Law school proposal moves forward

UNT will open the first public law school in Dallas and the North Texas region by 2010 if a bill passed in the Texas Senate April 11 is also passed in the House.

The bill, which was proposed by Texas State Sen. Royce West, calls for UNT to open a law school in downtown Dallas and begin accepting students by Fall 2009. Texas State Rep. Tony Goolsby, a 1961 alumnus, will carry the bill forward for consideration in the House.

If approved by the House, the law school would be jointly developed by UNT and the city of Dallas in its old municipal building, located at 106 S. Harwood. The bill would also require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to conduct a feasibility study to be completed by July 2006. The bill calls for about $600,000 to be appropriated over the next two years for UNT to begin planning for the law school.

UNT System Chancellor Lee Jackson announced in December UNT's intent to seek approval for a public law school in downtown Dallas during this legislative session.

Dallas-Fort Worth is the largest metropolitan region in the country without a public law school. Even though more than 1,700 new legal jobs are produced each year in North Texas, area employers must recruit many trained attorneys from other regions and states, according to Jackson.

BY KELLEY REESE kreese@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue

• Refined UNT brand to be unveiled April 27 at public campaign launch
• Former UNT regent and donor dies at 92
• Regents pick construction managers for Denton, Dallas buildings
• UNT, Nuconsteel sign research agreement
• Work is under way to secure funds for 2005-06 faculty salary market adjustments
• Check UNT's policy before accepting a second job
• Six faculty recognized during UNT's annual Honors Day celebration
• Staff council reps elected
• English faculty member becomes first to fill ombudsman position

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