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At St. Mary’s University, we combine our tradition of excellence in legal education with new programs and methodologies that prepare our students for the practice of law in a changing world. St. Mary’s teaches its students the practical skills that enable them to become advocates of legal and social justice.

Tuition Information

Full-time Fall 2012 tuition for 15 hours - $ 14,970
Full-time Spring 2013 tuition for 15 hours - $ 14,970

Part-time Fall 2012 tuition for 9 hours - $ 8,982
Part-time Spring 2013 tuition for 9 hours - $ 8,982

The Application Procedure

All applicants for admission to St. Mary’s University School of Law must possess a bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited college or university, or its equivalent, prior to beginning their legal education. All applicants must complete and submit a St. Mary’s University School of Law application for admission. All applicants must also subscribe to the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and register for, and take, the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Applicants should contact Law Services at (215) 968-1001 or via the Internet at www.LSAC.org to register for the LSAT and subscribe to the CAS. February is normally the last month when the LSAT can be taken for applicants to be considered for the upcoming fall admission. Only LSAT scores received within the last five years are considered current. You may submit the School of Law application before or after taking the LSAT and before subscribing to the CAS, but early application is encouraged. First-year admission occurs only in the fall of each year.

The Admissions Process

The Faculty Admissions Committee of St. Mary’s University School of Law seeks each year to invest the School’s resources in enrolling a first-year class which will not only benefit the legal profession and society, but also create an intellectually stimulating student body at St. Mary’s composed of persons from diverse backgrounds who share a desire for academic excellence and accomplishment in the practice of law. To that end, evidence of academic ability is of primary importance in consideration of each applicant. In addition, the applicant’s LSAT score provides the Committee with important information about academic potential and how well prepared the applicant is for law school. But the Committee also considers additional factors which provide evidence of qualities in the applicant such as leadership ability, maturity, ethical integrity, organizational skills, knowledge of other languages and cultures, a history of overcoming disadvantage, public-interest accomplishments, success in a previous career and a realistic understanding of the study and practice of law. An applicant’s personal statement submitted with their application and letters of recommendation from individuals who know the applicant well are instrumental in furnishing the Committee with this evidence. The Admissions Committee begins reviewing completed applications that include having received the CAS Report and LSAT score in November. Completed applications are reviewed continually from that date on, and applicants are notified of any action taken on their application in writing. The Committee may decide to admit an applicant, deny an applicant or defer a decision until a later date. Deferring a decision on an applicant may result in that individual’s application being placed “on hold” to await the final decisions on the entire applicant pool, but most candidates receive decisions on their application by May.

Completing Your Law School Application

The St. Mary’s University School of Law Application for Admission must have each question answered fully. If additional space is needed for any question, please use separate sheets and reference your response. Resumes may be submitted, but all questions on the application must still be answered. All applications must be signed and dated, and must include a non-refundable application fee of $55, payable by check or money order to St. Mary’s University. Any changes in application information after its initial submission should be addressed in writing to the St. Mary’s Law School Office of Admission.

see: PDF Application to download the application OR apply on-line.

Letters of Recommendation

Just as the applicant’s personal statement is an important tool in providing the Admissions Committee with valuable information on the applicant’s candidacy, letters of recommendation from individuals who know the applicant well provide valuable insight which is helpful to the Committee. Therefore, letters of recommendation are highly recommended. Your CAS subscription includes the opportunity for you to have up to three letters of recommendation submitted to them and then sent to St. Mary’s with your completed CAS Report. If you are currently in school, or have only been out of school for one year, you should submit at least one scholastic letter of recommendation. In addition to receiving letters of recommendation through CAS, additional letters can be accepted directly from recommenders by the St. Mary’s Law School Office of Admissions.

Campus Visits

Interviews are not part of the application process, but applicants are encouraged to visit our campus. Individual and small group visits and tours, as well as the opportunity to observe a regular class, can be arranged. Please call the Admissions Office toll free at 1-866-639-5831 or (210) 436-3523 for more information on these opportunities.

Application Deadline

St. Mary's accepts applications for admission after October 1. The deadline for applications is March 1. Outstanding early applicants may receive early admission notices, but most applicants will receive decision notices in April and May. Due to federal privacy laws, information concerning admission decisions will not be given over the phone or by facsimile transmission.

Applications Submitted After the March 1 Deadline:

St. Mary's University School of Law accepts applications submitted after the March 1 deadline, but positions in the entering class for which late applications are considered are exceedingly competitive. Such applicants should have taken the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) no later than the February administration immediately preceding the March 1 deadline. Those taking a June administration of the LSAT can be considered for entrance in the next calendar year and are admitted for classes in the same calendar year only in extremely exceptional circumstances.

