A personal statement is required and should be submitted as a separate electronic attachment. (no more than three pages)

The personal statement should be 2-3 pages long, double-spaced, no smaller than 12-point font. Because we recognize that a candidate?s true potential cannot be determined by transcripts and scores alone, we dedicate significant time to a thorough and holistic review of every completed application. Through the personal statement, the Admissions Committee seeks to gain insight into your strengths, accomplishments, passions, and potential. Applicants may wish to highlight information that illustrates qualities such as leadership ability, maturity, ethical integrity, perseverance, organizational skills, knowledge of other languages and cultures, a history of overcoming disadvantage, commitment to public service, success in a previous career, and demonstrated work ethic, as examples.

If you would like to share information about yourself that you have not already included in your application, you may complete one or both of the following statements. The optional statement(s) should be no longer than 1 page in length, double-spaced. Attach to your application.

St. Mary's Marianist values include a commitment to service, justice, and peace in pursuit of the common good. Please describe an experience that demonstrates these values in action.

In the book Characteristics of Marianist Universities, it is noted that "Catholic, Marianist universities seek to embrace diverse peoples and understand diverse cultures, convinced that ultimately, when such people come together, one of the highest purposes of education is realized: the forming of a human community that respects every individual within it." We refer to this on campus as "everyone having a seat at the Marianist Table." What diverse perspectives will you bring to our Marianist Table? (maximum characters 250)

Because prior matriculation and discipline or dismissal from another law school requires additional scrutiny, we request a separate response and explanation to the following question.

Have you ever been dropped, suspended, warned, placed on academic or disciplinary probation, disciplined, expelled or advised to resign from any law school?

If your answer is "Yes," this attachment is mandatory, as are the additional documents listed here.

You must provide a full and complete explanation for each incident on a separate electronic attachment and provide additional documents as follows:

• The required attachment must include two parts.
  • Part One: Describe the specific challenges or obstacles you faced that impeded your ability to succeed in law study.
  • Part Two: Describe how your circumstances have changed and/or what actions you have taken that will ensure you will be able to succeed in law school should you be admitted to St. Mary's Law.
• You must ensure that your law school transcript is sent to LSAC for inclusion in your CAS report. Your file will not be reviewed until that law transcript is received.
• You must arrange for a letter of recommendation to be submitted by at least one professor who taught you in a first-year law class.

Please provide an explanation to an affirmative response on a separate electronic attachment.

Have you ever been separated from any branch of the US armed forces under less than honorable conditions?

If you answered "Yes," this attachment is mandatory. Provide a detailed account of the events (including dates) that led to the less than honorable discharge.

A resume is required and should be submitted as a separate electronic attachment. (no more than 2 pages)

Your resume should contain detailed information about your education, honors and awards, work experience, leadership, public service, extra-curricular involvement, and military service and honors, with details about titles, positions, and responsibilities in those undertakings, as well as time committed to those endeavors. Because service is central to the mission of St. Mary's Law, we encourage you to include information about any volunteer public interest or social service work in which you are or have been involved. Please provide detail about the capacity in which you served, the time commitment involved, and any leadership responsibility you undertook.

Because of the high ethical standards to which lawyers are held, the failure to disclose an act or event such as the ones described below is often more significant, and leads to more serious consequences, than the act or event itself. Failure to provide truthful answers, or failure to inform the Assistant Dean of Admissions, the Admissions Office, and/or the Assistant Dean for Law Student Affairs of any changes to your answers, may result in the withdrawal of the offer of admission, dismissal after matriculation, revocation of degree, or other disciplinary action by the Law School. It may also result in denial of permission to practice law by the state in which you seek admission. Although an affirmative answer to question(s) 1, 3, and/or 4 does not necessarily preclude or even prejudice admission to St. Mary’s University School of Law, persons who have been convicted of offenses other than minor traffic violations may have difficulty in gaining admission to the Bar. The Texas Board of Law Examiners and state bar organizations typically require that you include your law school application as part of your application for admission to the Bar. Accordingly, your answers to these questions are often part of your record.

In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners. (See the menu under “Jurisdiction Information” on the NCBE homepage.)

In Texas, the Rules Governing Admission to the State Bar of Texas and adopted by the Supreme Court of Texas seek to exclude from practice dishonest or untrustworthy persons, as well as persons whose character traits are likely to injure clients, obstruct justice, or violate the rules of professional conduct. Every person intending to apply for admission to the Texas State Bar must file with the Board of Law Examiners a “Declaration of Intention to Study Law” during the first year of law school. Note: An individual guilty of a felony (or placed on probation for a felony with or without an adjudication of guilt in another jurisdiction for a crime which would be a felony in Texas) shall not be permitted to file a Declaration of Intention to Study Law for a period of five years after the completion of the sentence and/or period of probation. Tex. R. Govern. Bar Adm’n IV (d) (2) (West 2010). The rules are also available on the website of the Texas Board of Law Examiners. For further information, please contact the Texas Board of Law Examiners.

