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ContaCtInformatIon

University of Houston

Law Center

100 Law Center

Houston, TX 77204-6060

law.uh.edu

Dean and Leonard H. Childs

Professor of Law

Raymond T. Nimmer

[email protected]

Office of Admissions

713.743.2280

[email protected]

law.uh.edu/admissions/

Assistant Dean for Admissions

Jamie West Dillon 02

[email protected]

Associate Director of Admissions

Nathan Neely

[email protected]

Assistant Director of Admissions

Pilar Mensah

[email protected]

Assistant Director of Admissions

Janess Sayle Kostohryz 07

[email protected]

Admissions Program Coordinator

Ray Morris

[email protected]

Financial Aid Advisor

Laura Neal

[email protected]

Admissions Secretary

Pam Thomas-Hill

[email protected]

Associate Dean for Student Affairs

Sondra Tennessee

[email protected]

Office of Career Development

713.743.2090

[email protected]

law.uh.edu/career/

Assistant Dean for Career Development

Allison Regan

[email protected]

Who Is Alertus Magnus?

The bronze statue that graces the entrance courtyard of the Law Center honors Albertus Magnus, or Albert the Great, a medieval theologian and "Man of Universal

Knowledge." Born in Lauingen, Bavaria, sometime between 1193 and 1206, he was a bishop, doctor and saint of the Roman Catholic Church. One of his students was

Saint Thomas Aquinas. He taught in Paris and at the Studium Generale in Cologne, a university run by the Order of the Dominicans in the 13th century, and one of the

rst universities in Europe. A dominant gure, he was an inuential teacher, an experienced traveler, a keen observer of life and nature and the one learned man of the

Golden Age to be called "the Great." He was later declared a saint by the Catholic Church. Albertus Magnus is the best-known work of German sculptor Gerhard Marcks

(1889 1981) and considered to be his nest by many scholars and artists. The Law Centers signature sculpture was made from a special cast in Dusseldorf by permission

of Marcks and his family. It has been a xture at the Law Center since 1971. Two other castings exist: one at Albertus Magnus University of Cologne, Germany, and another

at La Universidad de los Andes, Bogot, Colombia.

Data accurate as of printing.


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mESSaGE from tHE DEan

Selecting among nearly 200 U.S. law schools is a daunting task, but most students

already know precisely what they want: an opportunity to earn their J.D. from the best

school they can afford. From that perspective, the University of Houston Law Center

belongs on your list of preferred schools.

Our innovative curriculum is energized by faculty who are not only respected legal

scholars, but also outstanding teachers. Two of our specialty programs, Health Law and

Intellectual Property, have consistently ranked in the Top 10 nationally. Our Environment,

Energy and Natural Resources curriculum is among the broadest in course offerings,and the Blakely Advocacy Institute has filled several trophy cases as a testament to its

success in training advocates to compete on the national stage.

As you weigh the escalating cost of a graduate education, I encourage you to study

all the facts and do the math. The University of Houston Law Center remains a great

value, offering you ecellence in legal education and a degree of distinction as we fulfill

our mission of developing knowledgeable, highly-skilled, and successful lawyers.

Raymond T. Nimmer

Dean and Leonard H. Childs Proessor o Law


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WHy tHE LaW CEntEr?


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WHY THE LAW CENTER | CITY OF HOUSTON

HoUSton: a GrEat PLaCE to Earn

yoUr LaW DEGrEE

WHY THE LAW CENTER | CITY OF HOUSTON

Houston has all the amenities and advantages that you would expectfrom the fourth largest city in the United States, but there are manythings you might not expect. For example, Houston has the lowestcost of living among the nations 23 largest metropolitan areas

which helps students stretch their budgets during law school.

Houston has been recognized as a great place to build a career,with BusinessWeek naming the city as its Top City for New CollegeGrads, and Forbes.com citing Houston as the best city for youngprofessionals.

Houston is more than a great place to earn a law degree its alsoa great city in which to pursue a legal career. According to the U.S.

Bureau of Labor & Statistics, the Houston region was the nations No. 1job creator between 2005 and 2010 and a vibrant legal communityserves an economy that offers unparalleled career opportunities inmany practice areas. If youre looking for a top law school set in aperfect urban setting, you will nd it at the University of HoustonLaw Center.


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LaW CEntEr CoUrSES


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LAW CENTER | COURSES

The University of Houston Law Center offers one of the largestcourse selections in the country which prepares students for

almost any legal discipline and allows concentrations in specicareas. In their second and third years, J.D. students have only threecourse requirements Professional Responsibility, a skills trainingor advocacy course, and fullling the senior writing requirementthrough either a seminar or participation on one of our student-run journals. Students may customize their remaining courseworkwith a range of recommended and elective courses, seminars, andclinical experiences.

