TMSL Admission Booklet

Texas Southern University

T HURGOOD M AR SHALL

School of Law HOUSTON, TE X AS

Table of Contents

Our School....................................................... 2 Our Approach................................................. 4 Experiential Education �������������������������� 5 Earl Carl Institute........................................ 7 Fact Sheet...................................................... 10 Admissions.................................................... 11 Career Resources..................................... 13 Admissions................................................... 15

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OUR SCHOOL WHY THURGOOD MARSHALL SCHOOL OF LAW?

Our Mission As one of only six HBCU law schools in the US, the mission of our law school is to prepare students for professional excellence and to protect, improve, and pass on our legacy of social progress.

We are a mission-driven institution dedicated to expanding opportunities for the underserved in the legal profession, preparing a diverse group of students for leadership roles as practicing attorneys in business and government, and offering leadership in teaching, research and service.

Our Diversity & Inclusion Since its founding, our Law School has been an engine for diversification of the legal profession as well as the governing bodies in both Texas and the nation. Thurgood Marshall School of Law is a national leader in educating minority lawyers. Typically, over 90% of our student population are students of color. We are currently firmly established as one of the nation’s most diverse law schools, ranking in each of the last ten years among the top three diverse law schools on the National Index of Diversity published by U.S. News and World Report.

In addition to being one of only six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) law schools in the country, Thurgood Marshall School of Law is also one of the highest in producing Latino lawyers and has been nationally recognized by the Hispanic Caucus of the United States Congress.

At Thurgood Marshall School of Law, we work hard to create and retain a diverse and inclusive law school community representing all educational, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds to learn and explore different perspectives and viewpoints, while enriching the educational experience.

Our Affordability Thurgood Marshall School of Law offers the lowest Cost of Attendance of any law school in Texas.

We take pride in the fact that we offer a high quality education at a comparatively low cost. In addition to our low tuition, we make law school even more affordable by awarding more than $1 million in scholarships annually to incoming 1L law students.

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Jobs Of the American Lawyer’s Annual Top 200 gross revenue law firms, the majority of firms have offices in the State of Texas. The city of Houston has the largest legal market in Texas. The dynamic law industry offers some of the broadest variety in the types of legal work, with local, regional, and international firms all playing significant roles.

Houston is the: v v

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World capital of space exploration World capital of the international energy industry World capital of petroleum exploration Hub for high-paying and highly skilled jobs

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Home to a wide variety & large number of major financial institutions and insurance companies Home to the Texas Medical Center, the largest in the world Most diversified economy in Texas

Our Location Located in American’s fourth largest city, your legal education will be enhanced by all that Houston has to offer. Houston is recognized as one of the most culturally diverse cities in the US and is a city that is constantly evolving. Up to 90 languages can be heard in different parts of the city!

With a variety of food, music, sports, museums, parks, and other exciting activities, there is something for everyone in this thriving city.

Quality of Life The booming job market combined with a reasonable cost of living and a median household income that is slightly higher than the national average, makes Houston a city that easily supports families and individuals looking to enjoy a quality standard of life.

The city has an amazing mix of world-class visual and performing arts, professional sport teams, gastronomy, and live music. v

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Featured in Travel + Leisure’s Round Up of America’s Favorite Cities Ranked #1 among US Cities Where Paychecks Stretch the Furthest (Forbes) Ranked #1 Best Cities for Millennials (The Langston Company, 2019)

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Ranked #1 Metros With Economic Growth Potential. (Business Facilities, 2018)

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Ranked #1 Best Cities for Minority Entrepreneurs. (Entrepreneur, 2019)

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OUR APPROACH ACADEMIC SUCCESS & BAR READINESS

At Thurgood Marshall School of Law our multi-disciplinary approach to legal education begins with a curriculum that places emphasis on areas of advanced study as well as bar preparation to support the student’s professional goals. Our engaged faculty are dedicated to the pursuit of ensuring each student is equipped with the knowledge, skills, and values that provide the foundation for success in the legal profession.