If your answer to any of the questions in this section is "yes," you must include a separate statement or electronic attachment providing a complete description of your actions and full details of the charges and sanctions against you. For example, to be complete, the statement must included a description of all charges or adjudications including the level of degree (e.g., 1st degree felony, class A misdemeanor) and whether it is a felony or misdemeanor. You also must include the dates(s) or the matter(s), the status or final dispostion of the charge(s) with the type of plea, such as, not guilty, no contest, Alford, guilty, probation, or deferred disposition, including your current status with the disciplinary or criminal authorities (for example, the status of your probation or parole), and the name and addess of the authority in possession of those records. It is important that you be forthcoming, as this information will become part of your record when you petition for license to practice law.

Again, please note you have a continuing obligation to disclose new or omitted information relevant to this application. If you have new or otherwise undisclosed information that is relevant to this application, you must inform the Assistant Dean of Admissions and/or Assistant Dean for Law Student Affairs at St. Mary’s University School of Law in writing of circumstances that would change your responses to the question(s) below. The failure to disclose such information can result in disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, revocation of degree, forced withdrawal, or expulsion.

1. Have you ever been arrested, cited or ticketed, charged with, convicted of, placed on deferred adjudication, or pled guilty or pled nolo contendere (no contest) to any violation or criminal offense other than a minor traffic violation? (Note: You must report any failure to appear resulting from any offense, including a minor traffic offense, any failure to maintain financial responsibility (legally required auto insurance), any attempt, whether successful or not, to suspend or revoke your driver's license.) Adults who have been charged with a crime and who accept Deferred Adjudication must report such information under this question because the concept of Deferred Adjudication involves a plea of guilty or no contest, and the offense cannot be erased from a person?s record. An applicant does not need to disclose information about a juvenile record. Further, an applicant does not need to disclose information about a criminal record that has been sealed, ordered nondisclosed, or expunged; however, it is up to each applicant to ensure that his/her offense is in fact expunged, ordered nondisclosed, and/or sealed under the relevant state law. If an applicant fails to disclose information that is not in fact expunged, ordered nondisclosed, or sealed, the applicant may be subject to disciplinary action by the University. NOTE: You must include any offenses involving drugs or alcohol as well as any failure to appear warrant, unless excused as described above.

Important: You have a continuing obligation to update the St. Mary?s School of Law Office of Admissions if there is any information that would require your answer to this question to change to ?yes?.

2. If, after submitting this application, you are convicted of and/or plead guilty or nolo contendere (no contest) to any violation of the criminal laws other than a minor traffic violation as described in question 1 above or if you discover an omission, you must inform St. Mary’s Law immediately, by emailing the Assistant Dean of Admissions at lawadmissions@stmarytx.edu. That email must include complete details of the dates, disposition, and circumstances surrounding the incident. By checking the box, you accept responsibility for your continuing obligation to disclose and agree to comply with it, under penalty of university disciplinary action.

3. In any civil case or proceeding, have you been alleged to have 1) engaged in fraud or any type of misrepresentation, 2) committed an intentional wrong resulting in a claim of damage to person or property, or 3) engaged in reckless or grossly negligent conduct, which has resulted in a judgment or a settlement? Further, have you been adjudicated bankrupt, been subject to a restraining order, or been subject to a protective order? You should answer “yes” to this question if your alleged wrongful conduct was related to your status either as an individual or as an employee or agent of an organization (e.g., for fraudulent behavior in your work as an employee of a corporation). Each instance that requires you to answer “yes” must be fully explained. Note: You may be subject to disciplinary action by St. Mary’s University School of Law if you fail to meet your continuing obligation to disclose new or omitted information relevant to this application.

4. Have you ever been disciplined or reprimanded by any trade, business, or professional organization or had revoked a publicly granted license to practice a trade, business, or profession? Note: You may be subject to disciplinary action by St. Mary’s University School of Law, if you fail to meet your continuing obligation to disclose new or omitted information relevant to this application.

Welcome to the 2026 Application for Admission and Scholarship to the J.D. program at St. Mary's University School of Law.

The Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) is the degree that is required for licensure in most jurisdictions in the United States. It is the core work of every ABA accredited law school. At St. Mary's Law, a new class is admitted to the J.D. program each year to begin in the fall semester. Students can elect to pursue the J.D. on a full-time basis, finishing in three years, or on a part-time basis through enrollment in online classes and usually finishing in four years.

St. Mary's has two J.D. programs, but you MAY only apply to one, so please read the following information before selecting the program you intend to apply to.

Our full-time J.D. program is only offered in an in-person format. If you apply to the full-time program, there is no guarantee that you can be considered at a later date for the part-time online program.

Our part-time J.D. program is only offered in an online format for the entire 90 credit hour program. Seats are limited for this program. The online program is only offered as a part-time program, and not a full-time program.