BUSINESS & COMMERCIAL LAWAntitrustBankruptcyBusiness Organizations

Mergers & AcquisitionsProducts LiabilitySales & LeasingSecured FinancingSecurities RegulationSports Lawexas Consumer Law

CONSTITUTIONAL& CRIMINAL LAW

Civil RightsCriminal Procedure

Death Penalty LawFirst AmendmentSupreme Court ermWhite Collar CrimeWomen & the Law

EMPLOYMENT & LABOR LAW

Employment DiscriminationEmployment Welare & Benet PlansLabor LawWorkers Compensation

ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT& NATURAL RESOURCES LAW

Clean Air ActEnergy Law & Policy

International Energy ransactionsInternational Environmental LawOil & GasPublic Land & Resource Managementoxic ortsWildlie Law


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PRACTICE SKILLS TRAINING

Advanced Legal ResearchCivil ClinicConsumer Law ClinicCriminal ClinicEnvironmental ClinicExternship ClinicHealth Law ClinicImmigration ClinicInnocence InvestigationsJudicial InternshipJuvenile Deense ClinicMediation Clinicransactional Clinic

PROCEDURE & PRACTICE

ArbitrationFederal Pretrial ProcedureMass ort Litigation

Personal & Proessional EthicsProessional Responsibilityexas Civil Procedure

REAL PROPERTY,TRUSTS & ESTATES

Construction LawLand Use & FinanceLandlord & enantModern Real Estate ransactionsrusts & Wills

TAXATION

Corporate axEstate PlanningFederal Income axInternational axReal Estate axState & Local axax Ethicsax Fraud & Money Launderingax Policy

Our low student/acultyratio o about 10:1allows us to keep classesat a size where your

proessors wi ll not onlyknow your name, butalso recognize the bestway to help you grasplegal theory and its

practical applications.

Tese preceding courses represent only a partiallisting, and not all courses are oered during everysemester.

Students may also augment their legal educationby enrolling in select courses rom other graduatedepartments at the University o Houston.Counseling on individual degree plans is available

rom the aculty and the Associate Dean or

Student Aairs.


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The road to a successful career in law begins with the rst-yearcurriculum. Our rst-year curriculum combines a solid foundationin legal theory with practical elements such as an introduction tothe interpretation of statutes and regulations. The 1L curriculumalso provides substantial coverage of law practice skills andstrategies in the context of litigation and transactional work. Thesesignicantly enhance the rst-year experience.

Te J.D. program at the Law Center includes90 semester hours, with the rst 31 devoted tocore subjects in the rst year o study. Tis corecurriculum introduces students to the study olaw and includes traditional rst-year subjects.Law Center proessors take a modern approachto their teaching and incorporate practical skillsinto classroom plans that reinorce the lessons olegal theory.

Full-time students are divided into threesections, and part-time students comprise aourth. Te emphasis is on collaboration ratherthan competition, and these sections representa core strength o the Law Center experience. Inaddition to serving as a support network to helpstudents through the rigors o academic study,these sections typically oster riendships thatextend ar beyond graduation.

tHE fIrSt yEar ExPErIEnCE


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Our 1L curriculumincludes an emphasison practical lawyeringskills, an invaluableintroduction to thelaw that incorporates

practical skil ls toreinorce the legal theorylearned in classrooms.

fULL-tImE ProGramFirst Year

fll Seese Hus

Contracts 4

Procedure I 4

Torts 4

Lawyering Skills and Strategies 3

Total 15

Spig Seese Hus

Constitutional Law 4

Criminal Law 3

Property 4

Statutory Interpretation & Regulation 3


Total 16

Part-tImE ProGramFirst Year

fll Seese Hus

Property 4

Procedure I 4


Total 11

Spig Seese Hus

Contracts 4

Torts 4


Total 10

Sue Seese Hus

Criminal Law 3Statutory Interpretation & Regulation 3

Total 6

fll Seese Hus

Constitutional Law 4

Electives 6

Total 10

Note: he order o classes is subject to change.


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CENTER FOR CHILDREN,LAW & POLICY

Te Center or Children, Law & Policy pursueslegal and interdisciplinary scholarship, advocacy,and teaching to advance the interests o childrenthrough public policy. Tis innovative center has

coordinated a number o important symposiaand lectures that bring together proessionalsrom a variety o disciplines to closely examineimportant issues relating to childrens rights.In the wake o Hurricane Katrina, the Centerconvened the nations rst interdisciplinaryconerence on young evacuees and tookimportant steps to help policymakers understandhow the legal system should respond to the needso children who are displaced by natural disasters.Te outcomes o this groundbreaking conerence

are summarized in Children, Law and Disasters:What We Learned rom Katrina and theHurricanes o 2005, published through AmericanBar Association Publishing (2009).

CEntErS of ExCELLEnCE

lw.uh.edu/cee4clp/


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LAW CENTER | CENTERS OF ExCELLENCE

CENTER FOR CONSUMER LAW

Te Center or Consumer Law plays aninuential role in the advancement andunderstanding o this branch o the law. Inkeeping with the Law Centers heritage o directinvolvement with the Houston community, the

Center or Consumer Law hosts two PeoplesLaw School sessions every year. Te popular,hal-day program oers ree legal inormationon everything rom trusts and wills to amily lawand bankruptcy. Special programs coordinatedthrough the Center include the exas ConsumerComplaint Center, which has helped thousandso consumers since it was established in 2006.It is now recognized as an important statewideinormation resource or advice and assistance.Every two years, proessors and adjunct

proessors travel to the Law Center or animportant conerence geared to helping improvethe way consumer law is taught at leadingcolleges here and abroad.