All Thurgood Marshall School of Law students have access to the following Academic Success & Bar Readiness resources: v

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v

v

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Online Pre-Law Skills program - summer prelaw program offered to incoming 1L students prior to the start of the fall semester.

1L Tutorials - all first-year classes will have a dedicated 2L or 3L student tutor who will provide assistance outside the classroom by clarifying course material as requested, provide additional exercises and study resources to supplement the in-class lectures, and build those critical skills for success in law school and law practice.

Skills Academies - bi-monthly workshops focused on teaching critical skills required to maximize success in law school and thereafter on the bar exam.

Tutorial Lab - staffed by upper-level law students, office hours are scheduled to assist students with understanding black-letter law, legal analysis (application of the law), outlining courses, and exam preparation.

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Practice Exams - practice exams are made available to students to assist them in preparing for the uniform exams given at the end of each semester.

One-on-One Advising Appointments - faculty are available to provide students with individualized advising and support

My summa cum laude finish from Thurgood Marshall School of Law, as well as passing the Texas state bar exam on the first attempt, were not only due to year-round study, hard work, and perseverance, but to the enormous support received from my professors and my family.

Joshua Taylor ’21

Summa Cum Laude Graduate | Attorney at Law

EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION • SKILL-BASED PRACTICE & PLACEMENTS

Externships The Thurgood Marshall Law Externship Program is rooted in the foundations of skill-

based law practice. Students embrace their professional identities and step into legal arenas working on assignments given to newly licensed attorneys. Some placements require students to have their “temporary bar license”, which gives these students the ability to sit as “first-chair litigators” and much more.

Areas of Concentration: • • • • • • •

Civil Externship Criminal Externship Judicial Externship Legislative Externship Juvenile Justice Real Estate and Property Preservation Child Welfare Litigation

Sample of Externship Placements Thurgood Marshall Law offers over 300 approved placements, and the list continues to grow!

Recent placements include: • NASA • Walmart’s Corporate Office • Harris County Attorney’s Office • The Federal Trade Commission • The US. District Court for the Southern District of Texas • The Texas Supreme Court

During summer ’21, I had the pleasure to clerk for six weeks in Austin, Texas at Lloyd Gosselink Attorneys at Law, one of the first environmental law firms founded in Texas. As an aspiring environmental law attorney, I was privileged to experience the practice of environmental law closely under knowledgeable attorneys. Lloyd Gooselink prides itself on giving clerks a holistic experience. Not only did I learn about environmental law practice, but I acquired skills about law firm management and operations—critical competencies necessary for lawyering success. Had it not been for Thurgood Law enlightening me of this clerkship, I would have missed out on an amazing opportunity.

Markicia Horton, 3L President, Class of 2022

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Legal Clinics

Advocacy Program

The Thurgood Marshall Law Clinical Program provides an in-house law firm environment that offers students the opportunity to serve as a “student-attorney” member of an established law firm, under the direct supervision of a Clinical Director.

The Thurgood Marshall School of Law Advocacy

The in-house clinics give students a sense of how it feels to work in a small law firm that

focuses on different practice areas

serving the needs of local community members.

Similar to many externship placements, clinic students may work individually providing direct legal services or may work as a small firm tasked with solving community issues from a policy or transactional framework.

Criminal Law: Misdemeanor cases such as assaults, theft, DUIs, and drug possession. The Criminal Law Clinic now also includes a Title IX division, offering direct legal services to those impacted by acts involving the federal guidelines of the Title IX program.

Immigration Law: Immigration issues including asylum, citizenship, and special immigrant juvenile status.

Family Law: Divorce, custody, division of assets and liabilities, child support, paternity and name changes.

Wills, Probate, & Guardianship: Estate planning and administration, probate, wills and guardianship.

