School: School of Law

Lizbeth Parra Davila

Practicing Faculty

Biography

Lizbeth Parra Davila (J.D. ’19) is Practicing Faculty teaching Deposition Skills and a Staff Attorney with the Real Estate Clinic at the St. Mary’s University School of Law. Her clinic work and advocacy focus on preserving homeownership and building generational wealth in marginalized communities. She also co-teaches clinic seminar classes and assists with the supervision of clinic student attorneys.

She is a frequent speaker on heir’s property topics around the country. Davila uses her experience to advocate for legislative and local policy reform on issues important to low-income Texans, including homeowner and landlord-tenant issues. Her work has been covered nationally in the ABA Journal, and locally in the San Antonio Express-News.

Prior to joining St. Mary’s, Davila was a managing attorney and the director of the Tenant Eviction Relief Project (TERP) with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) in San Antonio, Texas, where she primarily defended tenants and homeowners facing displacement but also represented clients against fraud, deceptive practices, and partition cases. She has also handled state appeals and mandamus cases. While at TRLA, she created the Tenant Eviction Relief Project (TERP), a state-wide crisis response team focused on helping renters access rental assistance and preventing evictions.

After graduating from law school, Davila joined The University of Texas School of Law as a Housing Justice Fellow, where she worked to increase housing stability in San Antonio, with a focus on the preservation of mobile home ownership.

Davila is currently Co-Chair to the Community Development and Environmental Justices Taskforce and a Director and Secretary of the Texas Justice Court Section.

Honors and Awards

  • Housing Justice Fellow, UT School of Law, 2019
  • St. Mary’s Francisco Leo Award, St. Mary’s University, 2018
  • Student of the Year, Our Lady of the Lake University, 2015

Publications

  • “Endangered: San Antonio’s Vanishing Mobile Home Parks and a Path for Preservation,” Way, H. K.; Fraser, C. E., and Parra Davila, L., The University of Texas School of Law, 2020

Lizbeth Parra Davila

Practicing Faculty

Portrait of Lizbeth Parra Davila

Contact Information

Education

  • J.D., cum laude, St. Mary’s University School of Law, 2019
  • B.A. with honors, Our Lady of the Lake University, 2015

License to Practice

  • Texas

Specialties and Courses

  • Real Estate Clinic
  • Deposition Skills
  • Real Estate Law
  • Landlord-Tenant Law

Presentations

  • “Heirs’ Property Homeowners,” State Bar of Texas Poverty Law Section First Friday CLE Series, March 7, 2025
  • “Heirs’ Property Community Outreach and Partnerships,” National Consumer Law Center Conference, Orlando, Oct. 23, 2024
  • “Heirs’ Property Homeowners: Pathways and Pitfalls to Achieving Housing Stability,” State Bar of Texas Poverty Law Conference, Austin, Aug. 29, 2024
  • “Landlord-Tenant Rights,” Educational Service Center-Region 20 Homeless Advocacy Summit, San Antonio, Oct. 9, 2024

Media Highlights

  • “How Jim Crow-Era Laws Still Tear Families from Their Homes,” ABA Journal, Feb. 1, 2021
  • “Texas’ Hold On Evictions Expires Monday For Half of San Antonio Renters,” Texas Public Radio, May 17, 2020
  • “San Antonio’s Disappearing Mobile Home Parks Put Vulnerable Residents at Risk of Displacement,” Texas Public Radio, Feb. 23, 2020
  • “Report: Why Are San Antonio’s Mobile Home Parks Disappearing?” Texas Public Radio, Feb. 17, 2020

John LoCurto

Associate Professor of Practice of Law

Biography

John J. LoCurto, J.D., practiced law for 20 years, devoting most of his career to public service at the United States Department of Justice. He first served as a Trial Attorney in Washington, D.C., and later as an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) for the Western District of Texas in San Antonio, Texas. As an AUSA, John’s practice focused on health care fraud, whistleblower cases and controlled substances investigations. He rose through the ranks at the United States Attorney’s Office to become Deputy Chief of the Civil Division. In this role, he managed the District’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement, Civil Health Care Fraud, Civil Drug Diversion and Parallel Proceedings programs.
LoCurto began his career in higher education in 2018. He is an interdisciplinary educator who teaches legal writing as well as public health law, policy and ethics. His scholarship focuses on health care fraud, waste, and abuse; public health policy and bioethics.
He earned his J.D. from New York University School of Law and his B.A. from the College of William & Mary.