The University of Houston Law Center is distinguished by nineinstitutes and centers, two of which are perennially ranked amongthe Top 10 in the nation. Each of these special programs adds

depth to our curriculum and creates educational opportunitiesthat other law schools simply cannot match.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE INSTITUTE

Te Criminal Justice Institute aims toenhance the practice o criminal law at thelocal, national, and international levels. TeInstitute brings together nationally-recognizedscholars, top criminal law practitioners, judges,

and students through a variety o programsdesigned to enhance the study and practiceo criminal law. Included under the Instituteumbrella are widely recognized programssuch as the exas Innocence Network, whichocuses exclusively on investigating claims oactual innocence raised by inmates in exasor elsewhere; the Criminal Prosecution andCriminal Deense Clinics; and the Criminalrial Advocacy training program. Te Instituteoers opportunities or educational and practice

programs, conerences, and symposia. One othe newest oerings is a Criminal Law at theCutting Edge speakers series that brings topnames in the eld to campus.

lw.uh.edu/ccl/ lw.uh.edu/cji/hepge.sp

CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENT,ENERGY & NATURALRESOURCES LAW

Houston is the acknowledged Energy Capital othe World making it the perect home or theCenter or Environment, Energy and Natural

Resources. Te Law Center oers one o thebroadest energy curricula in the nation in termso courses oered and topics covered. EENRCenter provides a orum or education anddiscussion o the most important issues o theday, such as climate change, air pollution, cleancoal, and renewable energy. Law Center studentshave many opportunities to network and attendprograms related to energy, resources, and theenvironment in the Houston area. Te EENRCenter is a component o the new Strategic

Energy Alliance at the University o Houston,and it also plays an important role coordinatingthe EENR LL.M. program that attracts toplawyers rom the United States and throughoutthe world.

lw.uh.edu/eecee/


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INSTITUTE FOR HIGHEREDUCATION LAW &GOVERNANCE

Te Institute or Higher Education Law &Governance provides inormation and analysisto colleges and universities worldwide on highereducation legal issues. It serves as a ocal pointor discussion and thoughtul analysis through

publications, conerences, and the maintenanceo a database o individuals and institutions.Te Institute works to create dialogue andcooperation among academic institutions in theUnited States and other industrialized nationsas well as developing countries o the TirdWorld. Te work o the Institute primarilybenets aliated scholars across the globewhose research is in law and higher educationand who have either spent time in residence,or have participated in Institute activities, andrepresentatives o governmental agencies andlegislative sta concerned with higher education.

INSTITUTE FOR INTELLECTUALPROPERTY & INFORMATION LAW

Te Law Center eatures one o the nationsstrongest IP programs with courses taught byrecognized leaders in the eld. We are alsohome to the nationally ranked Institute orIntellectual Property & Inormation Law, whichcoordinates study, research, and writing on

patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, andinormation law. Houston is one o the nationslargest markets or the IPIL disciplines, and theLaw Centers strong presence in the region yieldssignicant research opportunities or aculty andstudents alike. Te Houston region is a hotbedor lawyers specializing in IPIL issues, and theLaw CentersIPSO requently taps thesepractitioners or lectures and presentations.Each year, the IPIL Institute hosts a nationalconerence to develop, debate, and deploycommentary and policy proposals.

HEALTH LAW &POLICY INSTITUTE

Te Law Center oers one o the nations topranked programs in health law, and many oits courses are coordinated through the HealthLaw & Policy Institute. Established in 1978,the Institute works to advance understandingo health law issues and to provide guidance

or signicant policy decisions aectingevery element o health care. On campus,the Institute directs curriculum, teaching,research, publications, and conerences.Beyond the university, the Institute is knownor its associations with academic and healthinstitutions locally, across the United States,and around the world. opics o ongoing studyinclude biotechnology, empirical assessmentso health care laws, electronic medical records,human experimentation, ood and drug law,genetics, managed care, patient saety andmedical error, reproductive health, disabilitydiscrimination, hospital liability, health carenance, end-o-lie issues, HIV, corporatetransactions, and health care raud and abuse.

Centers of exCeLLenCe(continued)

lw.uh.edu/helhlw/ lw.uh.edu/ipil/hepge.splw.uh.edu/ihelg/


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CENTER FOR U.S.AND MEXICAN LAW

Te Law Center is the home o the rstindependent research center in the United Statesdedicated to the study o Mexican law and legalaspects o U.S. Mexico relations. Houstonsposition as a gateway between the two countriesserves as a natural setting or the Center or

U.S. and Mexican Law and its work to improveunderstanding o each others laws and legalinstitutions. In addition to independent researchand analysis o the interplay between the U.S.and Mexican legal systems, the center promotescross-border education o law students, lawyers,judges and other proessionals rom bothMexico and Canada. Te center works withvarious agencies to und specic studies andresearch projects; organize periodic symposia;and participate in collaborative projects topromote cooperation among U.S. and Mexicanlawyers, judges, and scholars.

he Institutes andCenters advance ourmission to develop well-balanced, highly eective,and well-trained lawyerswhile supporting highquality programs orlegal research andscholarship.

lw.uh.edu/eic-lw/lw.uh.edu/plc/hepge.sp

PROGRAM ON LAWAND COMPUTATION

Te Law Centers newest program is designedto bring together a spectrum o specializationsunited by a heavy reliance on computation andthe law. Tese technologies include statistics,nance, decision theory, game theory, economicanalysis o law, networks, computational

linguistics, data mining, art icial intelligence,visualization and others whose capabilities havebeen enhanced by modern developments incomputation. Under the direction o ProessorSeth J. Chandler, the Program on Law andComputation will essentially deal with themany ways in which computers and sofwaretechnologies change the way law is perceivedand studied. While many scholars are doingthis type o research, and other law schoolsoer courses in individual disciplines, the LawCenter plans to concentrate eorts and becomethe primary center or studying these changesby providing opportunities or its students and aplatorm or scholars rom around the world.


