The University of Texas School of Law is one of the best values in legal education, combining a T14-caliber program with in-state tuition for Texas residents. Known for its dominant placement in the Texas legal market, its strength in energy and environmental law, constitutional law, and intellectual property, and a faculty that punches well above its weight in scholarship, Texas Law is a powerhouse. The Class of 2029 has 320 students, down from 373 in the Class of 2028.
This guide walks you through how to get into UT Law.
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1. UT Law Admissions Numbers and Statistics
Texas Law Class of 2029:
- LSAT: 75th: 174 | Median: 173 | 25th: 169
- GPA: 75th: 3.98 | Median: 3.91 | 25th: 3.76
Texas Law Class of 2028:
- LSAT: 75th: 173 | Median: 172 | 25th: 166
- GPA: 75th: 3.96 | Median: 3.89 | 25th: 3.75
The LSAT median rose from 172 to 173 this cycle, and the 25th percentile rose from 166 to 169. GPA median rose from 3.89 to 3.91. The class decreased from 373 to 320 students.
Splitters with a strong LSAT and lower GPA can find success at Texas Law, but note the 25th percentile LSAT rose from 166 to 169. Reverse splitters face a competitive path: a 3.91+ GPA alone will not carry you without a strong LSAT.
Aim to be at or above at least one median to be competitive. Above both puts you in a stronger position. Below both medians, this is a prayer, not a reach.
For context on how medians affect your strategy, see How to Build a Smart Law School List.
2. UT Law Application Essays
Personal Statement (required)
The school's instructions: “The personal statement is an opportunity to share with the Admissions Committee your background, interests and experiences. Your personal statement demonstrates to the Admissions Committee not only how you write—a skill fundamental to success in the legal profession—but also how you think and how you have reflected upon and derived meaning from your life experiences. Although there is no specific topic or question for the personal statement, your narrative should at some point address your decision to pursue a legal education. Your personal statement may not exceed two (2) double-spaced pages with a minimum 11-point font size and 1-inch margins.”
For more on how to write a personal statement, see my Personal Statement Examples and Personal Statement Guide.
Optional Statements (One Page Each, 11-Point Font Minimum)
Texas Law offers two optional statement prompts. Each is limited to one double-spaced page with minimum 11-point font and 1-inch margins. You may submit one or both:
The school’s first prompt: “Please address any information that you believe your application would be incomplete without and that sheds more light on your unique potential to succeed in the J.D. program and contribute to the University community and the field or profession.”
The school’s second prompt: “Civil dialogue and reasoned debate over contested ideas are core values both for the practice of law and in legal education. In light of this, Texas Law is interested in learning about experiences you may have had engaging with ideas with which you disagreed, and how such experiences have impacted you.”
For more on how to write a diversity or perspective statement, see my Diversity Statement Examples and Diversity Statement Guide.
For more on making all of these essays work together, see my Cohesive Narrative Guide.
Addenda (Optional, One Page Each)
Texas Law provides separate addendum slots for specific explanations. Each is limited to one double-spaced page with minimum 11-point font and 1-inch margins:
Undergraduate Performance
The school’s prompt: “If your academic performance for one or more academic terms was markedly different from that of others, please explain. Please make any other comments about your college transcript(s) or your preparation for college that you believe will help the Admissions Committee in evaluating your application.”
Standardized Test Performance
The school’s prompt: “Candidates sometimes seek to establish that their academic potential is inaccurately reflected by standardized tests or that one LSAT or GRE score is more representative than another. If you believe this to be true in your case, please explain.”
Resume/Education Gaps
The school’s instructions: “If there are any gaps in your resume or education, please provide further explanation.”
Character and Fitness (if applicable)
Applicants convicted of a felony or other serious crime remain eligible for admission to Texas Law.
Continuing application updates: Immediately notify the law school of any circumstances or events from submission through your first day of enrollment that may change any application response.
I’ll be publishing a guide to addenda and character and fitness.
3. UT Law Resume Requirements
Submit a resume detailing any significant vocational, avocational, extracurricular, or community activities; graduate work or degree; honors and awards; and employment history.
Tips:
- Focus on outcomes and impact, not just responsibilities
- Strong verb + result + concise structure
- Include professional, academic, leadership, and service experience
- Leave off high school unless genuinely exceptional
For more on preparing your resume, see my Resume Examples and Resume Guide.
4. UT Law Letters of Recommendation
Texas Law requires two letters of recommendation through LSAC. At least one academic letter is preferred if you are a recent graduate. Professional letters from supervisors are appropriate for applicants who have been out of school for several years.
Choose recommenders who know your work well enough to write with specifics and examples.
For more on recommendations, see my LOR Guide (Applicants) and LOR Guide (Writers).
