Texas Southern University—Thurgood Marshall School of Law

Welcome

The Thurgood Marshall School of Law, a state institution founded in 1947, seeks to provide a legal education and an opportunity to students from diverse backgrounds with the potential to succeed in law school and become active members of the legal community.

Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University is located in Houston, Texas which is the third largest city in the United States. Each fall semester, the School of Law matriculates approximately 180 students into its full-time program. The law school only offers a full-time program.

Admissions

Applications become available on September 1. The deadline to submit applications is August 1. We suggest, because we make decisions on a “rolling basis”, that you apply as early in the process as possible. First-time JD candidates who apply by April 1 will receive priority consideration for scholarship awards.

Please complete the appropriate application:

• J.D. Applicants - who have never attended any law school, complete application titled, (J.D.1).
• J.D.2 - Applicants who have previously attended a law school (academically ineligible to continue, students applying to transfer and Visiting Students), complete application titled, (J.D.2)

You may submit your application prior to taking the LSAT, however it will not be considered complete, and ready for review until the CAS report is on file with transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, LSAT score, writing sample and letters of recommendation.

Completed applications are reviewed beginning in December, and decisions are made continuously until all completed applications have been read. The Admissions Committee does not review applications that are incomplete. Decisions on completed applications may be made 2-4 weeks or longer depending on timing and volume of applications. Admission decisions are announced in writing only.

The admission decision is based primarily upon the applicant's motivation and intellectual capacity as demonstrated by the undergraduate record and on his or her aptitude for the study of law as measured by the LSAT. The admission decision, however, is more complex than the mere rank ordering of applicants on the basis of a numerical formula. Leadership ability, prior community service, work experience, the student's background, extra-curricular activities, and graduate study in another discipline are all considered. The Admissions Committee also seeks to determine the applicant's level of motivation by reviewing personal experience indicating determination, patience and perseverance. The Committee believes that past success in overcoming an economic and/or educational disadvantage is a prime indicator of motivation.

To accept a seat offered to an admitted applicant, two non-refundable deposits totaling $500 are required, the dates of which will be included in the applicant’s letter of admission. Seat deposits must be made online through the University Portal indicated in the applicant’s letter of admission.

Financial Aid

Thurgood Marshall School of Law recognizes that financing a legal education represents a sizeable investment in your future. While the primary responsibilities of financing your legal education rests with you and your family, the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid is available to assist you in financing your legal education at Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Our staff is available to meet with you to assist in the application process, counsel you on the variety of financing options available, assist in completing the paperwork required for financial aid, and to assess of your loan eligibility.

Financial aid may consist of funding from a variety of sources and may include loans, scholarships, grants and work-study. The components of a financial aid award are determined by financial need, program of study, and federal, state or institutional eligibility standards.

To successfully manage your financial aid, we recommend that you apply early and consider all of the financing options available to you. It is important to maintain accurate records and pay strict attention to deadlines. An applicant in need of other financial assistance should make arrangements for financial aid through the law school financial aid counselor by either calling 713.313.7243 or emailing karen.percival@tmslaw.tsu.edu.

Curriculum

Upon entry to the School of Law, all students in the first-year class are required to attend a week-long orientation program. Attention is given to examinations, briefing cases, outlining, and an overview of law school life and expectations.

The law school offers a three-year, full-time JD program. The minimum courseload is 12 hours per semester. Required courses for the first year include Lawyering Process I and II, Civil Procedure, Property, Contracts, Torts, and Criminal Law. Second-year students must take Constitutional Law, Evidence, Criminal Procedure, Trial Simulation, Business Associations, Commercial Law, Professional Responsibility, and Wills and Trusts. Second- or third-year students are required to take Federal Jurisdiction and Procedure, a seminar/independent research project, and Basic Federal Taxation. Third-year students are required to take Consumer Rights and Texas Practice. The remaining hours required to complete the degree may be selected from a number of areas of interest.

The law school operates a full-time, in-house clinic in which students work under the supervision of faculty and adjunct faculty members. Internships are available with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, the Federal Magistrates, the Gulf Coast Legal Foundation, the US Bankruptcy Court, the Harris County Attorney’s Office, the Internal Revenue Service, and the US District Court. The school operates a number of clinics, including advanced skills, basic skills, civil and criminal externships, environmental justice, family law, and housing law. A judicial externship with state and federal judges is available to academically outstanding third-year students.

Career Services

The Office of Career & Professional Development (OCPD) offers a range of services and resources to Thurgood Marshall School of Law students and alumni to help them achieve professional success – however they define it. The OCPD supports and interacts with several constituencies, including students, alumni (for their entire career), employers, industry associations, student organizations, faculty and staff, and more.

The Office of Career & Professional Development provides the following resources and services.

• One-on-One Counseling: We provide one-on-one career advising to help you with your individualized goals and needs as you start your career:
  • Provide assessment tools, assist with identifying skills, interests, values, and goals, and guide students through creating and implementing a plan to achieve their goals.
  • Review resumes, cover letters, personal statements, writing samples*, draft emails and more
  • *The OCPD provides brief, general formatting and typographical edits for writing samples. We do not provide substantive review of writing samples. Please work with your Lawyering Process Professors, Writing Advisors, and other mentors you trust to edit our writing sample before submitting it to an employer.
  • Conduct mock interviews and practice conversations/negotiations, networking, and more
• Create and/or Identify Resources: The OCPD identifies and/or creates useful resources, guides, tips and tools, and other materials such as this Manual to assist students with their professional development and career search.
• Programming: The OCPD host programs with both internal and external participants including employers and current practitioners to educate students on professionalism, career resources, practice areas and settings or other interests and provide opportunities to network.
• Employer Outreach: The OCPD Team also works to foster and maintain relationships with employers to identify and create employment opportunities for students and alumni. We participate in bar associations, take advantage and create networking opportunities, attend events, conferences, and career fairs, and regularly assist employers with their employment needs.
• Employment Data Collection & Reporting: The OCPD tracks our students from first year through one year after graduation. Tracking graduate employment is required by the American Bar Association for the school’s accreditation – please keep us informed of your employment status.