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CIVIL PRACTICE CLINIC students workdirectly with clients and handle all aspectso case management, interviews, documentpreparation, and court proceedings. Te types

o cases handled include bankruptcy, divorce,domestic violence, juvenile cases, landlord-tenant, estate planning, and probate.

CONSUMER LAW CLINIC mixes theoryand hands-on experience as students representclients in Justice Court, County Court, andDistrict Court. Te clinic handles cases relatingto deceptive trade practices, credit and debtcollection problems, and other consumer issues.

CRIMINAL PRACTICE CLINIC studentshelp prosecute misdemeanor cases at theHarris County District Attorneys Oce andoccasionally assist with elony case work.

IMMIGRATION CLINICstudents workdirectly with clients on a wide variety o issues,including deportation, asylum applications,appeals, and human tracking.

TRANSACTIONAL CLINIC students assistsmall businesses and non-prot organizationswith legal matters ranging rom lease agreementsto employment policies. Clinic students provide

legal advice that complements and enhances theclients business strategies.

MEDIATION CLINIC/EXTERNSHIPstudents mediate consumer issues, landlord/tenant disputes, and breach o contract cases orJustice Courts in Harris County. Students alsoserve as mediators in small claims court.

Te Law Centers Immigration Clinic assisted on an importantU.S. Supreme Court case which the court decided 9-0 in avoro the clinics client in the case Carachuri-Rosendo v. Holder.Te clinic frst accepted the case in 2006, and the victory inJune 2010 represents years o work by clinic students.

Law Center students benet from an outstanding slateof clinical programs that provide direct experience inpractical applications of the law. Our clinical programsseek to accomplish three goals: to train students to becompetent, professional and ethical advocates, to serve thegreater Houston community by providing top-quality legal

representation to indigent clients, and to support the courtsand legislature and to develop policies that improve thecommunity.

IntErDISCIPLInaryCLInICS

Detailed inormation or each clinic can be ound atlw.uh.edu/cliic/hepge.hl.


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The Law Center is rmly committed to providing our upper-divisionstudents with opportunities to participate in externships withnon-prot organizations and government agencies and judicialinternships with federal appellate and district courts as well as stateappellate and trial courts. A wealth of opportunities are available inthe Houston area, but Law Center students have earned credit for

work performed in other areas of the country and abroad, too.

IntErnSHIPS, ExtErnSHIPS& fELLoWSHIPS

Additional inormation on these opportunities can be ound atlw.uh.edu/cliic/ee.hl .

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PUbLIC INTEREST FELLOWSHIPS

Anti-Defamation League Marvin Nathan Fellowship

Childrens Assessment Center

Equal Employment OpportunityCommission (EEOC)

Federal Public Defender

Fort Bend County District AttorneysOfce

Galveston Bay Foundation

Harris County District Attorneys Ofce

Internal Revenue Service

Lone Star Legal Aid

Montgomery County Womens Center

Social Security Administration

State Counsel for Offenders

Texas Accountants and Lawyersfor the Arts

Texas Defender Service

The Texas Innocence Network

U.S. Attorneys Ofce

U.S. Department of Housing andUrban Development (HUD)

U.S. Department of Homeland Security,ICE

University of Houston System

Ofce of General Counsel

Te Ofce of Career Development alsoadministers a Public Interest Fellowship Programthat gives students and recent graduates theopportunity to build legal skills, hone their

portolio o accomplishments, and contribute tothe community. Recent placements are listed onthe right.

Te Law Centers newest externship initiativeis the Apprenticeship/Externship Program(AEP) which matches rising third-year studentswith small law rms during the summer.

Students work or academic credit or six weekswhile attending the required externship class.


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The Law Center and the University of Calgary law school havecombined common interests and academic specialties to establishthe International Energy Lawyers Program, an initiative that allowsstudents to earn both Canadian and American law degrees in fouryears. Students spend two years at each school and take courses

that will enable them to apply for admission to bars in the UnitedStates and Canada. The driving force behind the internationalprogram is a shared commitment to natural resource, energy andenvironmental law. The Law Center and Calgary Law each enjoyinternational reputations as leading law schools in these areas,and Houston and Calgary are leading energy centers. The LawCenters energy curriculum is one of the broadest in the nation,and its Environment, Energy & Natural Resource Center is highly

regarded worldwide.

HoUSton-CaLGary

ConnECtIon

he Law Centersinternational outreachextends north to Canadawith a unique dual degreeprogram designed totrain lawyers to analyzecomplex emergingissues in energy andenvironmental sectors onboth sides o the border.


