Making the Most of Texas Law Schools

Earn law degrees in Texas that could boost your business
By Emmet McMahan Making the most of Texas law schools requires you to understand that a law degree is not just for lawyers. It is also useful for many other professionals including administrators, business investors and politicians. The most common law degree awarded in the United States is the Juris Doctor (J.D.), which is usually granted through a three-year graduate program.
 

The top law schools in Texas must be accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) before the state bar association will allow a graduate to sit for the bar exam. The ABA specifies precise requirements of accredited schools, including factors such the contents of its library and the minimum amount of instruction time. In addition to completing the required course work, there are three important credentials to strive for while in law school:

1. Membership in the law review of Texas ABA law schools; this membership is based on grades and writing ability, and many employers may include this in their hiring criteria.
2. Moot court; this experience can distinguish students as effective oral advocates and provide practical legal training.
3. Membership in the Order of the Coif; this is based on grade point average.

Get a Texas law degree from a top ranking law school

A law school's ranking is extremely important to an attorney's career. Graduates of the most elite laws schools typically fill prestigious positions such as clerkships for the Supreme Court.
Try: The Princeton Review ranks law schools each year in a variety of categories and also provides other resources for law students. The Wall Street Journal provides links to several ranking systems and also offers an article on blogs that rank law schools.

Research law schools in Texas according to their courses of study

Many online sites describe the specific areas of specialization for various law schools. These sites frequently provide additional resources about each law school to determine if it is a good fit for you and your business career.
Try: The Philosophical Gourmet Report provides a list of top law schools with a strong emphasis in philosophy. The American Bar Association describes the course work for law schools in Texas with a program on mental and physical disability law.

Learn more about the admissions process required for a Texas online law degree

Many busy professionals needing a legal education choose to earn an online law degree. Texas law schools that are highly-ranked typically accept only a small percentage of the total applicants.
Try: WorldWideLearn provides a list of the growing number of law schools that offer an online education. The University of Texas at Austin is a top-ranked law school that offers a number of courses online.

• A student graduating from a lower-tier law school may wish to concentrate on job opportunities in that school's home market as local businesses typically employ area alumni. Lower-tier accredited law schools in Texas may also have a national scope when they cater to a specific type of student, such as a historically black or Christian university.