The University of Texas School of Law

REGISTRAR'S PHONE/FAX/EMAIL:
512-475-7575/512-475-7515/

CAREER SERVICE PHONE/FAX/EMAIL:
512-232-1150/000-000-0000/
cso@law.utexas.edu

An Overview

The University Of Texas School Of Law began as the University of Texas at Austin's Department of Law when the University was founded in 1883. The Law School started with two professors and fifty-two students in the basement of the University's Old Main Building. The Law School has since grown to more than 1,200 students and offers the Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) and the Master of Laws (LL.M.). On June 1, Ward Farnsworth became Dean.

The Department of Law appointed its first dean, John C. Townes, in 1901, and moved out of the basement and into its own building in 1908. The Department of Law became the University Of Texas School Of Law in 1920. By 1935, it had become one of the largest law schools in the United States, and required a new building. In 1952, construction began on Townes Hall. Two additional buildings were later added: Jones Hall, which was completed in 1981 became home to the Tarlton Law Library; and the Connally Center, dedicated in 2001, which houses the Eidman Courtroom, the Advocacy Program, and Clinical Legal Education.

The Law School has always stayed ahead of trends to ensure that it prepares students for the challenges of the day. The school's first course on oil and gas law was held in 1914, and in 2008, it became the first law school to offer a course on wind energy law, a growing field, as the search for alternate energy sources intensifies.

The Law School has approximately 23,500 living alumni who have forged distinguished careers in government, public-service organizations, corporations, and law firms throughout Texas, the nation, and the world. Well-known graduates include former U.S. Secretary of State James A. Baker III; former U.S. Ambassador Robert S. Strauss; former Secretary of the Treasury Lloyd M. Bentsen Jr.; Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Diane Wood; Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Reynaldo Garza; U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison; Secretary of Energy Federico Pena; former Dallas Mayor and current U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk; presidential advisor Paul Begala; litigator Joe Jamail; criminal defense attorney Dick DeGuerin; and cartoonist Sam Hurt.

Degrees Offered

• LL.M. in Business
• LL.M. in Global Energy, International Arbitration, and Environmental Law
• LL.M. in Intellectual Property
• LL.M. in Latin America and International Law
• LL.M. in U.S. Law for Foreign Lawyers

Details of Courses Offered

Concentration in Business: The concentration in business provides LL.M. students with a strong foundation in the breadth of legal issues facing business organizations today. Also, it offers students the opportunity to take both basic and advanced courses.

This concentration is designed for students with a foreign law degree. The Law School will consider, on an ad hoc basis, an application from a student with a J.D. and a little background in this area of study.

Concentration in Global Energy, International Arbitration & Environmental Law: This innovative concentration is offered through the Law School's groundbreaking Center for Global Energy, International Arbitration, and Environmental Law. This unique degree program allows students to explore the intersections between natural resources law, environmental law, and international arbitration. Students in the program concentrate in one focused area of study, but take core courses in one or both of the other two areas and have the flexibility to integrate all three fields of study. Connections among the three areas are explored in courses, and students are also encouraged to consider an interdisciplinary approach. This concentration is open to students with a foreign law degree and students with a J.D.

Concentration in Intellectual Property: The concentration in intellectual property allows students to study the range of laws that grant rights to intellectual productions such as ideas, inventions, and writings through patent, copyright, and trademark protection. Students have the opportunity to take both basic and advanced courses.

This concentration is designed for students with a foreign law degree. The Law School will consider, on an ad hoc basis, an application from a student with a J.D. and little background in this area.

Concentration in Latin American and International Law: The concentration in Latin American and International Law is offered in conjunction with the country's preeminent center for the study of Latin America, the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies (LLILAS) at the University of Texas at Austin. The program provides students with an increased understanding of the transnational legal environment in the Americas. This program is flexible, allowing students to focus on a particular area of study or to take courses on a broad range of international topics, including business, trade and investment, human rights, immigration, and environmental law.

Students may also incorporate interdisciplinary study by completing LLILAS courses in areas such as public policy, anthropology, economics, history, art, literature, politics and sociology. Students may earn a certificate in Latin American Studies from LLILAS (in addition to the certificate from the Law School) by completing a sufficient number of courses through LLILAS.