Publications

  • LoCurto, J. J. et al. (2024). Corporate Takeover: A New Clash in the Old Struggle Between Corporate Rights and Public Health. Journal of Health and Life Sciences Law, 19(1), 45-96
  • ​LoCurto, J. J. (2023). Medicare Advantage? If You Say So. Fraud, Waste, and Abuse in Medicare Part C. Journal of Healthcare Ethics & Administration, 9(1), 1-24
  • LoCurto, J. J. (2022). Medicare Disadvantaged: A Raft of Lawsuits Exposes Fraud in Medicare Part C. San Antonio Medicine, 75(12), 24-25
  • ​Katz, A., & LoCurto, J. J. (2022). One Age Does Not Fit All: Late Career Practitioner Policies and Managed Care. Health Law Connections, 3(5), 12-17
  • ​LoCurto, J. J., & Ratner, A. V. (2022). Educating the Whole Physician: The Case for Teaching the Business of Medicine. San Antonio Medicine, 75(3), 12-13
  • ​LoCurto, J. J. (2022). Will the Real Mens Rea Please Stand Up: Assessing the Fifth Circuit’s Kickback Jurisprudence After United States v. Nora. St. Mary’s Law Journal, 53(1), 129-151
  • ​ LoCurto, J. J. (2021). A Lawyer Walks into a Medical School. San Antonio Medicine, 74(6), 28
  • ​ LoCurto, J. J. (2020). Through the ICU Darkly: Transparency and the Texas Advance Directive Act. San Antonio Medicine, 73(10), 20-21

Selected Presentations

  • “The Law Makes Me Sick” Speaker, Office of Research & Innovation, Research Chalk and Talk Series, University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine, San Antonio, November 2024
  • “Heal: Health Economics and Law” Panelist, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, Round Rock, October 2023 and 2024
  • “Post-Roe: Implications for the Practice of Medicine in Texas” Speaker, Texas Osteopathic Medical Association Sixth Midwinter Conference, Dallas, January 2023
  • “Everything Old is New Again: HIPAA & AI” Presenter, St. Louis University Bander Center for Medical Business Ethics, St. Louis, Missouri
  • “Ethics in Forensic Practice” Co-Presenter, Texas Psychological Association 2021 TPA Annual Convention, Austin, November 2021
  • “Ethical Issues Related to COVID Vaccine Distribution” Panelist, Texas Association of Family Physicians, Alamo Chapter, San Antonio, December 2020
  • “Enforcement 2017: Perspectives from DOJ and Defense” Speaker, Texas Health Law Conference, Austin, October 2017
  • “New Government Focuses on Fraud and Abuse Enforcement” Moderator, American College of Health Care Executives, South Texas Chapter, San Antonio, January 2016
  • “Protecting Veterans Against Fraud” Panelist, American Legion, Houston, August 2013

John LoCurto

Associate Professor of Practice of Law

Portrait of John LoCurto

Contact Information

Education

  • J.D. (cum laude), New York University School of Law, 1999
  • B.A. (summa cum laude), College of William & Mary, 1996

License to Practice

  • Texas

Specialties and Courses

  • Legal Research and Writing
  • HIPAA Privacy and Security
  • Health Care Fraud, Waste and Abuse
  • Public Health Law, Policy and Ethics

Austin Reyna

Practicing Faculty

Biography

Austin Reyna (J.D. ’20) is a dedicated legal professional with deep roots in San Antonio, Texas. From a young age, he was drawn to the principles of justice and advocacy, fostering a lifelong passion for the law. After completing his undergraduate studies, Reyna returned to his hometown to pursue his legal education at the St. Mary’s University School of Law, where he honed his skills in legal analysis, research and oral advocacy.
Following law school, Reyna began his career in complex litigation, representing clients in high-stakes civil disputes. His work in private practice sharpened his ability to navigate intricate legal issues and deepened his understanding of both trial and appellate procedure.

Today, Reyna serves as a staff attorney at the Fourth Court of Appeals in San Antonio. In this role, he assists the court in resolving appeals across a wide range of civil and criminal matters, applying his litigation experience and strong analytical skills to support the judicial decision-making process.

Reyna regularly volunteers his time to Cindy’s Angels, the nonprofit he and his wife started that provides estate planning services to individuals facing terminal illnesses. 

