Events
Welcome to St. Mary’s University School of Law J.D. Program
Each year, we admit students from diverse educational, economic, professional, and social backgrounds who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to law practice.
We aim to create a vibrant, intellectually engaging academic environment that prepares students for meaningful legal careers. We are excited to guide you through the application process and welcome future leaders to our law school.
What We Look For in Applicants
- Academic ability: Evaluated through your transcripts, LSAT score(s), and optional letters of recommendation.
- Personal qualities: Demonstrated in your personal statement and resume, such as leadership, perseverance and intellectual acuity.
- Holistic review: We carefully review all aspects of your application, including life experiences, accomplishments, and potential.
How to Apply to the J.D. Program
A person applying to pursue the Doctor of Jurisprudence degree at St. Mary’s must satisfy the following minimum requirements:
- Complete the Application: Submit via the LSAC portal with all necessary documents (personal statement, resume, etc.).
- LSAT Score: Take the LSAT by the recommended deadlines. See LSAC website for dates and registration information. If you have multiple LSAT scores, we will use the highest valid and reportable scores to consider you for admission and scholarships.
- Undergraduate Degree: Ensure your degree is conferred before the start of law study.
Admission Requirements
The Law School is limited in the number of new J.D. students it can admit to the first-year class each year. To be considered for admission, a completed application must include the following:
Items submitted by you through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC):
- A completed application for admission, with electronic certification;
- A personal statement not longer than three pages;
- A resume of not more than two pages; and
- Complete explanations to any affirmative responses to the academic probation/discipline questions, and the character and fitness questions asked in the application. Each affirmative response must be accompanied by a separate electronic attachment, submitted under the attachments tab of the application.
You must also arrange for LSAC to release to St. Mary’s Law Admissions Office your complete Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report, including:
- Scores from the Law School Admission Test (LSAT);
- Transcripts reflecting all postsecondary academic coursework undertaken or attempted and all degrees conferred; and
- Letters of recommendation. We highly recommend (but do not require) that you submit at least one letter of recommendation. Letters from those who have taught you in an academic setting are encouraged but not required.
Interviews are not part of the application process. However, applicants are invited to visit the campus. The Admissions Office gives tours and counseling by appointment. Please call the Admissions Office at 210-436-3523 or email lawadmissions@stmarytx.edu.
JD-Next and the LSAT
St. Mary’s Law requires an LSAT score to be considered for admission. However, we will also accept JD-Next scores to supplement your application. If you are taking both, please inform the admissions office to hold your application until your JD-Next scores are available.
If you submit your application for our J.D. program before the release of JD-Next scores, please email us at lawadmissions@stmarytx.edu if you would like your application to be held for those scores.
You can learn more about JD-Next here: https://www.aspenpublishing.com/programs/jd-next
No Application Fee
There is no application fee! Apply today without any upfront cost.
Required Application Attachments
- Resume: Max two pages. Include details about education, work experience, public service, and leadership roles.
- Personal Statement: Max three pages. Share your personal journey, accomplishments, and why you want to pursue law.
- Optional Addenda: Use this to highlight any extra information not covered in your personal statement.
Important Deadlines
September
J.D. application is available mid-September through www.LSAC.org.
Upon receipt of application, login for status checker will be sent. Status checker can be utilized to check decision status, confirm deposit deadlines, and verify receipt of degree transcript.
November
November 15: early deadline for J.D. applications for full-time, in-person program (part-time, online program does not have an early application deadline).
Mid-November: Application reviews by Admissions Committee begin and decisions may begin to go out to early applicants.
March
March 1: Regular deadline for J.D. applications — full-time, in-person AND part-time, online
Applications received after March 1 will be considered on a more competitive and space-available basis.
March 31: priority deadline for financial aid application
For part-time, online program applicants, please know that the latest LSAT score we will accept will be from the April LSAT. We will consider the June LSAT for full-time, in-person program applicants only.
April
Early April: admitted student programming
April 15: $300 non-refundable seat deposits due to hold a seat in fall incoming class
June
June 5: $500 non-refundable tuition deposits due to confirm enrollment for fall
July
First-year section assignments and course schedules are shared with incoming students via Gateway.
August
Mandatory orientation
Tuition due
Classes begin
Orientation
Participation in orientation is mandatory for first-year students. Further information is available by contacting the Law Admissions Office. In July, the Admissions Office will register first-year J.D. students for fall classes and will send course schedules for the fall semester to new students in late July. Orientation will be held during the week before the start of fall classes.
In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Declaration of Intent to Study Law
Shortly after beginning the study of law, a student may be required to register with the Board of Law Examiners in the state where he or she plans to practice. A summary of the relevant requirements appears in the ABA-LSAC Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools.
The Rules Governing Admission to the State Bar of Texas require, among other things, that applicants possess good moral character and fitness. The state bar seeks to exclude dishonest or untrustworthy persons from practice and persons whose character traits or mental or emotional health are likely to injure clients, obstruct justice or lead to violations of the Code of Professional Responsibility.
Every person intending to apply for admission to the State Bar of Texas must file a “Declaration of Intention to Study Law” with the Board of Law Examiners during the first year of law school. The Board of Law Examiners requires students to submit a copy of their completed law school application with the “Declaration of Intention to Study Law,” so it is important to retain a copy of your law school application.
The Board of Law Examiners will conduct a proper investigation of the moral character and fitness of the applicant (excluding cases that were dismissed or in which the applicant was found not guilty, minor traffic violations, expunged records of arrest or conviction, pardoned offenses and Class C misdemeanors), evidence of mental illness, legal proceedings alleging fraud against the applicant, and civil litigation or bankruptcy proceedings that reasonably bear on the applicant’s fitness to practice law.
Further information will be furnished to incoming students at a special orientation session after classes start. Students also may request this information from the State Bar of Texas, Character and Fitness Division, Board of Law Examiners, P.O. Box 13486, Austin, TX 78711-3486. Visit the Texas Board of Law Examiners website at ble.texas.gov/character-and-fitness.