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DUaL DEGrEES

The Law Center is among the national leaders in the number of

dual degree programs offered. Our innovative programs allow

students to earn two degrees in less time than it would take to

complete the degrees separately. Students interested in pursuing

dual degree options must apply to, and earn acceptances from,

both programs within one calendar year. If one of the approved

dual degree programs does not fulll students educational goals,

we also allow students to earn credit in other graduate programs

with prior course approval. Dual degree programs include:

JD/mBa wih he Uiesi Hus Bue Cllege Busiess

JD/ma i His wih Uiesi Hus

JD/mSW wih Uiesi HusGdue Cllege Scil W

JD/mPH wih the Uiesi tesHelh Sciece Cee

JD/mD wih Bl Cllege medicie

JD/Ph.D. i medicl Huiies wihthe Uiesi tes mediclBch Gles

Its easy to make the most olaw school when you havea variety o high-qualityoptions available to you.From our outstanding dual-degree programs to our widelycited student-run journals,the Law Center oers itsstudents a compelling mix oeducational opportunities.

Andrew Cobos 11, J.D. M.B.A.Student Regent 2010-2011


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Advocacy skills are central to the practice of law and the LawCenters advocacy program is recognized as one of the broadestand best in the nation. All rst-year students complete one roundof a moot court tournament under the Law Centers Lawyering,Skills and Strategies program, and then may elect to compete into

the competitive rounds of the John Black Moot Court Tournament.Upper division students are eligible to join the Law Centershighly successful mock trial, moot court, and alternative disputeresolution interscholastic teams, which continue to ll the Institutestrophy cases with their impressive wins. Some of the nations mostexperienced and acclaimed trial and appellate lawyers assist ourfaculty in teaching a wide variety of programs and courses, includingTrial Advocacy, Appellate Advocacy, Pretrial Litigation, and a range

of courses covering all aspects of the alternative dispute resolutiontechniques of mediation, negotiation, and arbitration.

National qualier in the National Moot Court Competition, American Bar Association ArbitrationCompetition, and American Bar Association Negotiation Competition, all in the same year.

BLakELy aDvoCaCy

InStItUtE

Advocacy is an art bestlearned rom mastersand honed in practice.

Law Center studentsbegin training their

irst year and can goon to test their skillsunder the tutelage oacclaimed practitionersin competitions acrossthe nation. Our

graduates are preparedto make their markwhether in courtrooms orboardrooms, arbitrationor mediation sessions.

www.lw.uh.edu/blel


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JoUrnaLS

After completing the rst year of study, Law Center students cangain valuable writing experience while working on one of theschools acclaimed student-run journals. First-year grades anddemonstrated prociency in legal writing are the critical criteriathat lead to membership in these journals, and membership isoffered during the summer after the rst year.

HoUSton LaW rEvIEW, widely citedas one o the nations top journals, publishesa varied body o legal scholarship to serve theproessional and academic communities.

HoUSton BUSInESS anD tax LaW

JoUrnaL ranks as a op 10 journal in itsspecialty area. Te HBLJ ocuses on a wide rangeo law, including corporate, securities, bankruptcy,

antitrust, intellectual property, employment, labor,mergers/acquisitions, and tax.

JoUrnaL of ConSUmEr anD

CommErCIaL LaW is published by LawCenter students on behal o the Consumer andCommercial Law Section o the State Bar o exas.

HoUSton JoUrnaL of HEaLtH LaW

& PoLICy builds on the strength o the LawCenters highly ranked health law program witha widely respected scholarly publication ocusingon emerging issues in the eld.

HoUSton JoUrnaL of

IntErnatIonaL LaW assembles articleswritten by practicing proessionals, educators,

and students on a broad range o topics ininternational and comparative law, includinginternational business, nance, torts, crime, andhuman rights.

Employers value the legalresearch and writingexperience that students

gain through participationin a law journal.

Te Houston Law Review ranks in the top 2.5 percento more than 1,600 law journals worldwide, accordingto an annual study by Washington and Lee Law School.


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faCULty


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LAW CENTER | FACULTY

The faculty of the Law Center is recognized nationally andinternationally for its expertise in elds such as intellectual property,health law, international law, and energy. Professors lecture,teach, participate in symposia the world over. The collectivescholarship of tenured faculty ranks in the upper tier nationallybased on the number of law journal citations over the past veyears. But our faculty members are not only authors and scholars,

they also are dedicated teachers committed to your success.The low student to faculty ratio of 10 to 1 allows a more personalrelationship than found at other schools. The combination of legaltheory and practical application taught by a faculty of recognizedexperts, clinical professors, researchers, and adjuncts drawn frompractitioners with real world perspectives on the law gives ourgraduates the tools to succeed in todays competitive market. Thebottom line for Law Center students is easy to dene: at the Law

Center, you have the chance to learn from the best.

For more inormation about the aculty o the Law Center,visit lw.uh.edu/cul.


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DIvErSIty


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At the University of Houston diversity is not a goal, its a reality,adding depth and perspective to your educational experience,enriching your life while enhancing your ability to take your placein an increasingly global society. The University of Houston haslong been recognized as one of the most diverse campuses in theUnited States, ranking 2nd in U.S. News & World Reports mostrecent survey. The universitys setting in an international city thefourth largest in the U.S. also draws students from more than120 countries around the world.

Law Center students reect a diversity of backgrounds, withmembers of the Class of 2014 holding undergraduate degrees in56 different majors awarded by 96 different schools. They speak34 different languages and include former Teach for AmericaCorps members, more than a dozen NCAA student athletes,musicians, dancers, poets, and several members of the U.S. ArmedForces. Many of them earned advanced degrees and professional

recognition in other disciplines before entering law school. Theyrange in age from 21 to 47, and nearly half of them worked beforeapplying to law school.