Honors and Awards

  • 2023 Rising Star Lawyer, Scene in SA Magazine
  • Member, Mu Alpha Mu
  • 2016 Oak Farms Dairy Athletic Academic Achievement Award
  • Member of Sigma Alpha Lambda Business Leadership and Honor
    Society
  • Member of Delta Alpha Pi National Honor Society

Publications

  • San Antonio Lawyer, Family Law Update, July-August 2024
  • San Antonio Lawyer, New Courts on the Horizon, January-February 2024

Austin Reyna

Practicing Faculty

Professional portrait of Austin Reyna

Contact information

Email Austin Reyna

Education

  • J.D. with honors, St. Mary’s University School of Law, 2020
  • B.A. with honors, Texas State University, 2017

License to Practice

  • Texas

Specialties and Courses

  • Deposition Skills

Tara Van Ho

Associate Professor of Law

Biography

Tara Van Ho, J.D., Ph.D., is an internationally recognized expert in international law and in its sub-fields of Business and Human Rights and International Investment Law.

A former corporate lawyer and a frequent speaker at the United Nations, Van Ho’s research concentrates on how businesses adversely impact human rights in conflict-affected and high-risk areas. Her work seeks to better understand how the law facilitates abuses in these contexts, and what legal reforms can help prevent business involvement in human rights and humanitarian law violations, including through adequate and effective remedies. Her research has been relied upon by the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, government and intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and businesses.

Van Ho was Co-President of the Global Business and Human Rights Scholars Association from 2019-2023, Co-Director of the Essex Business and Human Rights Project from 2019-2025, and sits on the Editorial Board of the Business and Human Rights Journal.

She has taught summer schools in India, Italy, France and at the internationally renowned Abo Akademi in Finland and Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights in Switzerland.

Honors and Awards

  • Honorary Senior Lecturer, University of Essex, 2025-present
  • Nicholas Longworth, III, Alumni Achievement Award, University of Cincinnati College of Law, 2024
  • Distinguished Alumna, Marietta College, 2024
  • Research Impact Award, University of Essex, 2019
  • Outstanding Young Alumna, Marietta College, 2013

Publications

Books (Edited collections)

  • When Business Harms Human Rights: Affected Communities that Are Dying to be Heard (Anthem Press, 2020), co-editor with Jena Martin and Karen Bravo
  • Human Rights and Business: Direct Corporate Accountability for Human Rights (Wolf Legal Publishers, 2015), co-editor with Jernej Letnar Cernic

Peer-Reviewed or Refereed Journal Articles (Solo-authored)

  • “Angels, Virgins, Demons, Whores: Moving Towards an Antiracist Praxis by Confronting Modern Investment Law Scholarship,” 23 Journal of World Investment & Trade 347-387 (2022). Lead article.
  • “Defining the Relationships: ‘Cause, Contribute, and Directly Linked to’ in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights,” 43 Human Rights Quarterly 625-658 (2021). Lead article.
  • “Is it Already Too Late for Colombia’s Land Restitution Process? The Impact of International Investment Law on Transitional Justice Initiatives,” 5(1) International Human Rights Law Review 60-85 (2016).

Peer-Reviewed or Refereed Journal Articles (Co-authored)

  • “Addressing (In)Equality in Redress: Human Rights-Led Reform of the Investor-State Dispute Settlement Mechanism,” 24 Journal of World Investment & Trade 398-436 (2023). With Surya Deva.
  • “Reckoning: A Dialogue about Racism, AntiRacists, and Business & Human Rights,” 30 Washington International Law Journal 1 (2021). With Erika George and Jena Martin. Lead article.
  • “Assessing the Duty of Care for Social Auditors,” 27 European Review of Private Law 379-401 (2019). With Carolijn Terwindt.
  • “Problems with Applying the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to the Mutual Fund Industry,” 18 Human Rights Law Review 1-29 (2018). With Mohammed K. Alshaleel. Lead article.
  • “A Tribute to Professor Sir Nigel Rodley, KBE: Reflections on 50 Years of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” 35(3) Nordic Journal of Human Rights 173-185 (2017). With Lauren Neumann.

