J.D. Program
About our J.D. Programs
St. Mary’s offers several J.D. programs:
- Full-time day J.D. program (described below)
- Part-time evening J.D. program
- Joint MBA/J.D. program
As a successful lawyer, you will need a solid foundation to skillfully navigate the complex daily issues that arise in a professional legal setting. At St. Mary’s, you will gain a comprehensive foundation in six key areas upon which everything else you learn will be built.
- Persons and property
- Employment and business
- Public and international law
- Dispute resolution
- Research and writing
- Philosophy of law
About the J.D.
The Juris Doctor 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.
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.