Because of the importance of a foreign language to the practice of law in the Americas, students are required to demonstrate basic proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese. Students who are not native speakers of either language must pass a language proficiency test. Alternatively, the language requirement may be met by presenting evidence of two years of college-level Spanish or Portuguese, plus performance deemed satisfactory during a 15 minute oral interview designed to assess the student's ability to comprehend and converse in the language. In special circumstances, proficiency in another language may satisfy the language requirement.

Concentration in U.S. Law for Foreign Lawyers: The concentration in U.S. Law for Foreign Lawyers is a flexible program that provides students with a foreign law degree with the opportunity to focus on a particular area of study or gain a broad foundation in U.S. law by taking courses in a variety of areas. Students take both basic and advanced courses.

Financial Aid

• Merit-Only Scholarships: Criteria for selection include standardized test scores and cumulative grade point average.
• Need, Disadvantage, or Adversity Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded using a variety of factors that include financial need, demonstrated commitment to public service, history of overcoming economic or other disadvantage, overcoming disability, service in the armed forces, standardized test scores, and cumulative grade point average.
• Merit and Need Scholarships: Criteria for these scholarships include both merit and financial need assessment. Additional factors that may be considered include leadership experience, extracurricular activities or community service, and other performance criteria. Students must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) application for any need-based scholarship consideration.
• Conditional Scholarships: In accordance with ABA Standard 509(b) (2) disclosure requirements, the Law School does not offer conditional scholarships.

Cost of Attendance

International LL.M: 2014-15 programs

Career Development/Services Offered

The Career Services Office (CSO) is dedicated to helping all students at the Law School, including those who are working towards their LL.M. degree. LL.M. students are welcome to meet with a CSO career counselor to discuss job search strategies, resume and cover letter production, and take advantage of the many resources that the CSO has to offer.

LL.M. students with a foreign law degree have the opportunity to participate in the International Student Interview Program, held in January at New York University (NYU) School of Law. Students may also participate in the West Coast LL.M. Job Fair, held in February at the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law.

Many LL.M. students hope to find either short term or long term employment in the United States. The current job market is quite competitive, not only for LL.M. graduates, but also for J.D. graduates. It is challenging to find law-related jobs in the United States today. This is the common experience for LL.M. graduates at U.S. law schools across the country. It is important to be proactive in the search for a position, and to begin early.

It is important to know that most employers who recruit at UT Law are primarily interested in recruiting students in the J.D. program. Very few will interview LL.M. students. However, LL.M. students do have access to Symplicity, an online resource for job opportunities around the United States.

Foreign LL.M. students who want to work in the United States may apply to work for a period of six months to one year after they graduate, as part of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) allowed under their student visas. Information regarding this program is available at the University of Texas International Office website.

References

• http://www.utexas.edu/law/directories/
• http://registrar.utexas.edu/about/contact
• http://www.utexas.edu/law/about/history.html
• http://www.utexas.edu/law/academics/degrees/llm/degree_concentrations.php
• http://www.utexas.edu/law/academics/degrees/llm/degree_requirements.php
• http://www.utexas.edu/law/academics/degrees/llm/apply.php
• http://www.utexas.edu/law/academics/degrees/llm/frequently_asked_questions.php
• http://www.utexas.edu/law/career/resources/resumes.html
• http://www.utexas.edu/law/academics/degrees/llm/concentration/business.php
• http://www.utexas.edu/law/academics/degrees/llm/concentration/energy_arbitration_environment.php
• http://www.utexas.edu/law/academics/degrees/llm/concentration/intellectual_property.php
• http://www.utexas.edu/law/academics/degrees/llm/concentration/latin_america_international_law.php
• http://www.utexas.edu/law/academics/degrees/llm/concentration/us_law.php
• http://www.utexas.edu/law/academics/degrees/llm/tuition_financial_aid.php
• http://www.utexas.edu/law/finaid/scholarships/
• http://www.utexas.edu/law/academics/degrees/llm/career.php