Peer-Reviewed Book Chapters

  • “Insolvency Law through the Lens of Human Rights Theories,” in Re-Examining Insolvency Law and Theory: Perspectives for the 21st Century (Emilie Ghio, et al., eds.) (Elgar, 2024). With Eugenio Vaccari.
  • “Obligations of International Assistance and Cooperation in the Context of Investment Law,” in Handbook on Extraterritorial Human Rights Obligations (Mark Gibney, et al., eds.). 325- 338 (Routledge, 2021).
  • “Business and Human Rights in Transitional Justice,” in Research Handbook on Business and Human Rights 379-401 (Surya Deva and David Birchall, eds.) (Elgar, 2020).
  • “Community Interrupted, ‘Life Projects’ Disrupted: Cajamarca, Ibagué and the La Colosa Mine in Colombia,” in When Business Harms Human Rights: Affected Communities Dying to be Heard (Jena Martin, et al., eds.) 109-136 (Anthem Press, 2020).
  • “The Fukushima Diaspora: Assessing the State-Based Non-Judicial Remedies,” in Civil and Political Rights in Japan: A Tribute to Sir Nigel Rodley (Saul Takahashi, ed.) 112-127 (Routledge, 2019).
  • “The Duty to Prosecute and the Role of Victims’ Rights,” in Beyond the Binary: Securing Peace and Promoting Justice after Conflict (Camilo Sanchez and Rodrigo Uprimny, eds.) 130-152 (Dejustica, 2019).
  • ” ‘Band-Aids Don’t Fix Bullet Holes’: In Defense of a Traditional State-Centric Approach,” in The Future of Business and Human Rights: Theoretical Challenges for a UN Treaty” (Nicolás Carillo-Santarelli and Jernej Letnar Černič, eds.) 111-138 (Intersertia, 2018).
  • “Integrating Human Rights into the Extractive Industries: How Investment Contracts Can Achieve Protection,” in Natural Resources Grabbing: An International Law Perspective (Francesca Romanin Jacur, et al., eds) 223-244 (Brill, 2015). With Anil Yilmaz-Vastardis.
  • “ ‘Due Diligence’ in Transitional Justice States: An Obligation for Greater Transparency,” in Direct Human Rights Obligations of Corporations (Jernej Letnar Cernic & Tara Van Ho, eds.) 229-250 (Wolf Legal Publishers, 2015).
  • “Transnational Civil and Criminal Litigation,” in Corporate Accountability in the Context of Transitional Justice 52-72 (Sabine Michalowski, ed.) (Routledge, 2013).

Case Notes, Introductions, Editorial Notes, Comments and Book Reviews

  • “’Cancelling’ Carl Schmitt is Overdue,” (2021) 32 European Journal of International Law 730-731.
  • “Vedanta Resources Plc and Another v. Lungowe and Others,” 114 American Journal of International Law 110-116 (2020).
  • “Accountability: A Discussion,” in COVID-19, Law and Human Rights: Essex Dialogues. A Project of the School of Law and Human Rights Centre 309- 310 (Carla Ferstman and Andrew Fagan, eds.) (2020). With Antonio Coco, Panagiota Kotzamani, and Megan Wong.
  • “General Comment No. 24 (2017) on State Obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Context of Business Activities (CESCR),” 58 International Legal Materials 872-889 (2019).
  • “Gilles Giacca, Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights in Armed Conflict, Book Review,” 16 Human Rights Law Review 187-192 (2016).
  • “Special Issue: ‘Interaction between Human Rights: 50 years of the Covenants,” 35(3) Nordic Journal of Human Rights 171-172 (2017). With Fenella Billing, Lauren Neumann, Louise Halleskov Storgaard, Nikolas Feith Tan, and Jens Vedsted-Hansen.
  • “Introduction,” Direct Human Rights Obligations of Corporations (Jernej Letnar Cernic & Tara Van Ho, eds.) 1-24 (Wolf Legal Publishers, 2015).
  • “Dale Farm: An Update,” (2011) 4 The Holocaust in History and Memory 133-140.
  • “Reconstructing the Marriage of Ownership and Control: Is the SEC Missing an Important Step in its Hesitancy to Adopt Proposed Rule 14a-11?,” Comment, 73 University of Cincinnati Law Review 1211-1242 (2005).

Tara Van Ho

Associate Professor of Law

Headshot of Tara Van Ho at St. Mary's University
Tara Van Ho

Contact Information

Education

  • J.D., University of Cincinnati, 2005
  • Ph.D. in Law, University of Essex, 2015
  • LL.M. in International Human Rights Law (with distinction), University of Essex, 2009
  • B.A., Marietta College, 2000

Specialties and Courses

  • Business Associations
  • Business and Human Rights
  • International Law
  • International Human Rights Law
  • International Investment Law

Jana Powell

Business Manager of Law Journals

Biography

Jana Powell serves as the Business Manager for the Law Journals at the St. Mary’s University School of Law. She is responsible for the production of The St. Mary’s Law Journal, The St. Mary’s Journal on Legal Malpractice and Ethics and The Scholar: St. Mary’s Law Review on Race and Social Justice. She oversees the business administrative capacity and management of related budgets.