I am extremely happyabout my choice tocome to the Universityo Houston Law Center.

he overall beneits odiversity, the location, thevalue o the quality oeducation you can get orthe cost. You cant beatthat! amecia Harris,Class o 2012 and ormerUniversity o Houston

System student regent.


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Law school should involve morethan text books and case histories.As incoming rst-year classes getto know their sections, these smallergroups typically develop deep-rooted connections in a range ofsocial and recreational settings.

From ag football and paintballtournaments to activities at thenearby Campus Recreation andWellness Center, Law Center students have ready alternatives tohelp balance the demands of their studies.

More than 30 student organizations contribute to the diversity andvitality of our campus, and many coordinate guest speakers, social

events, and specialized networking and career activities. Studentorganizations run the gamut from politics to public service.

StUDEnt LIfE

STUDENT ORGANIzATIONSINCLUDE

The Advocates

Aggie Law Society

American Bar Association

American Constitution Society for Law and Policy

Asian Law Students Association

Association of International Petroleum Negotiators

The Association of Women in Law

Black Law Students Association

Christian Legal Society

Corporate & Taxation Law Society

Cullen Senate

Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity, International

Energy and Environmental Law Society

Family Law Organization

Federalist SocietyHealth Law Organization

Hispanic Law Students Association

The Honor Court

Houston Young Lawyers Association

IPSO

International Law Society

J. Reuben Clark Law Society

Law Student Assistance Program of Houston

Law-Horns at the UH Law Center

Lex Judaica

Military Law Society

Muslim Law Students Association

Order of The Barons

OutLaw: Students for GLBT Concerns

Phi Alpha Delta

Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity-Hutcheson Inn

Public Interest Law Organization

St. Thomas More Society

Student Animal Legal Defense Fund

Student Bar Association For more inormation on the Oce o Student Services, please visitlw.uh.edu/ss/hepge.sp.


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StUDEnt SErvICES

The Ofce of Student Services exists for a single reason: to helpLaw Center students achieve their educational goals while keepingother pressures in check. This is the one-stop shop for answers tochallenges ranging from counseling and registration services tonancial aid.

Resources for new students include the Academic Enrichment

Program, which helps incoming law students transition intolaw school, by providing section tutors to help with coursematerials and to augment study and test-taking skills. Tutorialsare open to all rst-year students approved for the program.

The Law Center also offers the 1-L Mentoring Program that helpsnew students acclimate to legal study and life at law school. Theprogram pairs rst-year students with faculty and upper-classlaw students who serve as mentors and share perspectives on

everything from course selections to career goals.

From orientation throughgraduation, StudentServices sta devotethemselves to makingthe journey through lawschool as easy as possible.


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he quality o your legaleducation is an importantdeterminant o careersuccess. he Law Center

consistently ranks amongthe top U.S. law schools inthe percentage o graduateshired by the nationslargest law irms andthe number o graduateson the Best Lawyers o

America lists as published

by Super Lawyers.

Our commitment to student success includes providing toolsand strategies for effective job searches. Professionals in theOfce of Career Development manage everything from rsumpreparation to scheduling interviews with prospective employers.

Law Center graduates can be found throughout the UnitedStates and abroad practicing in a wide variety of legal and non-legal arenas, including law rms, government, academic, judicial,business, and the public service sector.

lw.uh.edu/cee

The Law Center Ofce of Career Development provides a number

of programs to assist law students in planning for their legalcareers. These services and programs include:

CarEEr DEvELoPmEnt


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EmPLoyErS of oUr rECEnt

GraDUatES InCLUDE:

Andrews Kurth LLPBaker Botts LLPBaker McKenzie LLPBlakely Sokolo aylor Zaman LLPBracewell & Giuliani LLPDuke EnergyExxon Mobil CorporationFulbright & Jaworski LLPHarris County District Attorneys OceHaynes & Boone, LLPInternal Revenue ServiceJones DayKing & Spaulding LLPLatham & Watkins, LLPLocke Lord Bissel & Liddell LLPLooper Reed & McGraw, P.C.Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, & Flom LLP

Susman Godrey, LLPexas Attorney Generals Oceexas Department o Criminal Justiceexas Supreme CourtU.S. Air Force Judge Advocate GeneralU.S. Patent & rademark OceU.S. Securities and Exchange CommissionVinson & Elkins LLPWeil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

fIrSt yEar InItIatIvE (fyI) introducesrst-year students to legal employment. Tisprogram includes presentations on rsumwriting, networking, and rst-year summeremployment options.

moCk IntErvIEW ProGram pairslaw students with our counselors to practiceinterviewing techniques.

LEGaL ExCUrSIonS gives students thechance to learn about the culture o various legalenvironments by visiting law rms, governmentagencies, and courts.

Day In tHE LIfE panel discussions eatureattorneys rom diverse practice areas who discusstheir careers.

faLL anD SPrInG on-CamPUS

IntErvIEW (oCI)programs attract over100 prospective employers to campus to placestudents in summer clerkships and permanentpositions afer graduation.

JoB faIrS expose students to potentialemployers rom around the nation. UH LawCenter participates in 10 job airs each year.

Career counselors investtime getting to know LawCenter students so theycan successully assistthem in inding jobs thatmeet their proessionaland personal goals.

For a list o rms that have hired recent graduates, please visitlw.uh.edu/cee/Eple-Sisics.sp.


