As one of the most populous and economically developed states of the United States of America, Texas is a traditional state of legal education and practice. As a state located in the United States, this state has a number of well-known law schools that may be useful for all those people who want to become lawyers.
We have listed the top law schools in Texas as well as the predicted LSAT scores and GPA that will help you improve your chances of getting in.
Law Schools in Texas
Today there are five major universities in Texas that view law as their core programs and that are also top law schools in Texas as well as in the country.
1. The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)
The University of Texas at Austin is mainly referred to as UT Austin. Anybody who is harboring ambitions of getting into this school should understand that UT Austin School of Law is the best law school in this region with a ranking of 16 in the entire country. The school admission rate is low since only 14.6% of all students that the school would like to take in are allowed to do so. Application outcomes consist of the following: average GPA of 3.84, LSAT score of 170. The tuition expenses are $36,429 for students who are residents of Texas and $54,096 for those from other states. Despite the fact that out-of-state tuition costs are considerably higher than state tuition costs, 91% of students receive grants.
UT Austin School of Law does offer full-tuition scholarships; however, you have to sacrifice your best LSAT score and GPA for this scholarship. Ensuring you have applied early enough before the closing date of the application will enhance your chances of getting a positive response in your admission.
There are several groupings of programs that are available at the law school, such as JD, LLM, and dual programs.
Some attributes that make UT Law distinctly special are its faculty, course delivery, and choice of students to enroll. With specialization in areas such as energy law, intellectual property, and substantive courses on corporate transactions, the school offers one of the best legal education you are likely to find in the hustle and bustle of this dynamic state capital.
2. Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
SMU Dedman is another best law school in Texas, located at Dallas; the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law (SMU Law) ranks #2 in Texas. Its median LSAT for the 2024 academic year is 164, and the median GPA is 3.83. The acceptance rate of the school, though competitive, is 30.15 percent, thus not easily achievable. Tuition and fees are estimated to cost $64,650 a year. SMU has a good employment rate for its graduates; it also provides a good academic climate for its students.
SMU Law’s greatest strength is maintaining a professional, skills-based curriculum that prepares students for a number of specific legal fields, such as energy law, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property.
In this case, criminal justice is what makes SMU the right university if you have the desire to be an advocate. One thing that can be lacking at a larger institution that will be appreciated here at this Dallas college is the feeling of togetherness that is created by members of the college family. Class sizes are small; this means that you are likely to know your professor, and you practice your networking.
It is important to apply to SMU between September and March; however, the school will take late applications where there is a vacancy. So if you’re looking for a law school with a community and amazing lineup of programs, learn more about this North Texas law school.
3. University of Houston Law Center
As one of the best law schools in Texas, Houston, the Law Center has its median LSAT set at 161. The law center prides itself on offering specializations in several fields; among them are healthcare law, intellectual property law, and energy law.
This public law school has an acceptance rate of 32.27% and the median GPA of students is 3.72. The costs of tuition and fees are $9,970 for residents and $26,130 for non-residents.
The school ranks in the mid-range of selectivity, but if you make the cut, you will have a 76% pass rate on the bar. The program presently has less than 800 students, which gives the program a sanity student-to-faculty ratio.
It is also unique in offering a part-time program in law. Students at this highly-ranked program attend law school in the evenings Monday through Thursday and can earn a J.D. in four years. It is relatively good if you fancy a career change but can’t afford to stay out of the workplace while in law school.
With just a decent LSAT score and a capacity to manage your work and school life and other extra commitments.
4. Texas A&M University School of Law
Since it was called the Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, the Texas A&M University School of Law made a dramatic shift to the #4 in Texas and #83 in the US. Texas A&M law school arguably boasts of offering one of the most professional training grounds to their students, coupled with various areas of specialization to choose from.
It was founded in the same year, and this school provides specializations such as intellectual property and technology law, arbitration and mediation, and business law. Its admission rate stands at averagely 26% and has a median LSAT score of 159. Texas resident students pay about $33,092 while non-residents pay about $48,192 for tuition fees. Luckily the application submission is usually due at the end of May, meaning you can apply for a fall LSAT score and possibly a spring LSAT in case it’s needed.
For its part in fulfilling its mission of providing an affordable world-class legal education, 28% of Texas A&M law students are beneficiaries of grants that cover full tuition. Sounds good, right?