Powell also coordinates and plans School of Law symposiums and award ceremonies.

She brought to St. Mary’s a background in Educational Testing Service, where she managed, mentored and supervised the Test Creation Administration, Graphics and Editorial departments. She also managed aspects of major project deliverables to the U.S. Department of Education for various states. Powell acted as a liaison between test developers and support teams to align projects to state contract requirements.

She also possesses cutting-edge communications, advertising and public relations skills. Powell served as a copywriter, editor and proofreader for multiple public relation accounts. She managed graphic production on materials such as manuals, newspaper ads, brochures, and TV and radio scripts.

Powell is experienced in reviewing print-ready files for production specifications and blue lines, attending press checks, and working with printers to produce quality documents. She can perform graphic arts tasks.

Jana Powell

Business Manager of Law Journals

Professional photo of Jana Powell in a black jacket.

Contact Information

Education

  • B.A., The University of Texas at Austin

Robert Almonte II

Practicing Faculty

Biography

Robert Almonte II is an award-winning trial attorney with over 15 years of experience as both a federal and state prosecutor, now a highly respected defense lawyer. Nationally recognized by the Department of Justice Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys for superior performance, he is known for his knowledge in criminal law, offering a strategic edge in high-stakes cases.

A graduate of St. Mary’s University and its School of Law, Almonte began his career as an Assistant District Attorney, earning a reputation for aggressive and effective advocacy. He later became an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Western District of Texas, handling major federal cases, including fraud, human trafficking, public corruption, and violent crimes. Assigned to the Complex Fraud and Public Corruption Unit, he developed extensive experience in white-collar crime, healthcare fraud, tax violations, and wire fraud.

Transitioning to defense, Almonte leverages his prosecutorial background to craft aggressive, strategic defenses for clients facing serious criminal charges, particularly in financial crimes. His deep understanding of government tactics allows him to challenge cases with precision and insight.

Beyond the courtroom, Almonte is a sought-after instructor, training law enforcement nationwide on search warrant drafting, combining his experience from both prosecution and defense perspectives.

A tenacious advocate with extensive courtroom experience, he is dedicated to securing justice for his clients, whether in prosecution or now in defending complex criminal matters.

Robert Almonte II

Visiting Clinical Assistant Professor of Law

Contact Information

  • Email Robert Almonte (COMING)

Education

  • J.D., St. Mary’s University School of Law, 2007
  • B.A., St. Mary’ University, 2004

License to Practice

  • Texas

Specialties and Courses

  • Course: White Collar Crime
  • Federal Criminal Law
  • Federal Criminal Procedure
  • Federal Trials
  • Criminal Procedure
  • Criminal Law

Awards

  • El Paso Police Department Special Recognition
  • Department of Homeland Security Special Recognition
  • Director’s Award Superior Performance as a Prosecutor
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation Recognition for Prosecutive Skills
  • Homeland Security Investigations Recognition for Combatting Human Trafficking

  • 2025 Online J.D. Program Application Closed

    NOTE: The 2025 Application for Online J.D. program is now closed. St. Mary’s Law will resume the application cycle for 2026 Fall Admission around mid-September 2025.

Online J.D. Program

Welcome to St. Mary’s Law, where we lead with tradition and innovation.

This is a limited enrollment, part-time program.

We understand that not all students have the time to enroll in law school full-time or the ability to attend classes on campus. For students with considerably more outside responsibilities,  the St. Mary’s University School of Law is proud to offer the first fully online J.D. program accredited by the American Bar Association in the nation.

Our renowned faculty, which consists of legal experts in specialties from business law to international law, receives extensive training in online education and pedagogy, and all professors are fully certified to teach online.

As an online student at St. Mary’s Law, you will have access to the same opportunities and resources as a full-time student, including career counseling and advice through the Office of Career Strategy, academic advising from the Office of Law Success, and student services from the Office of Law Student Affairs.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (click to expand)
How will classes be taught?

The online J.D. program will consist of 50% synchronous and 50% asynchronous teaching methods for the first-year curriculum. Upper-level courses may be offered as a combination of synchronous and asynchronous methods, or fully asynchronous with heightened requirements for student interaction and stricter enrollment caps.

How will the online J.D. prepare me for the bar exam?

St. Mary’s Law has a robust, data-driven bar preparation program that is individually tailored to each student. In addition to providing extensive coaching and custom bar study schedules, our instructors work with each student to understand what approach works best for them. Online students will also have 100% access to all of our bar coaching resources. Students can expect to receive a personal bar study coach who will check in with them, set up one-on-one meetings over Zoom and help them assess their progress.