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Program includes: 0

Trial Simulation

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Competitive Mock Trial

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Competitive Moot Court

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Board of Advocates

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Order of Barristers

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Mergers and Acquisitions

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Law Practice Management

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Mediation

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Pro Bono Program

Trial Simulation: Based on a national, awardwinning model of advocacy training, Trial Simulation immerses students onto the language off the profession, and the expectations of the profession while allowing students the opportunity to develop effective and persuasive communication skills.

Competitive Mock Trial & Competitive Moot Court: These programs offer extra-curricular opportunities intended to continue students’ development of issue-framing skills, their ability to articulate and apply legal theories to factual situations, and to master persuasive argument skills that compel action in support of their client’s position.

Mediation: Students who successfully complete the mediation curriculum are recognized by the State of Texas as Certified Mediators.

Mergers and Acquisitions Law Practice Management Order of Barristers

EARL CARL INSTITUTE EARL CARL INSTITUTE FOR LEGAL AND SOCIAL POLICY

The mission of the Earl Carl Institute for Legal and Social Policy (ECI), a nonprofit organization founded in 1992, is to empower underserved and disenfranchised communities by addressing systemic social issues through legal representation, research, education, and advocacy.

ECI is operated by full-time staff, attorneys, and Thurgood Marshall Law students. The Institute hires about 25 students per semester to work on their ongoing projects and research.

Students gain hands-on experience while developing skills in research, writing, advocacy, leadership, and problem solving.

Current ECI Projects Focus On: v v

v

v v

Criminal Justice Reforms Youth Initiatives (including juvenile justice and education reforms) Disproportionality and disparities impacting people of color Property ownership and housing stability Voting Rights and disenfranchisement efforts towards communities of color

ECI’s projects generally achieve the following outcomes: v v v

Public Policy Initiatives Community Education Student Development

As an Earl Carl Institute (ECI) intern with the Opal Mitchell Lee Property Preservation Project (OMLPP), I continue to receive hands-on, professional training to ensure I am client-ready and practice-ready by graduation.

I’ve learned how to draft estate planning packets, motions, discovery requests and I’ve also performed intake meetings with potential clients.

The fundamental lawyering skills acquired as an ECI intern will prove instrumental as I begin my career.

Marcus Rhodes, 3L

Intern 2021-22, Opal Mitchell Lee Property Preservation Project The Earl Carl Institute

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Juvenile Justice Project ( JJP) The JJP seeks to empower at-risk youth, provide holistic, client-centered representation, and offer solutions to legal and social problems that impede access to future achievement and success. ECI employs a holistic approach, by providing legal representation to children who are in multiple systems including the criminal justice system, disparate educational systems, the mental health system, and foster care system.

Innocence Project Helping the wrongfully convicted with exonerations by investing and litigating actual innocence claims. Actual innocence means that the crime never happened or that it happened but someone else committed it and there exists new evidence to prove innocence.

Clean Slate Cooperative (CSC)

Legal Representation: ECI provides direct legal representation to members of the local community, many of whom are of low income and of minority populations through the following projects:

Opal Mitchell Lee Property Preservation Project (OMLPPP) The goal is to promote housing stability and to increase generational wealth through the prevention of land loss because of failure to plan estates, foreclosures, clouds on title to property/ land, and general inheritance issues and eviction defense to ensure housing stability.

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The Clean Slate Cooperative is a collaboration with the NAACP Houston Branch. The CSC locates and evaluates all criminal histories of the applicant and determines the available relief of either juvenile record sealing, expunctions, and nondisclosures for individuals who have barriers to such things as housing, employment, and education because of having a criminal record.

Education & Advocacy: Focused on educating youth and spreading advocacy in the local community, ECI directs its efforts to projects such as:

Black Girls Initiative Focused on addressing the harsher punishments black girls face in our public systems, this program promotes education and advocacy through establishing focus groups, writing publications, hosting roundtable discussions, and providing a mentorship program.

Street Law Law students are trained to teach and empower youth through interactive education about law, democracy, and human rights with the hope that with this knowledge, juveniles will avoid entanglement in the juvenile justice system and will consider civic engagement to facilitate change in their communities.

