Grace Walle

Law Chaplain

Biography

A Marianist Sister, Walle provides personal and spiritual counseling, and offers assistance to law students and their families whenever the need arises.

She offers a number of programs designed to assist men and women in their transition through law school. She also sponsors Law Partners, a support network for the spouses of law students.

Walle was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1951. In 1972, she entered the Marianist Sisters in San Antonio in 1972.

While her background was in education, she became involved in directing retreats at the Marianist Sisters Retreat House, which was later bought by St. Mary’s University to house The St. Mary’s Center for Legal and Social Justice. She ministered for two years at St. John Neumann parish in San Antonio. She began working in University Ministry at St. Mary’s University in 1982. Her responsibilities included retreat ministry and leadership development.

As campus minister for the School of Law, Walle has developed a nationally recognized program. She has been described as having her own “world wide web” based on the years of working with law students and the legal community. One student described her as “searching through her Rolodex to provide just the right connection for a career connection or linking law students to community service projects.”


Honors and Awards

  • Marianist Heritage Award 2014
  • Alice Franzke Feminist Award 2013
  • Hispanic Law Alumni Award 2012
  • CCMA Dean Cantu/President Cotrell National Outstanding University Administrator Award
  • Yellow Rose of Texas Educating for a Lifetime Award 2010
  • San Antonio Bar Foundation Peacemaker’s Award 2011
  • CCMA National Educating for Justice Award 2006
  • San Antonio Young Lawyers Liberty Bell Award 2005-2006
  • Mexican American Bar Association Award 2003
  • St Mary’s Law School St. Thomas More Award 2002
  • St Mary’s University Santa Maria Justice Award presented by Center for Legal and Social Justice 2001
  • Catholic Campus Ministry Association National Campus Minister Award (CCMA) 2000
  • Campus Ministry

Campus Ministry offers

  • Catholic services each day, including Sundays, in a chapel on campus
  • Sacramental preparation
  • Opportunities to gather as a community for prayer, retreats and Mass
  • Programs to provide service to needy in San Antonio

Grace Walle

Law Chaplain

Contact Information

Education

  • D.M., McCormick Theological Seminary, 1997
  • M.P.M., Boston College, 1990
  • B.A., St. Mary’s University, 1978

Anthony Alcoser

Executive Director of Development

Biography

Anthony Alcoser (J.D. ’24) has been contributing to higher education in a development role for more than eight years. Prior to joining the St. Mary’s University School of Law, he served as a development officer at both The University of Texas at San Antonio and Texas A&M University-San Antonio.

From 2009 to 2015, he was instrumental in securing resources to attract the number of students necessary to allow the newly formed Texas A&M University-San Antonio to reach “stand-alone” status. In his most recent post, he played an integral role in supporting various functions of the UTSA College of Business to include the nationally ranked Cyber Defense program.

In addition to higher education development, Alcoser has been an active member of the greater San Antonio community serving as past treasurer to the City Council-appointed San Antonio Housing Trust, past treasurer for NowCast SA, and past president of the Harlandale ISD Board of Trustees.

He is an active member of the Rey Feo Consejo Education Foundation, member of the San Antonio ISD Gifted and Talented advisory committee and current vice president of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Central Texas Alumni Chapter.


Anthony Alcoser

Executive Director of Development

Contact Information

Education

  • J.D., St. Mary’s University
  • M.S., Texas A&M University-San Antonio
  • B.A., The University of Texas at San Antonio

Gregory Zlotnick

Visiting Assistant Clinical Professor of Law | Staff Attorney | Englehardt Research Fellow

Biography

Greg Zlotnick serves as a Visiting Clinical Assistant Professor of Law, an Englehardt Research Fellow and the Supervising Attorney for the Housing Rights Project at the Center for Legal and Social Justice at St. Mary’s University School of Law.  There, he teaches in the Consumer Protection Clinic and oversees student and staff efforts to provide eviction defense and housing stability to San Antonio-area residents.  This includes the operations of the St. Mary’s Housing Hotline; representation in eviction hearings and appeals; and the delivery of public education presentations and materials.  In the classroom, Greg also teaches a course on public interest lawyering.

Prior to his appointment as a visiting clinical faculty member, Greg served as the director and supervisor of Pro Bono Programs at the St. Mary’s University School of Law’s Center for Legal and Social Justice from August 2014-September 2022.  

In that role, Greg facilitated the implementation of the community service graduation requirement for JD students at St. Mary’s Law. Through the development of multiple community-centered collaborations, the Pro Bono Program connected law student volunteers with opportunities to meet the law-related needs of the San Antonio community. In 2020, Greg received the Pro Bono Coordinator Award from the State Bar of Texas. 

Beyond St. Mary’s Law, Greg is a board member of the Andy Mireles Charitable Foundation, the San Antonio Legal Services Association, and the South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless. 

As a pro bono attorney, Greg has served as clemency counsel with the ABA’s Death Penalty Representation Project and has volunteered with the State Bar of Texas’s Texas Legal Answers website. 

Prior to joining St. Mary’s, Greg worked in private practice in San Antonio. Prior to moving to San Antonio, Greg was a trial attorney and law clerk with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Fort Worth. He received his undergraduate and law degrees from Georgetown University.