Can I decide to move from the online program to the full-time program?

After completing the first-year curriculum online, online J.D. students may opt to continue in the in-person full-time program.

Can international students apply for the online J.D.?

International students are not automatically excluded from admission to the online J.D. program; however, the program is unlikely to meet the unique needs of international students given differences in time zones and synchronous class meeting times. Rather, the program’s intent is to expand access to legal education in South Texas, and to offer opportunities nationally to those who would find it difficult to pursue a traditional in-person J.D.

Can I participate in campus events and extracurricular activities?

Online students are invited to visit campus and participate in any on-campus activities or meet with faculty and staff for assistance, at any time during their degree program. Online students will also be able to complete externships, pro bono activities and non-clinic experiential learning in the online environment. Faculty and staff will be fully available to online students through virtual office hours, email, and individual Zoom meetings. Our faculty prides itself on an open-door policy that we are eager to extend to our online cohort.

Can I participate in Registered Student Organizations?

One hallmark of the St. Mary’s J.D. experience is getting involved on campus. As an online student, you will have the opportunity to choose from more than 30 active registered student organizations, which promote a variety of interests and practice areas. Online students can even start their own student organizations and are encouraged to do so.

Is there anything I cannot do as an online student?

Not every elective course in the course directory will be offered in an online format every semester. However, students will have significant advance notice of elective availability for each upcoming semester, and will receive course advising that maximizes their educational opportunities based on interest and career goals.

Will I have to attend orientation as an online student?

To welcome all incoming J.D. students to St. Mary’s, the law school hosts a three-day, in-person Orientation program. This program introduces students to our Marianist tradition, the practice of law, the skills needed to be successful in law school and allows for opportunities to meet classmates and professors. Highlights include a mock law school class, a practice law school exam, chances to mingle with alumni and a class service project. Online students are strongly encouraged to attend this Orientation in person, and will receive information about lodging, timing and the experience as the date approaches. Online students are also encouraged to participate in our innovative First Generation Student Boot Camp, which provides several days of skills training for students entering law school as the first lawyer in their family.

Will I need to attend in-person sessions as part of my online education?

No, although there will be activities such as Orientation, that you will be strongly encouraged to attend in person.

Where can I view tuition information about the online J.D. program?

Online J.D. students will pay the current part-time tuition rate, which can be viewed in the Tuition and Fees webpage.  St. Mary’s is proud to offer an online J.D. that provides the same quality teaching, student services and community that are hallmarks of our in-person degree.  As such, online J.D. students should expect an engaging and informative classroom experience and an open “virtual” door to our online-certified faculty.  Additionally, online students will have the opportunity to take advantage of our career and academic counseling, pro bono opportunities, networking events and more.  And, the online degree comes with a significant cost savings in living expenses, board and transportation.

Learn more about Tuition and Fees

Curriculum for Online Students

As an online student, you will take a planned curriculum designed to teach you the foundations of substantive law and the applications of legal writing and analysis. You will always have the option of taking an in-person course, but it is not required for completion of the degree. To ensure that our online students receive a quality educational experience, our online cohort will be capped at 25 students.

View the Course Schedule for more information on the courses.

Students in a classroom taking notes on a laptop

First Term

  • Contracts I (2 hours)
  • Civ. Pro. (4 hours)
  • Legal Communication, Analysis & Professionalism (LCAP) (3 hours)

Second Term

  • Contracts II (2 hours)
  • Property (4 hours)
  • LCAP II (3 hours)

Third Term

  • Criminal Law (2 or 3 hours)
  • Professional Responsibility (3 hours)

Fourth Term

  • Torts (4 hours)
  • Constitutional Law (4 hours)

Fifth Term (Start of Second-Year Curriculum)

  • Business Associations (3 hours)
  • Family Law (3 hours)
  • Elective

Sixth Term

  • Evidence (3 or 4 hours)
  • Elective

Seventh Term

  • Con Crim Pro. (3 hours)
  • Wills, Estates & Trusts (4 hours)
  • Elective

Eighth Term

  • Conflicts of Law (3 hours)
  • Sales (2 hours)
  • Elective

Ninth Term (Start of Third-Year Curriculum)

  • Secured Transactions (3 hours)
  • Electives

Tenth Term

  • Mortgages (3 hours)
  • Electives

Eleventh Term

  • Electives
VIEW THE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Accreditation

The St. Mary’s Law online J.D. program is approved by the American Bar Association. Applicants should confirm the legal education requirements for the jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission to the bar, and can find information for each jurisdiction through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

St. Mary’s Law is accredited by the ABA, but jurisdictions may have restrictions regarding online degree programs. Graduates of the St. Mary’s Law online J.D. program are eligible to sit for the Texas Bar Exam, which includes the Uniform Bar Exam, according to the Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Board of Law Examiners.