Right2Justice Coalition (R2J) R2J is a collective of local, statewide, and national organizations dedicated to a community-driven policy platform with the explicit goal of reforming the City of Houston and Harris County Criminal Justice Systems for both juveniles and adults. Members include ACLU of Texas, Anti-Defamation League, Earl Carl Institute of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law (ECI), Immigrant Resource Legal Center, Texas Advocates for Justice, Texas Appleseed, Texas Civil Rights Project, Texas Organizing Project, United We Dream, and Workers Defense Project.

ECI is the lead on the Juvenile Justice Reform Platform and the Indigent Defense Platform.

Research While research is imbedded in every ECI project, ECI also partners with other organizations on research initiatives and manages its own interdisciplinary journal.

The Bridge: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Legal & Social Policy Journal This journal is an open-access, peer reviewed journal that serves as a unique repository of interdisciplinary articles that focus solely on legal and social policy issues that impact urban and minority communities.

Safe & Supportive Schools Program ECI partners with four organizations to gather data, analysis, and research on policies and procedures to reduce suspensions and other disciplinary measures for children of color. Current partners are Texas Appleseed, Disability Rights Texas, One Houston, and Children’s Defense Fund Texas.

Student Involvement: Second- and third-year law students are eligible to volunteer and/or be hired as student interns and research assistants with ECI. Applications are considered each semester. Students must have at least a 2.7 GPA to apply. If selected, students will be required to work a maximum of 10 hours a week during the fall and spring semesters and 20 hours a week during the summer.

Being a part of the ECI Team will: v Further your professional development v Develop your research and writing skills v Provide you with networking opportunities v Give you valuable hands-on legal experience 9

FACT SHEET 2021 - 2022 FACT SHEET

Thurgood Law by the numbers

92%

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Offered Generous Renewable Scholarships

This year 92% of applicants who applied, and were admitted by April 1, were offered generous, renewable scholarships of up to 100% of tuition. What is unique about our scholarships is that as tuition increases, the scholarship increases to represent the same percentage amount awarded.

Total Employment

(Within 10 months of graduation)

Thurgood Marshall School of Law Alumni practice in 45 states plus DC and internationally in 5 different countries.

57%

3,768 (57%) of our 6,612 graduates are active members of the State Bar of Texas.

Credentials of Admitted MEDIAN 25%

57%

149

n Private Practice 19% n Goverment 14% n Business/ Industry 7% n Clerkships/ Public Interest 3% n Education

151

75%

MEDIAN 25%

153 2.81

LSAT Ethnicity

75%

3.32

3.60

GPA Age of Students AVERAGE AGE

AGE

RANGE 10% CAUCASIAN 26 20-48 34% HISPANIC Gender 49% BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN 2% AMERICAN INDIAN 5% ASIAN

Students of Color = 90%

60%

40%

Residency Fall 2021 Applications

Total Received

1771

Percent Admitted

28%

Percent Enrolled

39%

Number in Class

213

Applying for admission to the 2021 entering class were graduates of over 500 U.S. colleges and universities.

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IN-STATE

67%

OUT OF STATE

33%

Applicants from 26 states and 2 foreign countries were admitted to the Law school in 2021.

The class entering in 2021 represents 126 colleges and universities.

ADMISSIONS OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS

Applicant Eligibility v

Have graduated from an accredited college or university prior to the start of the fall semester for which you are applying.

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Have taken the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) within 3 years of the year for which you are applying.

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International applicants whose first language is not English and/or were not educated in English must take either the TOEFL or IELTS English proficiency test and submit test results.

v

International applicants must register for the International Transcript Authentication & Evaluation Services (ITAES) through LSAC. IMPORTANT DATES

Application Cycle Opens September 1

Priority Consideration for Scholarship Awards April 1

Application Deadline August 1

Decisions v v

v

Applications are reviewed holistically.

Decisions are made on a rolling basis and released via telephone and/or email.