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aDmISSIonS to tHE J.D. ProGram


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The J.D. program is a 90-hour curriculum culminating in the Doctorof Jurisprudence degree. Students can pursue their degree in full- orpart-time programs. The full-time program is designed for studentswho plan to devote nearly all of their time to the study of law whilethe part-time program is designed for students who plan to workduring law school. Applicants must designate in their application towhich program they are applying. Both programs begin in the fall

semester, and spring/summer admission is not offered.

Te ABA prohibits ull-time students rom working more than 15 hours per week during the rst yearand prohibits working more than 20 hours per week during the second and third years. Please considerthis mandate when determining which program ts your needs

he Law Center allowsyou to tailor a courseo study to it yourliestyle, interests,and career goals.

lw.uh.edu/dissis


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rEQUIrEmEntS for aDmISSIon

t be eligible dissi he J.D.pg, ll pplics us:

Hold a baccalaureate degree rom anaccredited college or university;

Have a recent score on the Law SchoolAdmissions est (LSA);

Register with the LSACs Credential AssemblyService (CAS).

yu pplici us iclude hellwig, which shuld be subiedelecicll:

Completed application orm;

Non-reundable $70 application ee;

A personal statement o up to three pages,double-spaced. Te personal statement isextremely valuable in the selection process.

Because we do not grant personal interviews,this is your opportunity to tell the Admissions

Committee more about yoursel. It is, inessence, your personal interview on paper.You may write your personal statement on anysubject;

Rsum or a list o civic and extracurricularactivities, honors, and work experience;

Optional statement to explain or highlightelements in your application that are

not readily apparent. You may write anoptional statement regarding your diversity,disadvantaged background, socioeconomicstatus, grade trends, substantial discrepancybetween your perormance on standardizedtests and your actual level o academicachievement, or any other inormationyou believe is relevant to the AdmissionsCommittee that has not been previouslyincluded in your personal statement. Pleaselimit this statement to no more than one page.

Immigration documents (or internationalapplicants requiring a student visa).

yu pplici ile us ls iclude cplee CaS ep, which usiclude:

Recent LSA score, not older than ve yearsprior to date o enrollment;

ranscripts rom all colleges and universitiesattended;

At least 2 letters o recommendation (but

no more than 3). Te most useul letters orecommendation are those rom employers,proessors, or colleagues with whom you havehad close working relationships.

Please note that no application will be reviewed without theCAS report. It is the applicants responsibility to make sure thathis/her CAS report is complete; your CAS report will not becomecomplete until you have a valid LSA score, transcripts rom allundergraduate institutions, and two letters o recommendation.You may review your CAS report status by accessing your LSAC

online account.

For more inormation on registering or the LSA or CAS,please visit lsc.g.


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fInanCIaL aID anD SCHoLarSHIPS

Every applicant accepted or admission isautomatically considered or available meritscholarships, and no additional application isrequired. Deans Scholarships are oered tohighly qualiied students in each incoming class.hese scholarships vary in number and arerenewed when requisite grades are maintained.Additionally, the UH Oice o Scholarships and

Financial Aid administers a variety o need-based inancial aid programs. Applicants shouldbegin the inancial aid process by completingthe Free Application or Federal Student Aid(FAFSA) as soon as possible ater January 1.he code or the University o Houston is003652.

BUDGEt

he Law Center has one o the lowest tuitionrates among top schools in the nation,particularly or exas residents, and is rankedamong the nations Best Values by NationalJurist magazine. Relatively low tuition, coupledwith Houstons aordable cost o living, allowsour students to graduate with an averageindebtedness below the national average.

High quality and relatively low cost is a rarecombination. At the Law Center, excellence andvalue are our hallmarks.

heres a simple reasonwhy Law Center studentsgraduate with a lowerindebtedness: lowtuition and Houstonslow cost-o living.

For current inormation on tuition and ees, sample budgets, and need-based nancial aid, visitlw.uh.edu/ficilaid.


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StUDEntS WItH DISaBILItIES

Te Justin Dart, Jr. Center or Students withDisABILIIES can arrange auxiliary aids, examassistance, transcription services, and libraryservices or students with special needs. Withearly notice, the Oce o Student Serviceswill work with students to approve and secureaccommodations or special needs.uh.edu/csd

StUDEnt HEaLtH anD InSUranCE

Te UH Health Center provides a range omedical services and health counseling andcan reer students to acute-care health acilitieswhen necessary. Health and accident insuranceis recommended or all students and required orall international students.uh.edu/di/hc

CoUnSELInG anD PSyCHoLoGICaLSErvICES

Proessional counselors are available to assiststudents with personal issues ranging rom stressrelated disorders to alcohol or drug dependency.cps.uh.edu

CamPUS rESoUrCES

CHILD CarE

Te UH Childrens Learning Center enrolls

children o students, aculty, and sta. Childrenages 3 months to 5 years are eligible.uh.edu/clc

CamPUS rECrEatIon anD

WELLnESS CEntEr

Te Campus Recreation and Wellness Center atthe University o Houston is located a ew blocksrom the Law Center. Tis amazing acility oerseverything rom a three-story rock-climbingwall to a world-class natatorium eaturing50-meter lap lanes, acilities or platorm andspringboard diving, and an outdoor leisure pool.A ull range o exercise classes are available,along with multiple settings or indoor sportsranging rom soccer to basketball to martial arts.uh.edu/ecei

Is siple chhousing dollars gofurther in Houston thanin virtually any othermajor metropolitan area

in the United States. Lawstudents can select from awide range of affordableand easily accessibleapartments and rentalproperties.