Need More Information

If you would like further information about the admissions process or would like a viewbook mailed to you, please send an e-mail message to lawadmissions@stmarytx.edu.

 

Applicant Checklist

1. I have taken, or have registered to take, the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT).
   (Scores are valid for five years.)
2. I have subscribed to the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) for the current admission year.
3. I have included my Personal Statement.
4. I have arranged for recommendations to be sent on my behalf, either to the CAS or directly to St. Mary's University School of Law.


see: PDF Application


5. I have enclosed a non-refundable application fee of $55.
6. I have retained a copy of my completed application form for my files.

Application Timeline

October
Applications begin to be received

November
Application review process begins

March 1
Application deadline (postmark of March 1 is acceptable). (Applications received after March 1 will still be considered, but on a more competitive and space available basis.)

April 1
For those already admitted, a non-refundable $300 seat deposit is required. (Additional admittees pay the seat deposit two weeks after they are notified of their acceptance to St. Mary’s University School of Law.)
Financial aid application deadline  

May
Month by which most remaining applicants receive decisions

June
Admitted students submit a $500 tuition deposit

Mid-July
mailing of schedules

Late August
Registration and mandatory Orientation
Tuition paid in full
Classes begin

LSAT Examination Dates
LSAT exams are given in June, September or October, December and February. The exact dates and locations can be obtained by contacting Law Services at 215-968-1001 or online, including online registration, http://www.lsac.org. All applicants, day and evening, should take the LSAT by February of the year in which they wish to enroll.

Applications

To apply for admission online to the School of Law:

• Please visit LSAC

To apply for admission with the paper application to the School of Law:

• Print the *application in PDF format
• Mail the completed application with a non-refundable check or money order for $55 to St. Mary's School of Law.

The St. Mary's University School of Law Application for Admission must have each question answered fully. If additional space is needed for any question, please use separate sheet(s) and reference your response. Resumes may be submitted, but all questions on the application must still be answered.

Your check or money order should be made payable to "St. Mary's University". Any changes in application information after initial submission should be addressed in writing to the St. Mary's Law School Office of Admission.

MAIL TO:

Law School Admissions
St. Mary's University
One Camino Santa Maria
San Antonio, Texas 78228-8601
Toll-Free (866) 639-5831
(210) 436-3523 Fax: (210) 431-4202
lawadmissions@stmarytx.edu

Nelson Wolff Law Early Admission Program

The Nelson Wolff Law Early Admission Program offers advantages to motivated, talented students who plan to attend law school and graduate in less time. The program allows qualified undergraduate students in certain degree programs to earn both a bachelor's degree and law degree in just six years, instead of the usual seven. To be eligible, a student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.8 or better and earn at least a 158 on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

St. Mary's students in the program enter law school after completing their third year of undergraduate study. Students' first year of law school will complete the final 30 hours of the undergraduate program, so that students complete both degrees in six years. Included undergraduate degree programs are criminology, english,international relations, philosophy, political science, sociology and speech communication. For more information, visit the Undergraduate Catalog

The University's strategic planning document, Vision 2012, called on the University to advance academic quality and innovation by considering combined and accelerated degree programs such as this one. The law school and the Graduate School also offer numerous combined J.D. and master's degree programs.

For more information about this program, please contact:
Milo Colton, Ph.D., J.D.
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Assistant Professor
Phone: (210) 436-3519
Email: mcolton@stmarytx.edu

Guaranteed Admission to St. Mary's Law School

An applicant who is a graduate of St. Mary's University will be admitted to the St. Mary's University School of Law if the applicant meets the following conditions:

1. the applicant has received a bachelor's degree from St. Mary's University within three (3) years of the time the applicant will enroll in the School of Law; and
2. the applicant would be eligible for admission to the bar of the State of Texas upon successful completion of the state bar examination; and
3. the applicant has:
   1. a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better and an LSAT score* of 157 or better; or
   2. a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or better and an LSAT score of 154-156; or
   3. a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or better and an LSAT score of 151-153.

*If an applicant takes the LSAT more than one time, the "LSAT score" used for automatic admission purposes shall be an average of all LSAT scores received by the applicant.

• An LSAT score of 157 would generally place the applicant in the top 30% of all LSAT test takers.
• An LSAT score of 154-156 would generally place the applicant in the top 40% of LSAT test takers.
• An LSAT score of 151-153 would generally place the applicant in the top 50% of all LSAT test takers.

The student must meet the criteria stated above and make timely application to the St. Mary's Law School. The student may apply to the St. Mary's Law School at any time that the student has fewer than 18 credit hours of coursework remaining before graduation. Please consult the St. Mary's Law School Admissions website for more details about the St. Mary's Law School admission procedures and requirements, including the character and fitness requirements for admission to the bar of the State of Texas.