The University of Texas–Austin School of Law was founded in 1883. It was the first law school to be established in the state of Texas. The school initially offered a two-year program, but it was later extended to a three-year program in 1898. In 1903, the school moved to its current location on the UT Austin campus. Over the years, the school has grown and developed significantly, and today it is one of the top-ranked law schools in the country.
The University of Texas–Austin School of Law has consistently been ranked as one of America’s top law schools since its inception. In 2019, for example, it was ranked #15 by U.S News & World Report for its overall academic excellence and quality programs offered. The school offers over 20 degree programs including J.D., LLM, and SJD degrees as well as several dual degree options such as J.D./MBA or J.D./PhD degrees for those who wish to pursue further academic studies after completing their legal education at UT Austin School of Law. Additionally, UT Austin School of Law also offers specialized clinics such as an immigration clinic and a tax clinic that allow students to gain hands-on experience in their chosen field while still enrolled in classes at the university.
University of Texas–Austin School of Law is located in the state of Texas. As one of the leading law programs, University of Texas–Austin School of Law has a high average LSAT score of 164-168 when recruiting new students. As a return, the median starting salary for law graduates reaches $160,000 per year. See the following table for detailed admissions information and career profiles of University of Texas–Austin School of Law.
Admissions: University of Texas–Austin
The University of Texas–Austin School of Law has a highly competitive admissions process. The school receives over 6,000 applications for the entering class each year, and only about 25% of these applicants are accepted. The average GPA for accepted students is 3.7 and the average LSAT score is 164. UT Law also considers an applicant’s personal statement, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities when determining admission. The school also considers diversity among its applicants and encourages individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply. Additionally, UT Law offers various scholarships and financial aid options to help make attending law school more accessible for those with financial need.
Fall 2019 Admissions and Enrollment Statistics
Total number of full- and part-time applicants
5,275
Total number of full- and part-time acceptances
1,224
Overall acceptance rate
23.2%
Total number of full- and part-time first-year students enrolled
379
Number of full-time program applicants
5,275
Number of full-time program acceptances
1,224
Full-time acceptance rate
23.2%
Number of first-year full-time students enrolled
379
Number of part-time program applicants
N/A
Number of part-time program acceptances
N/A
Part-time acceptance rate
N/A
Number of first-year part-time students enrolled
N/A
Fall 2019 GPA and LSAT Scores
25th-75th percentile GPA scores for all students
3.54-3.87
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for all students
164-168
25th-75th percentile undergraduate GPA for full-time students
3.54-3.87
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for full-time students
164-168
25th-75th percentile undergraduate GPA for part-time students
N/A
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for part-time students
N/A
Careers: University of Texas–Austin
Bar Statistics (Winter and Summer 2018 administrations)
State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar
TX
School’s bar passage rate for first-time test takers
88.9%
Statewide bar passage rate for first-time test takers
84.4%
Class of 2018 Graduates
Total graduates
441
Graduates employed at graduation
96.7%
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation
98.1%
Starting Salaries of 2018 Graduates Employed Full-time
25th percentile private sector starting salary
$125,000
Median private sector starting salary
$160,000
75th percentile private sector starting salary
$160,000
Percent in the private sector who reported salary information
80%
Median public service starting salary
$51,617
Areas of Legal Practice (Class of 2018)
Percent employed in academia
1.0%
Percent employed in business and industry
10.0%
Percent employed in government
10.0%
Percent employed in all judicial clerkships
13.0%
Percent employed in law firms
63.0%
Percent employed in public interest
3.0%
Percent employed in an unknown field
0.0%
Percent employed in a judicial clerkship by an Article III federal judge
9.0%
2018 Graduates Employment Location
Graduates employed in-state
67%
Graduates employed in foreign countries
1%
Number of states where graduates are employed
24
New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT)
0.5%
Middle Atlantic (NY, NJ, PA)
8.0%
East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI)
2.0%
West North Central (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD)
0.0%
South Atlantic (DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV)
9.0%
East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN)
0.5%
West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX)
68.0%
Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA)
8.0%
Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY)
3.0%
Employment location unknown
0.0%
Career Services
(Data appear as originally submitted by this school)
Career services operations
The Career Services Office (CSO) helps students with career and job search strategies. CSO coordinates on-campus interviewing for several hundred potential employers, hosts a Public Service Career Day, participates in 16 off-campus recruitment programs, and maintains an extensive job bank. Students can receive individual advice from six members of the CSO.
Job Type
Bar admission required or anticipated (e.g., attorney and corporate counsel positions, law clerks, judicial clerks)
88.0%
J.D. preferred, law degree enhances position (e.g., corporate contracts administrator, alternative dispute resolution specialist, government regulatory analyst, FBI special agent)
8.0%
Professional/other (jobs that require professional skills or training but for which a J.D. is neither preferred nor particularly applicable; e.g., accountant, teacher, business manager, nurse)
3.0%
Nonprofessional/other (job that does not require any professional skills or training or is taken on a temporary basis and not viewed as part of a career path)
