JD Program

Since its founding in 1927, St. Mary’s University School of Law has taught more than theory of law. We equip future lawyers with the skills to succeed and the values to lead in a more just world.

St. Mary’s Law is located in culturally vibrant San Antonio, Texas, the seventh-largest US city. We are the only Catholic law school in Texas, and our mission is to graduate leaders in the law—advocates with the moral compass to make a difference and a commitment to service. For us, justice counts. This legacy of public service is continued by the 500 university alumni who have served in elected or judicial positions.

The law school is vigilant of the need to preserve a tradition of excellence in legal education with the development of new programs and methodologies for the changing world, and offers a part-time online program, in addition to the traditional full-time day program. St. Mary’s Law has also launched the cutting-edge Law Success Program, which includes an innovative legal skills curriculum.

The Law Success Program equips students with the skills necessary to achieve success on law school exams and the bar exam, and to launch legal careers.

Before the first year, law students go through a robust orientation program that assesses each student’s capacity for technical reading, comprehension, and critical thinking and introduces the skills and behaviors necessary for the study of law.

During their first year, students are assigned a first-year coach and they engage classmates in a cohort approach to learning. The curriculum, personalized instruction, and assessment continue during second- and third-year education.

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Combined Degree Programs

Students can earn credit for certain master’s degrees while working toward their Doctor of Jurisprudence. After their first year in law school, students will have the option to take master’s degree courses in addition to their law courses. Depending on the specific requirements of the master’s program, a student can usually earn both a law degree and a master’s degree in three or four years.

Eligible degrees include, but are not limited to:

Doctor of Jurisprudence/Greehey Master of Business Administration (JD/MBA)
Doctor of Jurisprudence/Master of Arts in International Relations (JD/IR)
Doctor of Jurisprudence/Master of Arts in Public Administration (JD/MPA)
Doctor of Jurisprudence/Master of Arts in Theology (JD/MT)

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Clinical Legal Education

Under the direct supervision of a faculty member, second- and third-year students can begin practicing and representing clients through the St. Mary’s Law Clinical Program.

The Clinical Program at St. Mary’s offers four clinical classes: Civil Justice Clinic-Consumer Protection, Civil Justice Clinic-Family Law, Criminal Justice Clinic, and Immigration and Human Rights Clinic. Clinical work consists of both a classroom and a casework component.

Student attorneys get to interview and counsel clients, obtain and organize evidence, draft legal documents, negotiate with opposing counsel and administrative agencies, and try actual cases in district, county, and administrative courts.

Through their clinical work, students at St. Mary’s provide significant service to the community by augmenting the legal resources available to serve the people in San Antonio and South Texas.

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International Programs

Students who choose to study abroad at St. Mary’s are left with an experience they will never forget.

The St. Mary’s Institute on World Legal Problems in Innsbruck, Austria

Come away with a deeper understanding of global issues after studying in the Alps through the St. Mary’s Institute on World Legal Problems held at the University of Innsbruck in Austria.

Seven past and present justices of the United States Supreme Court have participated in the program as distinguished visiting jurists—former Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, current Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., former Justice Antonin Scalia, Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, former Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, and former Justice John Paul Stevens.

The program attracts students and faculty from across the country and around the globe. It has included students from at least 100 American law schools as well as from Austria, Hungary, China, and Russia. More than 40 visiting professors from law schools in the United States and several foreign countries have also participated.

Institute on Chinese Law and Business Summer Program in Beijing

Learn business law in the capital of China through the St. Mary’s Law Institute on Chinese Law and Business at Beihang University in Beijing. Students can earn internship spots with a Chinese law firm or company, take field trips to a government agency or arbitration office, and learn from true experts in the field.

Through an array of business-related courses, field trips, and guest speakers, the Institute introduces students to the Chinese legal system and the instruments of international and domestic law governing cross-border sales of goods, protection of intellectual property, and investments. Check back in Fall 2022 for updates on policies for US student travel to China.

Legal and Cultural Spring Break in Mexico

St. Mary’s Law and the University of Guadalajara lead students on a legal education program to Guadalajara, Mexico, during spring break each year. The program focuses on the law and relationship between the United States and Mexican legal systems. Students earn an internationally recognized diploma from the University of Guadalajara.

The program includes classroom hours and field visits to observe a Mexican trial, participate in a mock trial exercise, and attend a full session of State Congress.

This program hopes to resume starting Spring 2023.

Additional Opportunities to Study International Law

St. Mary’s Law students have a chance to attend a summer Academy of the Advocate in St. Andrews, Scotland. This two-week advocacy-focused summer abroad program, in partnership with Baylor University School of Law, provides advanced instruction and refinement of student skills in trial advocacy, mock trial, and oral and written appellate advocacy.

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Special Programs for J.D. Students

Warrior Defense Project
Mentoring Opportunities
Fellowships
Advocacy Programs
Judicial Internships

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Student Life

Law Journals

Students can develop advanced legal research and writing skills by joining one of three law journals: the St. Mary’s Law Journal, the St. Mary’s Journal on Legal Malpractice and Ethics, or The Scholar: St. Mary’s Law Review on Race and Social Justice.

The student-led St. Mary’s Law Journal is among the most-cited law reviews both nationally and worldwide.

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Advocacy

Students in St. Mary’s Law advocacy programs are national champions in moot court and mock trial competitions, including the National Trial League Competition Championship for 2021-2022. Trial Advocacy Programs at St. Mary’s Law was ranked 17 for 2022 by U.S. News and World Report, and top four by the American Bar Association in 2020. Since 2000, St. Mary’s teams have brought home 32 state, regional, and national championships.

Registered Student Organizations (RSOs)

Law students can join nearly 40 registered student organizations. These organizations provide opportunities for students to further their professional development, meet new people, and network. Additionally, students are able to become leaders in their communities by becoming involved in these organizations. We have a comprehensive list of these RSOs on our website.

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On-campus Housing for Law Students

Chaminade Hall

Exclusively available for students who are at least age 21, Chaminade Hall is a three-story, suite-style residence hall that offers single rooms for privacy and a quiet study space. Living on campus puts students walking distance from all academic buildings, dining locations, and the fitness center.

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Life In San Antonio

San Antonio is the seventh largest city in the country and is a vibrant and rapidly growing community. As the only law school in San Antonio, St. Mary's provides a unique opportunity for students to grow their professional networks with members of the local bench and bar.

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Career Placement and Bar Passage

The School of Law’s Office of Career Services assists law students and graduates with their job search by showing them career options and job-search strategies and connecting them with potential employers.

The career services director will meet one-on-one with students so they can develop a personal plan to meet their career goals.

Students can network with potential employers at job fairs or by meeting alumni who are actively involved with career programming and networking events throughout the year.

At the Student Resource Center, students have access to an extensive library of career resources and directories of attorneys, which helps them begin their careers in legal and nontraditional positions.

For graduates in the class of 2021 who reported employment status, 84.5 percent were employed and of those employed, 82.25 percent had positions that require bar admission.

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Admission Decisions: Beyond the Numbers

Ability. Leadership. Service. These are all traits St. Mary’s looks for in a future student. St. Mary’s also is committed to a diverse student body, and the university has been recognized as having one of the most diverse student populations in the nation.

Our application review process begins with a holistic approach. No application is automatically rejected because of LSAT or GPA set standards. A faculty committee reviews all applications in search of the ideal candidate who not only demonstrates academic strength, but professional and leadership promise.

Learn more about admission at St. Mary’s University School of Law