Events
J.D. Program
J.D. Program at St. Mary’s University School of Law
The Doctor of Jurisprudence degree (J.D.) is required to practice law in most states. The J.D. degree is offered by American Bar Association (ABA) accredited schools like St. Mary’s School of Law, as well as some non-ABA-accredited institutions and some institutions in Canada.
To pursue a J.D. program, you must first have (or be nearing completion of) a bachelor’s degree and take the LSAT. Learn more about the J.D. application process.
After obtaining a J.D. degree, you’ll need to be admitted to the Bar of the state where you want to practice law. Each state sets its own rules for bar admission, but generally this includes a bar exam and a character evaluation. You can find out more about the requirements to practice law in the state of Texas at the Texas Board of Law Examiners website.
Meet the J.D. Admissions Team
The St. Mary’s Law J.D. Admissions Team understands you’ll have many questions about the J.D. admissions process and campus life. You can request more information about the law school, or contact us directly at lawadmissions@stmarytx.edu.
Join Us for a Virtual or On-Campus Event
Join our information sessions covering the admissions process specific to the J.D. program at St. Mary’s Law. Check back on this page for future dates and times as they become available.
Event
Date
Location
General Virtual Information Session
This is an opportunity to engage via Zoom with the admissions team at St. Mary’s Law. Attendees will be able to ask questions regarding our programs and the admissions process.
Thursday, Jan. 23
4 p.m. CST
General Virtual Information Session
This is an opportunity to engage via Zoom with the admissions team at St. Mary’s Law. Attendees will be able to ask questions regarding our programs and the admissions process.
Thursday, Feb. 6
4 p.m. CST
Special Information Session (Crafting Your Resume and Personal Statement)
This is a specialty session with more information regarding the résumé and personal statement components. Students can expect to hear more about tips and suggestions on what to include in their application.
Thursday, Feb. 20
4 p.m. CST
General Virtual Information Session
This is an opportunity to engage via Zoom with the admissions team at St. Mary’s Law. Attendees will be able to ask questions regarding our programs and the admissions process.
Thursday, March 6
4 p.m. CST
General Virtual Information Session
This is an opportunity to engage via Zoom with the admissions team at St. Mary’s Law. Attendees will be able to ask questions regarding our programs and the admissions process.
Thursday, March 27
4 p.m. CST
General Virtual Information Session
This is an opportunity to engage via Zoom with the admissions team at St. Mary’s Law. Attendees will be able to ask questions regarding our programs and the admissions process.
Thursday, April 17
4 p.m. CST
Find St. Mary’s J.D. Admissions Near You
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| LSAC Digital Law School Forum | Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 | lsac.org |
J.D. Program Options
St. Mary’s offers several ways to earn a J.D.:
- Full-time J.D. program with daytime classes
- Online J.D. Program
- Joint MBA/J.D. program
Academic Requirements
Applicants may apply to either the full-time day program or a part-time evening program, but not to both. Admissions and graduation standards are the same for both J.D. programs.
All programs and offices, including the Clinical Program, are available to full-time daytime students as well as part-time evening students.
A candidate for the J.D. program must earn a minimum of 90 credit hours in order to graduate, or 91 credits hours for students who entered prior to Fall 2018. Students who entered law school in the Fall of 2019 or later must have a cumulative GPA of 2.3 or higher to graduate. For students who entered prior to that time, a cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required to remain in good academic standing. Other curricular and academic requirements will apply. Those requirements are set forth in the St. Mary’s School of Law Student Handbook. Faculty may add additional requirements at any time.