Academic Requirements

Applicants may apply to either the full-time day program or the part-time online program, but not to both. Admission and graduation standards are the same for both J.D. programs.

A candidate for the J.D. program must earn a minimum of 90 credit hours in order to graduate.  Additionally, J.D. students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.3 or higher to graduate.   Other curricular and academic requirements will apply. Requirements are set forth in the St. Mary’s School of Law Student Handbook.

LEARN HOW TO APPLY
Considering the online program?

We want to support you in your journey to find out which law school is right for you and your schedule. You may wish to:

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Master of Jurisprudence –
Territorial Law Concentration

The Territorial Law Concentration is just one of your options. See the main Master of Jurisprudence page for details about the overall program and other available options.

Territorial Law Concentration (available online)

Nearly four million people live in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa.  Although part of the United States, these five territories and their residents do not enjoy the same constitutional and statutory rights as Americans who live in the fifty states.

At the same time, each territory has developed its own distinct law and institutions with the United States legal framework, with renewed pushes for greater self-determination, equality and economic development.

While applicants from all backgrounds are welcome, the program is particularly well-suited for those who intend to or currently do business in the territories.

The M.Jur. will consist of 30 credit hours that can be completed on-campus, fully online or through a combination of courses and externships.

The M.Jur. concentration in Territorial Law is designed to provide students with insight into territorial laws and legal systems, human rights, economic development and constitutional law.

-Anthony Ciolli

Required Courses

Course NameCredit Hours
Fundamentals of the American Legal System (offered online)2
Legal Research and Writing (offered online)2
Constitutional Law (offered online)3-4

Additional Concentration Electives

Course NameCredit Hours
Advanced Con Law – U.S. Territories * (available online)3
State & Territorial Legal Institution * (available online)3
Administrative Law (available online)3
Advanced Con Law: Free Speech, Press3
Advanced Con Law: 1st Amendment3
Asset Protection Planning2
Comparative Law3
Commercial Paper3
Doing Business with Mexico3
Federal Courts3
International ADR and Tribunals2
International Commercial Arbitration2
International Human Rights3
Leg Spanish & Mexican Legal Sys3
Race and Racism in American Law2
Sales: UCC Article 22
Sales/Secured Transactions4
Secured Transactions: UCC Article 93

Courses marked with an * are required electives. Two additional courses from the list must be chosen.

COURSE LISTINGS

Request Information

Curious which Law Certificate is right for you? Questions about the admission process or the program? Our team will answer any questions and help you through the process when you’re ready.

Request Info

Applying to the M.Jur.

See details about admission requirements and how to apply:

Apply for Fall 2024
Apply for Spring 2025

Contact

Shannon Sevier, Assistant Dean for Graduate Law Programs

LL.M. in International Criminal Law

The LL.M. in International Criminal Law is a post-J.D. degree designed for American lawyers who intend to pursue a specialized government career as a federal or state prosecutor or as a private-sector criminal defense lawyer. International students who have a foundation in American Jurisprudence may apply as well.

This LL.M. degree is also appropriate for those lawyers who choose to practice in the areas of federal law enforcement, military law or who liaise with the 17 agencies that make up the intelligence community.

LL.M. Degree Plan

Each of the three LL.M. programs at the St. Mary’s School of Law requires 24 credit hours of coursework, a portion of which can be customized to each individual’s needs. The LL.M. program can be completed in as little as nine months as a full-time student, or over the course of two years as a part-time student.

International Criminal Law LL.M. candidates are required to successfully complete 21 out of 24 credit hours from the specific criminal law courses outlined in the Courses section. Courses taken in fulfillment of J.D. requirements may not be repeated. Students have two years to complete the degree, but can complete the program in two semesters of full-time study.