5. Baylor Law School
Very few law students ever get to practice in a courtroom until they are through with their courses. Well, that is not the same with Baylor Law School. From the early 1920s, law students at Baylor have engaged in this practical, mandatory program of a Texas law school. Affording each law student the crucial experience of trying a case from introduction to verdict, this intensive program becomes particularly important if you plan on going into criminal justice.
Specifically, Baylor Law is famous for the hard work that is provided, particularly concerning litigation and trial advocacy. The median LSAT there is 164, which is good enough for 17.77% acceptance for the course. It costs approximately $64,650 in tuition per year. The university’s bar passage rate is quite good, which may be attributed to Baylor’s commitment in offering students hands-on legal education.
Completing the list of top five is Baylor Law School, which is ranked at the fifth position in Texas and is ranked 94th in the country. Baylor Law School has the distinction of having a different quarter system as compared to the other universities. Baylor law school still remains one of the smallest law schools in the county. These factors include limited enrollment, a substantial majority of faculty contact, and a 34% acceptance rate, making it the best college for pursuing law in Texas.
Diverse Academic Offerings and Hands-On Experiences
Law as a field of study is evolving in such a way that all the Texas law schools provide a wide offer of the programs and other academic possibilities for the students.
Juris Doctor (J.D.) Programs
Juris Doctor (J.D.) is a full-scale law program designed to provide students with the ground to practice law. Students aiming to become litigators or desiring the corporate world or public sector, the J.D. curriculum prepares them well.
Master of Laws, abbreviated as LL.M degrees
Texas, like many other US states, makes it possible for students who want to go further in their legal education or have a particular area of interest in law to pursue LL.M. programs in many law schools. These programs are available to international students as well as domestic lawyers who seek to expand their knowledge in few specialization areas like energy law, intellectual property or taxation.
Dual Degree Programs
Because different fields of work tend to demand seamless interaction with law, several law schools in Texas have recently started offering combined programs, including the J.D./M.B.A, which is the program that standardly awards both the Juris Doctor and the Master of Business Administration degrees.
Clinical Programs
Texas law schools are fully aware that their academic programs are well grounded and therefore emphasize practical experience learning. By clinical sessions, one is able to practice actual legal work or services, whereby students may cover trial advocacy, family law, intellectual property and environmental law, among others.
Admissions Requirements
The eligibility of prospective students is usually determined by their results in the Law School Admission Test (LSAT); their cumulative undergraduate grade point average; letters of recommendation; and personal statements. The most elite Texas law schools employ a cutoff LSAT score of 165 and GPA of 3.5 and above. For instance, they will always wish to be associated with the brightest brains; thus, do everything possible to help yourself get the best LSAT score possible.
Career Opportunities
Texas graduates can expect practice opportunities ranging from excellent to abundant within the state and in other states as well. Houston, Austin and Dallas continue to attract students to premier law firms while some of them seek public service careers in government agencies and officials as well as NGOs or join the judiciary on their own. Other formidable legal sectors within the Texas state for the alumni of law school include corporate law, intellectual property and energy law.
Guidelines on how to Select a Law School in Texas
Accreditation
Make sure you look out for law schools that are accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).
Location
Think of the geographical location of the law school. Which large city would you or might you like to be positioned in: Dallas, Houston or Austin? Or would you like a position in a college town environment?
Clinical Opportunities
Consider the number of practical programs that are provided by that law school, which could give you experience in researching areas of specializations that are of interest, such as litigation, transactions, or public policy.
Networking and Career Services
Research what type and how many employers the law school’s graduates are able to find jobs with, and what services are offered by the careers office. These can be useful when it comes to internships, clerkships, and even employment after one’s degree.
Cost and Scholarships
Be very sure with the tuition and fees of the different law schools and the scholarship and financial assistance provided. Check out general availability costs to make sure that these programs are financially responsible in your decision-making.
Bar Passage Rates
Consider the statistics of graduates’ performance on the bar exams, as this information tells about the quality of education as well as readiness of graduates to face practice.
Specializations
If you have a certain area of law that interests you, it is important to check whether the law school focuses on those areas in terms of courses offered and faculty recruitment.
Conclusion
Given the quality of education in most of these schools, choosing the right law school in Texas is a very challenging process. When you give attention to the different offerings and resources that each of the Texas law schools contains, you will be able to secure the best one that will initiate your legal career in Texas.
