Law

Your Future In Law

Are you considering entering law school? The University of North Texas can help you meet that goal. As a lawyer, you may engage in a variety of activities and work in a wide range of settings. People who pursue law degrees may work:

• As family attorneys negotiating divorces and child custody
• In transactional law drawing up contracts, mortgages, trusts and wills for individuals and businesses
• In a private law practice or a medium- or large- sized law firm
• As a trustee managing property and financial assets
• For the government as an elected or appointed official or staff member
• In international law working on human rights or multinational business

Lawyers are needed in virtually every business and at all levels of government to interpret rules and regulations. If you have information technology or scientific expertise, you may work on intellectual property and copyright issues. Increasingly, people with a legal education enter careers that don’t involve practicing law on a daily basis. A law degree also allows you to work as a librarian, lobbyist, financial specialist or educator.

Our alumni have attended some of the nation’s top law schools. Graduates include:

• John Creuzot, presiding judge in Dallas County’s Criminal District Court No. 4
• William Downes, former chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming
• Hilda G. Tagle, federal judge for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
• More than 1,500 attorneys in the Dallas-Fort Worth region
• More than 40 judges for state trial and appellate courts, or elected political officials
• Representatives at private law firms and in public interest positions in every major urban area and more than 80 counties in Texas

How we help

Law schools often want students with diverse personal and academic backgrounds. For that reason, any major is eligible to apply to law school. We offer a wide range of courses that strengthen your writing, reasoning, communication and analytical skills as well as prepare you for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

Several courses give a deep understanding of certain types and aspects of law. For example, you can take courses on the American legal system, constitutional law, the U.S. Supreme Court and international law through the political science department. Our College of Business offers courses focusing on business law and international transactions. Courses in the criminal justice department cover most areas of criminal law. In addition, many majors include courses exploring the law as it relates to the individual major.

The Office of Pre-Law Advising provides information and guidance as you progress through your course work and throughout the application process. Individual and group advising sessions are offered, as well as workshops to assist you with the decision- making and application processes for law school.

We also have study abroad programs, internship programs, the Moot Court team and a student chapter of Phi Alpha Delta, a professional law fraternity. These opportunities provide helpful insight and valuable experiences to prepare you for law school. Our mentoring program encourages interaction with local attorneys to learn about practicing law and to develop networks.

Looking ahead

Law school applications are generally filed during the fall semester of the year before you intend to enroll in law school. As a result, the LSAT should be taken in June, October or December. High LSAT scores are the most important component for getting into a top law school.

Law schools are very competitive. Your GPA should be above a 3.0 for most law schools and above a 3.7 for top law schools. Law schools also evaluate your work experience, réumé, activities and awards during college, personal statement and letters of recommendation.

How to enroll at Unt

High school students

We encourage you to fulfill the graduation requirements for the Recommended Program or the Distinguished Achievement Program in high school. In your junior year, take the SAT or the ACT and have your scores sent to UNT.

In your senior year, apply for admission at www.applytexas.org by March 1 and request that your high school transcript be sent to the UNT admissions office.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses can count toward college credit at UNT. For details, visit www.unt.edu/credit.

Transfer students

If you're attending a Texas community college, you should consult our Transfer Articulation web page, the UNT Undergraduate Catalog and an academic counselor/advisor to review your degree plan. Proper planning allows you to receive the maximum amount of transfer credits.

Our Transfer Center will help you make a successful transition to college life at UNT by connecting you to a peer mentor and other campus resources. Each year, we welcome more transfer students than any other institution in the state. The center is in the University Union, Room 320. More information is at transition.unt.edu.