Every effort is made to consider, render decisions, and release decisions on completed applications within 3-6 weeks of receipt, however this may vary depending upon when in the application cycle an application is received, volume of applications pending decisions, and other factors.

I wanted to learn more about the law to be best positioned to educate my family and community on their rights and how to best protect themselves.

Until starting my law school journey, I didn’t realize life lessons experienced as an inquisitive, argumentative, sociable adolescent would be the puzzle pieces to guide me to a career of being a powerhouse attorney and advocate one day.

Sydney Sexton, 3L

President 2021-22, Student Bar Association

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How to Apply

Two Letters of Recommendation (submitted through LSAC’s Letter of Recommendation Service) v Official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended (submitted directly to LSAC). v $55 Non-refundable Application Fee 4. Once your application is complete* and submitted, you will receive an email confirming its receipt. v

1. Create an account with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) online at www. lsac.org 2. Register for & take the LSAT when you are best prepared to do so.

3. Apply online at this link and submit the following: v Completed Online Application v Resume v Personal Statement v Optional Addenda** v Statements explaining any affirmative answers to Character & Fitness questions & provide supporting documents (if applicable)

*An application is considered complete once we receive your electronic application & CAS Report with all the documents listed above. **Please provide an explanation of widely disparate scores if LSAT is taken more than once (+/- 5 points) and or addressing your GPA if you believe an explanation is warranted. See the application for additional information.

Frequently Asked Questions What is your application fee?

A non-refundable $55 application fee must be paid online when applying.

Do you offer application fee waivers?

Yes. Please email lawadmissions@ tsu.edu to request an application fee waiver.

Do you offer an Evening or Part-Time program?

No. Our JD program is a full-time program only.

Do you have Spring Admission?

JD applicants are admitted for fall semester only. LLM applicants are considered for admission to enroll in either the fall or spring semester.

How long is the LSAT considered valid

by Thurgood Marshall School of Law?

We consider an LSAT score valid for only 3 years prior to the admission year for which one is applying.

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Do you use the highest or average LSAT in making admissions decisions?

While all scores are reported on an applicant’s CAS Report, the admission decision is based on the highest LSAT score.

How will I be notified regarding a decision on my application?

Decisions are released by the Dean of Admissions via email and/or phone.

How long does it take to receive a decision on my application?

Applications are considered on a rolling basis and decisions are released in as short a time as 3 weeks from receipt of application or within several months depending on the If you have elected to retake the competitiveness of the applicant, LSAT, it is advisable to notify us so that we hold your file pending receipt when in the admissions cycle the application is received, the volume of of your new score prior to rendering applications pending decisions, and a decision. Please notify us by other factors. Every effort is made to emailing lawadmissions@tsu.edu. apprise applicants of their decision as Does your school use an online quickly as possible.

Should I notify the Admissions Office if I decide to retake the LSAT after submitting my application but before receiving an admissions decision?

application status checker?

No, we do not. We communicate directly via email, text and/or phone call with students about the status of their application.

CAREER RESOURCES THE OFFICE OF CAREER, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & DIVERSITY INITIATIVES

The mission of the Office of Career, Professional Development, & Diversity Initiatives (OCPD) is to equip students and graduates with the requisite skills, resources, and professional development tools needed to succeed in the legal industry. The OCPD works hard to ensure Thurgood Marshall School of Law students understand how to explore potential careers within the legal profession, obtain meaningful employment experience through internships, and ultimately find a successful and satisfying career.

The OCPD assists students and alumni in the following areas through one-on-one counseling, workshops, panels, and events:

Career Exploration v

Confidential individual or group counseling to address career goals.

v

Creates and delivers professional development programming to highlight potential practice areas and employment opportunities.

v

Provides guidance and instruction on how to create and/or edit legal-industry standard resumes and cover letters.

v

Hosts a Mock Interview Program which allows students to gain valuable experience and feedback from attorneys in anticipation of interviews with potential employers.

v

Serves as a liaison between the law school, employers, and community outreach programs.

v

Manages diversity pipeline programs and serves as a liaison between diverse student organizations and employers seeking to increase diversity recruiting.