The International Criminal Law concentration is now available through online course curriculum. Contact Assistant Dean Jennifer Stevenson, J.D., for more information

LL.M. Courses

Required Courses:

  • Public International Law (Required)
  • International Human Rights
  • International Criminal Law
  • Transnational Criminal Law
  • International White Collar Crime
  • Global National Security Law
  • Terrorism Law 
  • Comparative Criminal Procedure
  • Advanced Criminal Procedure 

Other courses and seminars offered in the LL.M. program in International Criminal Law include:

  • Constitutional Criminal Procedure
  • Wrongful Convictions
  • Capital Punishment Seminar
  • Texas Criminal Procedure
LL.M. COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

The International Criminal Law concentration is now available through online course curriculum. Contact Assistant Dean Jennifer Stevenson, J.D., for more information

International Students

International students must study on a full-time basis. Foreign nationals who must maintain student visa eligibility must enroll in a minimum of 10 credit hours per semester during the regular academic year (Fall and Spring). Ten hours is also considered full time for purposes of financial aid eligibility.

The School of Law is a member of the International Association of Law Schools and the International Academy of Comparative Law (Académie Internationale de Droit Comparé).

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More details online:

For more information, please email stmullm@stmarytx.edu or complete the form:

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Applying to the  LL.M.

See details about admission requirements and how to apply:

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Public and Private Scholarships

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Professional portrait of Jennifer Stevenson in dark jacket and blouse

Jennifer Stevenson, Assistant Dean for International Programs

Master of Jurisprudence – Special Education Advocacy Concentration

The Special Education Advocacy Concentration is just one of your options. See the main Master of Jurisprudence page for details about the overall program and other available options.

Special Education Advocacy 

The field of special education and advocacy is a growing and in-demand field with strong career prospects, both nationally and in Texas. Pursuing a graduate program in this field can help professionals advance their careers and make a positive impact on the lives of students with disabilities and their families. Our Master of Jurisprudence with a concentration in Special Education Advocacy is designed to prepare students for careers in special education teaching, advocacy and related fields. This new graduate degree concentration can aid school personnel, service providers and those advocating on behalf of students with disabilities and their families in gaining a greater understanding of the law in this area.

Upon learning of this ground-breaking M.Jur. program in Special Education Advocacy, I immediately applied. This innovative graduate program concentration is the first and only one to receive acquiescence from the American Bar Association and it is entirely online, making it accessible wherever an advocate may live. I hope others will join me and enroll, taking one step forward towards making special education advocacy a true profession.

– Patricia Johnson Howey
M.Jur. Special Education Advocacy 2024 Graduate

Professional advancement

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of special education teachers and advocates is projected to grow 3% from 2020 to 2030. This growth is driven by an increasing demand for special education services for students with disabilities. In addition, there is a growing need for advocates who can help families navigate the complex special education system. In Texas, the BLS reports that employment of special education teachers is projected to grow 5% from 2019 to 2029, which is slightly faster than the national average. Texas has a large and diverse population, including many students with disabilities who require special education services. Additionally, there is a need for advocates who can support families in navigating the special education system in Texas.

Catherine M. Michael, J.D. is an attorney who is licensed and practices throughout the states of Indiana, Texas, Michigan and Ohio. She focuses on representing children and their families in a myriad of personal injury and education law issues. Her expertise encompasses personal injury of children and disabled adults, special education due process, Section 504 matters, expulsion and disciplinary challenges, and tort-related litigation including sexual abuse, molestation and rape both within and outside school settings, as well as private school disputes and discipline. 

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Required Courses

Core courses
Fundamentals of the American Legal System
Legal Research and Writing
Choose two from the following:
Criminal Law
Constitutional Law
Contracts
Property Law
Torts

Additional Special Education Training Opportunities

The St. Mary’s University School of Law offers a Special Education Advocacy Summit.

Learn more

Concentration Emphasis Courses

Course NameCourse Numbers
Administrative Law*LW 5302
Education Law*LW 5309
Special Education Law*LW 5608, 7234
Child Protective ServicesLW 6600
Employment LawLW 5308, 8791
Family LawLW 7331
Family Law MediationLW 7295
Federal Education LawLW 6600
Immigration LawLW 9441
Juvenile LawLW 8244
MediationLW 8755
Mental Health and the LawLW 5610, 6600
NegotiationsLW 5310, 8761
School Discipline, Expulsion and Due ProcessLW 5614
Trauma Informed AdvocacyLW 5230
Digital Evidence and RecordsLW 5612
Personal Injury of ChildrenLW 5211

Courses marked with an * are required electives. Two additional courses from the list must be chosen.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

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Curious which Law Certificate is right for you? Questions about the admission process or the program? Our team will answer any questions and help you through the process when you’re ready.

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Applying to the M.Jur.

See details about admission requirements and how to apply:

Apply for Fall 2024
Apply for Spring 2025

Contact

Shannon Sevier, Assistant Dean for Graduate Law Programs

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