St. Mary's Law School in San Antonio, Texas is the oldest Catholic law school in the Southwest. It has a strong local reputation, but is ranked in the fourth tier by U.S. News and World Report).
St. Mary's accepted 42% of applicants in 2009, so it is not very competitive to enter, but the school also reportedly has a notable dropout rate after the first and second years.
St. Mary's Law's three-year Juris Doctor (J.D.) program operates from late August to early May; there is also a part-time evening program. The school provides housing information to incoming students.
Contact Information
1 Camino Santa Maria
San Antonio, TX 78228-8602
(210) 436-3523
Email: lawadmissions@stmarytx.edu
Website: http://www.stmarytx.edu/law/
Fast Facts (Entering Fall 2009)
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Enrollment Information
Applicants: 1,900
Other Statistics
Enrolled: 231 full-time; 61 part-time
Women: 98%
Minorities: 73%Student to Faculty Ratio: 1: 20.9
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GPA/LSAT Scores (Entering Fall 2010)
LSAT Median: 154
UGPA Median: 3.21
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Tuition (2010-2011)
$27,600; estimated total cost: $43,584
Application Procedures
Application fee: $55
Application deadline: March 1 for Fall admission
Applicants may apply online through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) or via paper application downloaded from the school's website (PDF). In addition to the application, applicants must submit:
- LSDAS report, including LSAT score
- Personal statement
- Letters of recommendation (highly recommended)
For complete information on admission procedures at St. Mary's Law, see Applying to St. Mary's Law.
Transfer Procedures
In addition to the application and fee, transfer students to St. Mary's must provide the following:
- Official law school transcript
- Letter of good standing from current dean, with class rank if available
- Official undergraduate transcript
- Statement of reasons for transfer
- Any letters of recommendation from law professors you'd like to submit
For full information on transferring to St. Mary's Law, see Transfer Students.
Degrees and Curriculum
In order to graduate from St. Mary's Law, students must complete 90 credit hours; for full requirements, download a copy of the Student Handbook (PDF).
The first-year curriculum at St. Mary's Law includes Contracts I and II, Property I and II, Torts I and II, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Civil Procedure, and two semesters of Legal Research and Writing.
St. Mary's Law offers several joint degree programs, including the JD/MBA, JD/IR, JD/MPA, and JD/MT. The law school also has LL.M. programs in American Legal Studies and International and Comparative Law.
Study Abroad
St. Mary's Law operates "internationally known summer program on international and comparative law, called the Institute for World Legal Problems, held annually at the University of Innsbruck in Austria."
Law Journals and Other Activities
Students have the opportunity to participate in the St. Mary's Law Journal, as well as in specialized programs and centers, such as the Institute on Chinese Law and Business and the Center for International Legal Studies.
Bar Exam Passage Rate
Most St. Mary's Law graduates take the Texas Bar Exam; in 2007, they achieved an 82.6% pass rate while the state average was 82%.
Post-Graduation Employment
St. Mary's Law reports that 91.3% of the Class of 2008 was employed or pursuing graduate education within nine months after graduation. Eighty-five percent of those employed worked in Texas.
The median salary for those who work in private practice was $55,000 while the median salary for those who accepted public sector positions was $54,250.