5. UT Law Interview Process
All applicants receive an email after their application has been initially processed with instructions to complete a virtual interview. Based on applicant reports from the 2025-2026 cycle, the interview uses the Kira Talent platform and typically includes timed video responses to behavioral questions plus a short timed written prompt about your reasons for applying to Texas Law. Because formats can change cycle to cycle, check the Texas Law admissions page and current applicant forums for the latest details before your interview.
The written component functions as a short Why Texas Law response. Be specific: name a program, clinic, or professor. Do not waste space on generic praise.
6. UT Law Deadlines and Early Decision
Note: Applicants should verify all dates on the school’s official admissions page, as deadlines may shift slightly from year to year.
Testing Policy
Texas Law accepts the LSAT or GRE. If you’re considering the GRE, read my LSAT vs. GRE guide before deciding.
Deadlines
- Binding Early Decision Deadline: November 1, 2026. Decision by January 31. ED applications submitted after November 1 or left incomplete after December 1 are moved to the Regular Decision pool.
- Application Deadline: March 1, 2027.
- Regular Decision: Rolling admissions. Apply early for best outcomes and strongest scholarship consideration.
Early Decision
Texas Law offers a binding Early Decision program. If admitted through ED, you must withdraw all other law school applications and commit to attend. ED is worth considering if Texas is your clear first choice and you do not need to compare financial aid offers.
For a full breakdown of early decision strategy, see Should You Apply Early Decision to Law School?
7. UT Law Scholarships and Financial Aid
Merit Scholarships
All admitted applicants are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships. Texas Law offers generous scholarship packages, particularly for in-state students, where the combination of lower tuition and scholarship funding can make attendance nearly free.
Public Interest Scholarships
Texas Law offers several major incoming-student public interest scholarships, each covering full tuition and fees for all three years with summer public-interest funding available:
- Equal Justice Scholarship: For students committed to public interest careers.
- G. Rollie White Public Service Scholarship: For students pursuing public service.
- Wayne Reaud Public Interest Scholarship: For students focused on public interest law.
In-State Tuition Advantage
Texas residents benefit from significantly lower tuition compared to private law schools. Even out-of-state students who establish Texas residency after their first year can qualify for reduced rates.
Need-Based Aid
Texas Law participates in federal financial aid programs. File FAFSA for loan eligibility.
For more on scholarship strategy, see How to Negotiate Law School Scholarships.
8. UT Law Dual Degree Programs
Texas Law offers dual degree programs with other UT graduate schools:
- JD/MBA with the McCombs School of Business (four years)
- JD/Master of Public Affairs with the LBJ School of Public Affairs (four years)
- JD/MA in Latin American Studies (four years)
- JD/MA in Middle Eastern Studies (four years)
- JD/MA in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies (four years)
- JD/MGPS (Master of Global Policy Studies) with the LBJ School
- JD/MS in Information Studies with the School of Information
- JD/MSSW (Master of Science in Social Work)
- JD/Master of National Security with the LBJ School
- JD/MS in Community and Regional Planning
- JD/PhD in Philosophy or Government
UT Law’s strength in energy, technology, and Latin American studies makes these joint degrees particularly distinctive.
9. Employment Outcomes (Class of 2025)
UT Law Class of 2025 employment outcomes (reported to the ABA, measured 10 months after graduation):
- Full-time, long-term bar-passage-required employment (ABA): 95.8%
- BigLaw (firms with 101+ attorneys): 43.8%
- Federal clerkships: 14.3%
- Public service (including government): 17.5%
UT Law places primarily into Texas, with Houston, Dallas, and Austin as the top markets. The 14.3% federal clerkship rate is notably strong and reflects the school’s appellate and constitutional law strength.
10. UT Law Areas of Study and Specializations
Energy and Natural Resources Law: Texas Law’s energy law program is among the strongest in the country, reflecting Texas’s dominant role in the oil, gas, and renewable energy sectors. The Kay Bailey Hutchison Center for Energy, Law and Business supports coursework and programming.
Constitutional Law and Supreme Court Advocacy: UT’s Supreme Court Clinic has argued cases before the Court, and the school’s 14.3% clerkship rate reflects strong placement into the federal judiciary.
Business and Corporate Law: Texas Law places well into Houston and Dallas BigLaw, particularly for energy transactions, capital markets, and corporate work.
Immigration Law: UT’s Immigration Clinic and related programming draw on Texas’s position as a frontline state for immigration law and policy.
Technology and IP Law: The school’s technology law offerings cover cybersecurity, data privacy, and intellectual property, supported by Austin’s growing tech sector.
11. UT Law Clinics and Experiential Learning
Texas Law has a robust clinical program. Key clinics include:
- Immigration Clinic: Students represent immigrants in removal proceedings, asylum cases, and humanitarian visa applications under faculty supervision.