Graduate and Professionalstudent housing isavailable across the streetfrom the Law Center atCalhoun Lofts.uh.edu/clhuls

montroSE


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DIrECtIonSFrom NorthTo reach the Law Center from BushIntercontinental Airport, take I-45 Souththrough downtown. Take the Spur 5 exit andfollow it to the rst stop light (UniversityDrive). Turn right, and proceed past theCampus Wellness Center to the stop light(Calhoun). Turn right, and proceed pastCalhoun Lofts to the last entrance on yourleft. Turn into Parking Lot19b.From SouthTo reach the Law Center from HobbyAirport, take I-45 North to the Elgin-Cullen/Lockwood exit. Turn left at the light, andproceed under the freeway to the trafclight at Entrance18. Turn left, then turn leftagain at the rst inner-campus road, andfollow it as it curves right. Turn left into therst driveway, and the Law Center buildingswill be on your left. Use Parking Lot19b.ParkingMetered parking is available in Lot 19b at theLaw Center. A parking garage is adjacent tothe Welcome Center on Calhoun.

HoUStonHEIGHtS

WaSHInGton avE.

DoWntoWn

rICE

mIDtoWn

montroSErIvEr oakSGaLLErIa

mEmorIaL

kIrBy

BELLaIrE

mEyErLanD

WESt

UnIvErSIty

mEDICaL CEntErrELIant Park

BUSH (IAH) AIRPORT

THE WOODLANDS

tImBErGrovE

KATY

N

S

W E

SUGAR LAND

PEARLAND

( Main Campus )

HOBBY AIRPORT

GALVESTON

mUSEUm

DIStrICt

DoWntoWnHome to some of the worlds

largest law firms and more than 100

courts, downtown Houston offers

Law Center students a wealth of

opportunity right outside

their front door.

mIDtoWnA vibrant and trendy mixed-

use community with a variety of

dining, shopping, and entertainment

venues within walking distance of large

loft-style apartment communities.

Home to young professionals

who know how to work

and play.

montroSEHistoric. Eclectic. Bohemian. Artsy.

GLBT-friendly. Pierced and tattooed. In

addition to good times and great people-

watching, the area offers plenty of affordable

housing options less than four miles from the

Law Center. Look for garage apartments,

duplexes, fourplexes, or rooms for

rent among the porch-swing

bungalows.

GaLLErIa/GrEEnWay

PLaZa/rIvEroakS/mEmorIaL

World-class shopping and dining, a thriving

business district, upscale apartments, a high

concentration of law firms, and quick access to

Memorial Park, an inner-city green space

nearly twice the size of New Yorks

Central Park.

tExaSmEDICaLCEntEr/

rELIant ParkThe worlds largest medical complex offers Law

Center students especially those in our nationally-

ranked Health Law program unrivaled access to the

broadest range of health-related internship and

career opportunities imaginable. The area has a

variety of apartments and condominiums with

easy access to Reliant Parks sporting

and entertainment events.

rICE/WESt U./

BELLaIrE/UPPEr kIrBy

Rice Village is a unique dichotomy of upscale

establishments and college haunts, while West

University Place and Bellaire cities within the city

are upper-middle class bedroom communities. New

loft apartments and high-rise condos define the

urban chic of Upper Kirby. Many of the Law

Centers second-career students live in

these areas.

HoUStonHEIGHtS/

WaSHInGton avE.Quirky and offbeat, the Heights is beautifully

preserved Houston history. But youll also find just

as many families and retirees among these eclectic

arts-and-crafts bungalows, antique shops, and

local coffeehouses. Washington Avenue, once a

strip of industrial relics, has exploded into

Houstons newest entertainment

district.

UnIvErSItyof HoUSton

maIn CamPUSLaw Center students may avail themselves of upscale

graduate housing in the Calhoun Lofts, 10 dining

halls and food courts, cross-campus shuttle service, a

state-of-the-art recreation facility, and even a pub all

within walking distance of the Law Center. Even

amidst a bustling city like Houston, UH offers a

rich student life right on campus.

uh.edu

mUSEUmDIStrICt/

HErmann ParkHermann Park is a 445-acre urban oasis

complete with a zoo, paddleboats, jogging trails,

Japanese Gardens, and its own little railroad.

Eighteen museums comprise the adjacent Museum

District, an eclectic neighborhood with tree-lined

streets, historic homes, small apartment

communities, fourplexes, and other

housing options.

610

610

288

59

59

610

288

59

59

HOBBY AIRPORT

BUSH (IAH) AIRPORT


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oice adissis100 Law Center, Houston, Tx 77204-6060 | law.uh.edu

University of Houston provides equal treatment and opportunity to all persons without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation except where such distinction is required by law. This statement reects compliance with Title VI andVII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, and all other federal and state regulations. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) provides for students access to certain educational records, procedures for correction of inaccuraterecords, and that those records shall not be made available to the public without the students consent. A copy of the universitys policy implementing FERPA is available from the Ofce of University Counsel. This brochure is neither a contract nor an offer of a contract. Fees, deadline,academic requirements, courses, degree programs, and other matters described here may change without notice. Not all courses are offered each academic year, and faculty assignments may change.

UHPP 20287 07/12


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