Law School Admission
To be considered for admission to the Law School, each applicant (1) must have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university or be within six semester hours of obtaining a baccalaureate degree upon the condition that the applicant earns the degree before their last year of law study; (2) must have a minimum undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.20, as calculated by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) (unless the applicant enrolled as an undergraduate under the Academic Fresh Start option pursuant to Section 51.931 of the Texas Education Code); (3) must have attained a reportable score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT); (4) must follow all instructions in The University of Texas School of Law Application; and (5) must submit all mandatory attachments described in the application. An applicant who meets the minimum requirements is not assured of admission, because the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of new students the school may admit each year.
The Law School provides full-file review to all complete applications. The Admissions Committee reviews each application in its entirety. Among the criteria considered are the following:
- Rigor of the undergraduate course of study as reflected by the applicant’s college transcripts
- Graduate study
- Demonstrated commitment to public service
- Work experience
- Leadership experience
- Extracurricular or community activities
- History of overcoming economic or other disadvantage
- Race and ethnicity
- Personal experiences with discrimination
- Overcoming disability
- Disadvantaged socioeconomic background
- Geographic diversity (particularly underrepresented regions of Texas)
- Diversity of experience and background
- Maturity
- Ability to communicate well, exceptional writing skills
- Professional competencies presented in an applicant's interview
- Foreign language proficiency
- Honors and awards
- Service in the Armed Forces
- Publications
- Any other personal characteristics or experiences that would contribute to the diversity and overall enrichment of the Law School
The goals of the admission process for the School of Law are:
- To identify those students with the greatest probability of success in law school, considering proven predictors (LSAT score, grade point average, the applicant’s undergraduate school and major) and giving appropriate weight to all other factors in the applicant’s file;
- To identify students who exhibit a demonstrated commitment to public service, leadership, and other qualities valuable to the legal profession;
- To identify students whose background, experience, and other qualities are likely to be of value in the classroom and in the Law School;
- To provide a service to the state of Texas by educating its citizens from underrepresented regions of the state and disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.
The application process is described on the Law School's website. Additional information about admission to the Law School as a new student, a transfer student, or a transient student is detailed in the Law School catalog, The University of Texas School of Law Admissions Bulletin, and on the Law School’s website.
Application Procedures
Applicants must take the LSAT, which is administered by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). The LSAT is given four times a year at designated locations in the United States and at several international test centers. Registration materials and complete information about the LSAT are available at the LSAC website.
Applicants must submit completed credentials to the law school by the deadlines given in the How To Apply section. Law school admission information and links to application forms are available from The University of Texas School of Law, Admissions Office, 727 East Dean Keeton Street, Austin TX 78705-3224, (512) 232-1200.
Finally, applicants must register with LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service. The service compiles applicants’ transcripts, computes grade point averages, and transmits the information to the law school. Additional information is available from the Law School Admission Council.
Application processing fee. A nonrefundable application processing fee of $70 is required of each applicant and must be submitted with the required credentials. This application fee may be waived under certain circumstances. An applicant who completed undergraduate work at a school outside the United States must have his or her transcript evaluated as described in The University of Texas School of Law Admissions Bulletin.
Deadlines
New students are accepted for full-time study in the fall semester only; admission for the spring semester or summer session is available only for transfer and transient students.
Early decision admission. Applicants for early decision admission must submit a complete application to the Law School by November 1. They must take the LSAT no later than the September/October test administration. Applicants who fulfill the requirements for an early decision will be notified of their admission status by the end of the calendar year.
Early decision (ED) admission is binding. An applicant admitted under the Law School's ED program must immediately withdraw pending law school applications from further consideration, as well as decline any other admission offers. An ED applicant will be required to submit an enrollment deposit and Letter of Intent (LOI). If an ED applicant does not submit the deposit and LOI within the allotted time, the admission offer will be withdrawn and the applicant will no longer be considered for enrollment during the current admission cycle.
Regular decision admission. Applicants for regular decision admission must submit a complete application to the Law School by March 1. They must take the LSAT no later than the February test administration.