- Criminal Defense Clinic: Students handle cases in Travis County courts, gaining courtroom experience in misdemeanor and felony defense.
- Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic (ECDC): Transactional work for small businesses, nonprofits, and social enterprises in the Austin community.
- Capital Punishment Clinic: One of the country’s leading clinics focused on death penalty defense and post-conviction representation.
- Actual Innocence Clinic: Students investigate claims of wrongful conviction and work on post-conviction relief.
- Children’s Rights Clinic: Representation of children in abuse, neglect, and custody proceedings.
- Domestic Violence Clinic: Students represent survivors seeking protective orders and related relief.
- Environmental Clinic: Engages in litigation and policy advocacy on environmental justice and natural resource issues.
- Human Rights Clinic: International and domestic human rights litigation and advocacy.
Pro Bono and Experiential Learning
Texas Law has a strong pro bono culture supported by its location in the state capital. Students have access to externships at the Texas Legislature, state agencies, federal courts, and Austin-based nonprofits. The Pro Bono Program connects students with legal service organizations throughout Texas.
12. UT Law Notable Faculty and Journals
Faculty
- Robert Chesney: Charles I. Francis Professor in Law. National security law, cybersecurity, and military detention. Co-founder of the Lawfare blog.
- William Forbath: Lloyd M. Bentsen Chair in Law. Constitutional law, legal history, and the intersection of constitutional law and political economy.
- Karen Engle: Minerva House Drysdale Regents Chair in Law. Founder and co-director of the Rapoport Center. International human rights, gender, and transitional justice.
- John Golden: Loomer Family Professor in Law. Intellectual property, patent law, and innovation policy.
- Richard Albert: William Stamps Farish Professor in Law. Comparative constitutional law, constitutional amendment, and democratic design.
Journals
- Texas Law Review: One of the most cited and prestigious law reviews in the country. Consistently ranked in the top 10. Publishes scholarship about the legal system.
- Texas International Law Journal: Among the top international law journals nationally. Publishes scholarship on public and private international law, comparative law, and international legal theory.
- Texas Journal on Civil Liberties & Civil Rights: Focused on civil rights scholarship and advocacy.
- Texas Environmental Law Journal: Reflects the school’s strength in environmental and energy law. Publishes articles, student notes, and developments in environmental and natural resources law.
- Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal: Dedicated IP scholarship.
- Texas Journal of Oil, Gas, and Energy Law: A student-edited journal focused on oil, gas, and energy law.
- The Review of Litigation: Focused on litigation practice and procedure.
13. UT Law Culture and Student Life
Texas Law’s larger class (320 students) creates a different dynamic than smaller schools, but the school’s culture is collegial and community-oriented. The law school is located on the main UT campus, giving students access to the broader university’s resources, social life, and football culture.
Austin is one of the most desirable cities in the country for young professionals. The tech industry, live music scene, outdoor recreation (Barton Springs, Lady Bird Lake, the Greenbelt), and restaurant culture make it an exceptional place to spend three years. The cost of living is lower than peer-school cities on the coasts, though it has risen in recent years.
14. Tips for Your Why Texas Law Response
The written Why Texas Law prompt during the interview process is short but consequential. Here is how to make the most of it:
Be specific and concise. You have room for only a few strong sentences. Name a professor, clinic, or program. Connect it to your goals.
Connect your goals to what Texas Law specifically offers. If energy law is your path, reference the Hutchison Center. If you are interested in human rights, the Rapoport Center and Professor Engle’s work are natural fits. If IP or tech law drives you, reference the relevant faculty and Austin’s tech ecosystem.
It is fine to build on your personal statement. If your PS establishes a legal interest, the Why Texas response should show how that interest led you here specifically.
Avoid generic statements. “Texas Law has a great reputation and is in an amazing city” wastes your limited word count. Every word should demonstrate research and fit.
Want Help Getting Into UT Law?
Texas Law is one of the most competitive programs in the country. Your application needs to be sharp from top to bottom.
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For school-specific strategies, check out my deep dives on Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Chicago, Columbia, NYU, Penn, UVA, Michigan, Duke, Northwestern, Berkeley, Cornell, Georgetown, UCLA, Vanderbilt, and WashU.
Related Reading
→ How to Build a Smart Law School List
→ Should You Apply Early Decision to Law School?
→ How to Negotiate Law School Scholarships
→ 6 Proven Steps to Get Off a Law School Waitlist
→ How to Get Into Law School Below Both Medians
→ What Holistic Law School Admissions Really Means
→ Blog Directory
Note: While I try to keep this guide up to date, always verify deadlines, requirements, and policies at the Texas Law website before applying.
Think you spotted an outdated requirement or something that doesn’t look right? Email moshe@sharperstatements.com with the school and a link to the current information.
