahoma City (TU Law). The ABA has granted full accreditation to Tulsa University Law, a private law school. The Tulsa College of Law is a second-tier institution, per the U.S. News Law School Rankings.
The school’s degree program offers LLM programs in addition to a JD and several dual degrees. TU Law is proud of its extensive certificate programs in Native American law, health law, and sustainable energy law. Additionally, they provide a range of legal clinics and externships that will help prepare the graduating law student for the legal profession. They are among Oklahoma’s top law schools as a result of all of this and more.
For applicants to its full-time programs, the University of Tulsa College of Law charges $30. Tuition for full-time study is $26,880. The student-to-instructor ratio is 9.7:1.
#13. Law School of Oklahoma City University
Of course, Oklahoma City University School of Law is located in Oklahoma City, the state’s capital (OKC Law). The first and oldest law school in Oklahoma was founded in 1907, the year it became a state, and is now known as Oklahoma City Law.
Energy Law is a subject covered in the Masters of Law in American Law program at OKC Law. In addition to the clinics run by the Oklahoma Innocence Project, they also provide other pro bono options.
At Oklahoma City University’s School of Law, the application fee for the full-time program is $50. Full-time tuition is $36,500. 11:1 is the student-to-instructor ratio.
#14. University of Arkansas – Fayetteville Law School
Students at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville School of Law can gain experience in several legal fields through the school’s extensive clinical programs, which include the Criminal Defense Clinic, the Federal Clinic, Habitat for Humanity projects, and pro bono initiatives.
The Sam M. Walton College of Business at the university offers a J.D./M.B.A. program, and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville’s Department of Political Science offers a J.D./M.A. in international law and politics. The versatility of law schools in Texas can be easily noticed here too.
The Law School Community Life Committee, which organizes social events, charitable endeavors, and other activities for the legal community, is made up of students, professors, and staff members.
The University of Arkansas-Fayetteville School of Law does not charge an application fee for its full-time programs. Full-time in-state tuition is $17,133; full-time out-of-state tuition is $38,160. (out-of-state). 7.8:1 is the student-to-instructor ratio.
#15. Tulane University School of Law
Except for one necessary course in legal ethics, Tulane University law students take electives in their second and third years after finishing the required courses in their first year.
In addition to regular legal study, Tulane Law School offers specializations in maritime law, European legal studies, sports law, and other fields. In addition to their legal degree, students at the Freeman School of Business can also obtain an MBA or a master’s in accounting.
Tulane Law School places a strong emphasis on clinics and public interest, and J.D. candidates must complete at least 30 hours of pro bono work before receiving their degrees.
The application fee for full-time programs at TUSL is $60. The cost for full-time study is $62,738. The student-to-faculty ratio is 8:1.
How to Apply for Law Schools in Texas
You can follow the instructions below to apply to law schools in Texas.
First Step: Speak with your undergraduate institution’s pre-law advisor. You can get assistance with the application process from your adviser by asking for advice on which undergraduate courses to take.
Second Step: Open an account with LSAC. Using your LSAC account, you may keep track of the progress of each step you take when applying to Texas law schools.
Third Step: Register for the LSAT and start studying. Law schools typically demand the LSAT. Many require you to take it by November or December if you want to be admitted for the fall semester.
Step Four: Research law schools. You must carefully choose the Texas law schools that are best for you.
Step Five: Submit every request for transcripts. Make sure it is accurate and complete.
Step Six: Create a thorough personal statement
Step Seven: Request recommendation letters. The requirements for recommendation letters vary by school. You can send your recommenders forms by downloading them from your LSAC account.
Step Eight: Watch for the outcome. Using your LSAC.org account, you are free to submit applications to as many US law schools in Texas as you like.
Frequently Asked Questions
University of Texas—Austin.
The University of Texas School of Law is the top institution for legal education in Texas. It has one of the top 10 constitutional law programs, one of the top 20 criminal law (crime justice) programs, and was named the best law school overall by U.S. News and World Reports for its starting salary to debt ratio.
To receive an LL, students in certain law schools in Texas must complete at least 24 hours of credit and keep their grade point average (GPA) above 1.90.
The highest level of a law degree, the Doctor of Juridical Science, is intended for professionals who wish to continue their legal studies after receiving their JD and LLM.
Studying. The workload in law school is often heavier than in undergrad. You should approach it as if it were your full-time job, devoting at least 40 hours a week—if not more—to reading and studying. Additionally, you need to confirm that your time management and study techniques are up to par.
Conclusion
All of the Texas law schools we listed have outstanding academic reputations and numerous chances. With so many important factors to take into account, choosing the best school for you is not a simple decision.
We are aware that picking a law school can be very challenging, particularly when law schools in Texas offer stellar rankings. However, this article would certainly guide your choice of preference.
In the end, you must choose which aspects of a law school are significant to you and where you will eventually practice. This will facilitate the application process and help you create a list of law schools in Texas to which you want to apply to.
References