Honors and Awards

  • Pro Bono Coordinator Award, State Bar of Texas, 2020

Publications

Articles in a Periodical

  • Picking the Lock: A Proposal for a Standard Fee Waiver for Texas Identifying Documents, 22 The Scholar: St. Mary’s Law Review on Minority Issues 345-381 (2020).
  • “Halt any proceedings in county that would lead to evictions,” San Antonio Express-News, July 6, 2020.
  • “Juan Castillo worthy of clemency by Texas board.” San Antonio Express-News, May 9, 2018.
  • “Marian Reflection,” Justice Jottings, January 2018 (remarks prepared for Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass, December 12, 2017).
  • “One Day, All Americans . . .”: Considering a TFA-Style Lawyer Corps, 23 GEO. J. LEGAL ETHICS 971 (2010).

Gregory Zlotnick

Visiting Assistant Clinical Professor of Law |
Staff Attorney | Englehardt Research Fellow

Contact Information

Education

  • J.D., cum laude, Georgetown University Law Center, 2011
  • B.A., magna cum laude, Georgetown University, 2008

License to Practice

  • Texas

Specialties and Courses

  • Public Interest Lawyering
Four students working in a law classroom

Juris Doctorate Program

Discover the J.D. Program at St. Mary’s University School of Law

Become a leader for service, justice and peace

For more than 90 years, St. Mary’s University School of Law has educated values-driven leaders in law. Graduates have gone on to become members of Congress, governors, justices of the federal judiciary, leaders of some of the nation’s most successful law firms and more.

  • 3 to 4 Years
    for completion
    Flexibility
    Online and part-time option available
    90 Hours
    to graduate

  • 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, July 17
    4 p.m. CST



    What You’ll Learn in the J.D. Program

    At St. Mary’s School of Law, students gain a strong foundation in core areas of U.S. law, including constitutional, criminal, civil and contract law. The curriculum emphasizes legal research, writing, and advocacy skills essential for effective legal practice.

    Students also have opportunities for hands-on learning through clinics, externships and moot court. Additionally, the program focuses on ethical leadership and service, preparing graduates to serve both their clients and their communities with integrity.

    J.D. Program Admission Requirements

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

    All programs and offices are available to full-time in-person students as well as part-time online students.

    To learn more about how to apply and the School of Law’s admission requirements, visit the J.D. application page

    Academic Standing Requirements

    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.

    Female student wearing a suit leans against the bookcase in the law library.

    Tuition and Aid

    At St. Mary’s School of Law, an affordable and valuable education matters. We believe in keeping our costs and tuition transparent to all students and offer competitive pricing.

    Earn Your J.D. Online

    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. 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.

    four law students stand and sit together around a table outside and look at a laptop screen

    Pursue a Joint J.D. Program

    Students can earn credit toward the selected master’s degree by satisfying the requirements for a Doctor of Jurisprudence. These programs allow students at St. Mary’s to complement their training in the law with advanced study in another discipline.

    J.D. + M.B.A.

    The joint J.D. and MBA program is designed for law students who want to broaden their knowledge and skills to include an in-depth understanding of business. This includes students who want to serve as counsel to corporations or specialize in business and commercial law.

    J.D. + M.A. in International Relations

    This program is designed for Law students seeking to practice in firms or organizations with clients involved in international law, immigration and refugee affairs, international business and trade, international non-governmental organizations and governments.

    J.D. + M.P.A.

    This program develops lawyers with special skills in the public and nonprofit sectors. For those interested in a career in government or practicing law related to the public and nonprofit sectors, and advanced degree in Public Administration would be a valuable asset.

    J.D. + M.A. Theology

    This joint degree program is especially suited for students who wish to pursue a legal career as a form of ministry. Many students with this degree have found success working in parish and diocesan administrative positions and working for other mission-based nonprofit organizations.

    J.D. + M.A. in English Literature and Language

    The program is designed to immerse students in ethical, inclusive and responsible representation in literature and language. Students develop narrative skills in print and digital platforms and are invited to hone these through the programs.

    J.D. + M.S. in Computer Science

    The master’s in Computer Science prepares students to manage all aspects of a software development project. This program provides an advantage to students interested in pursuing careers in intellectual property law, technology law and privacy issues.

    Discover J.D. Special Programs

    Build Real-World Skills

    The School of Law is committed to equipping students with the practical skills needed to excel in their professional lives. Through the law school’s special programs, students have participated in legal advocacy of disadvantaged citizens in the San Antonio community, national moot court and mock trial competitions, mentorship programs, and more.

    Plan Your Best Career with Our Support

    Connect with the Office of Career Strategy

    The Office of Career Strategy (OCS) provides you with personalized advising to assist in all phases of your career planning and job search strategy. OCS helps students to develop the skills needed to secure meaningful employment consistent with their individual strengths, values and passions. The team builds relationships with alumni and employers to optimize opportunities for students and graduates.


    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 a response from our team, or contact us directly at lawadmissions@stmarytx.edu.

    Catherine Casiano

    Assistant Dean for Admissions
    ccasiano@stmarytx.edu

    Eddie Chavez

    Director of Admissions and Recruitment
    echavez10@stmarytx.edu

    Catherine Mery

    Director of Student Enrollment
    cmery@stmarytx.edu

    Johanna Fickel

    Assistant Director of J.D. Admissions
    jfickel@stmarytx.edu

    Nia Walker

    Administrative Assistant for Office of Admissions
    Nwalker7@stmarytx.edu

    Learn more about earning your law degree at St. Mary’s School of Law!

    Leave your contact information below, and we will be in touch with important information about applying and the admission process.

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