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Personal Branding and Marketing v

Training and guidance regarding appropriate legal-industry standard attire and etiquette.

v

Advises students on presenting a professional image through their social media, LinkedIn, etc.

Networking & Recruiting v

Thurgood Marshall School of Law graduates

Coordinates On-Campus Interview

are employed throughout the United States and

(OCI) Programs.

abroad practicing in a wide array of legal arenas.

v

Hosts annual Public Interest Career Fair.

v

Serves as a liaison between the law school, employers, and community outreach

Thurgood Marshall School of Law graduates work in the following Sectors: v

law firms.

programs. v

Informs students about external

v

Corporations & Businesses.

recruiting, professional development, and

v

Government Agencies at local, state, and federal levels.

networking opportunities. v

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Private practice in small, mid-size & large

Connects students to our strong alumni

v

Public Interest Organizations.

network and local employers.

v

Judicial Clerkships.

FINANCIAL AID OFFICE OF FINANCIAL AID

Thurgood Marshall School of Law recognizes that financing a legal education represents a sizeable investment in your future. While the primary responsibilities of financing your legal education rests with you and your family, the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid is available to assist you in financing your legal education at Thurgood Marshall School of Law.

Estimated Cost of Attendance 2022-2023 RESIDENT

NON-RESIDENT

Tuition & Fees

$21,038

$28,261

Room & Board

$14,004

$14,004

Books & Supplies

$3,086

$3,086

Transportation

$2,562

$2,562

Personal & Misc.

$2,406

$2,406

Estimated Total

$43,096

$50,319

Cost of Attendance The Cost of Attendance (COA) is the 9-month (fall & spring semesters) budget each law school must establish. This is the maximum amount any student may borrow each year to attend that school.

The COA includes tuition & fees, lodging, food, books, transportation, and personal expenses. It does not include such items like consumer debt and car payments. The COA is greatly affected by the differential in the cost of living due to a school’s location. Thurgood Marshall School of Law’s tuition has remained constant for over 5 years. We are proud to offer our students the least expensive COA of any of the Texas law schools.

Comparing Law School Costs: In deciding where to attend law school, it is important to know how to accurately compare the real, or net cost, of each law school. Use this simple formula: Net Cost = Total Cost of Attendance - Scholarship Amount (if any) 15

Scholarships Priority Consideration for scholarship awards is given to first-time law school ( JD1) applicants whose applications are submitted on/or before April 1. Every admitted, first-time applicant is automatically considered for a scholarship award, without submitting an additional application, until funds are depleted. Scholarship awards are retained all three years (6 semesters excluding summers) as long as the student remains enrolled in good academic and social standing. Scholarships may only be applied to law school tuition. Those receiving a 100% scholarship will be invited to participate in the Dean’s Leadership Council.

In addition, we encourage applicants to apply for external scholarships. A list of external scholarships, of which we are aware, can be found on our website.

Veterans’ Benefits Veterans can exercise many of their educational benefits while attending law school such as Post 911, GI Bill, Hazelwood, etc. For more information, please visit our website.

Other Sources of Aid To qualify for and to be awarded financial aid (Federal Student Loans), every student must annually complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which becomes available in October.

All students are encouraged to file a FAFSA as early as possible and not wait to be admitted to law schools to do so. The Texas Southern University (Thurgood Marshall School of Law) FAFSA Code is: 003642.

Law students may be eligible for several kinds of loans, up to the total cost of Attendance. U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible for up to $20,500 annually under the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan program. Additionally, students may be eligible to receive a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan to cover the remaining educational costs.

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T HURGOOD M AR SHALL

School of Law Office of Admissions

3100 Cleburne Street | Houston, TX 77004 | Ph: 713-313-7114 | Email: lawadmissions@tsu.edu

www.tsulaw.edu