Requirements

A person applying to pursue the Doctor of Jurisprudence degree at St. Mary's must satisfy these minimum requirements.

• Complete the application for admission as described under "How to Apply" below.
• Take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and receive a reportable score. The LSAT is offered in both online and in-person formats multiple times per year. More information about dates and registration can be found at www.lsac.org. The law school strongly recommends that students seeking admission take the LSAT no later than January of the year of planned entry, but the February and April administrations of the LSAT will be accepted. Applicants presenting scores from tests later in the process will be considered, but on a space available basis. LSAT scores are valid for five years. NOTE: If you have an LSAT score on record at the time you submit your application but wish for the Admissions Committee to wait for a later score, you must email the admissions office at lawadmissions@stmarytx.edu and request that review of your file be postponed until receipt of the later test score. Otherwise, and if a score on a prior test has been reported, your application will be processed, and a decision may be released.
• Complete a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. St. Mary's Law will consider applicants who have not yet been awarded a bachelor's degree, as long as the applicant has completed three-fourths of the credits required for the awarding of the degree. Proof of the conferral of the bachelor's degree is required prior to the start of law study. To be considered for admission, an applicant's bachelor's degree must be awarded by an institution that is accredited by an accrediting agency that is recognized by the United States Department of Education.

How to Apply

The law school is limited in the number of new J.D. students it can admit to the first year class each year. In order to be considered for admission, a completed application must include the following:

Items to be submitted by you through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC):

1. the completed application for admission, with electronic certification;
2. a personal statement of not more than 3 pages;
3. a resume of not more than 2 pages; and
4. complete explanations to any affirmative responses to the academic probation/discipline questions and the character and fitness questions asked in the application. Each affirmative response must be accompanied by a separate electronic attachment, submitted under the attachments tab of the application.

You must also arrange for LSAC to release to St. Mary's Law Admissions Office your complete Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report, including:

1. scores from the Law School Admission Test (LSAT);
2. transcripts reflecting ALL postsecondary academic coursework undertaken or attempted and all degree(s) conferred; and
3. letters of recommendation. We highly recommend (but do not require) that you submit at least one letter of recommendation. Letters from those who have taught you in an academic setting are encouraged. Such letters may also be sent by the recommender directly to the St. Mary's Law Admissions Office.

Interviews are not part of the application process. The Admissions Office gives tours and counseling by appointment. Please call the Admissions Office at 210.436.3523 to schedule a visit, or email lawadmissions@stmarytx.edu.

Application Fee

There is no application fee to apply to St. Mary's Law and be considered for admission and scholarship.

Registration and Orientation

Participation in orientation is mandatory for all new students. Further information is available by contacting the Law School Admissions Office. The Admissions Office will register first-year J.D. students for fall classes in July and will send course schedules for the fall semester to new students in late July. Orientation will be held during the week prior to the start of fall classes.

Reservation of Rights

The law school and the university reserve the right at any time to delete, amend, or alter any of the customs, rules, policies, regulations, and requirements of the law school and the university. Thus, for example, changes may be made to the courses or credit hours required for graduation. The information contained in this application is not to be regarded as creating a binding contract between the applicant or the student and the law school or the university. You may view the Student Handbook on the St. Mary's University website for the most current information about policies and degree requirements.

Declaration of Intention to Study Law

A student may be required to register, shortly after beginning the study of law, with the Board of Law Examiners in the state in which they plan to practice. A summary of the relevant requirements appears in the ABA-LSAC Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools. The Rules Governing Admission to the State Bar of Texas require, among other things, that applicants possess good moral character and fitness. The state bar seeks to exclude from practice dishonest or untrustworthy persons, as well as persons whose character traits or mental or emotional health are likely to injure clients, obstruct justice, or lead to violations of the Code of Professional Responsibility.

Every person intending to apply for admission to the State Bar of Texas must file a "Declaration of Intention to Study Law" with the Board of Law Examiners during the first year of law school. The Board of Law Examiners requires students to submit a copy of their completed law school application with the "Declaration of Intention to Study Law," so it is important to retain a copy of your law school application.

The Board of Law Examiners will conduct an investigation of the moral character and fitness of the applicant (excluding cases that were dismissed or in which the applicant was found not guilty, minor traffic violations, expunged records of arrest or conviction, pardoned offenses, and Class C misdemeanors), evidence of mental illness, legal proceedings alleging fraud against the applicant, and civil litigation or bankruptcy proceedings that reasonably bear on the applicant's fitness to practice law. Further information will be furnished to incoming students at a special orientation session after the start of classes. Students also may request this information from the State Bar of Texas, Character and Fitness Division, Board of Law Examiners, PO Box 13486, Austin, Texas 78711-3486. Visit the Texas Board of Law Examiners website.

Nondiscrimination Policy

St. Mary?s University affirms its commitment to promote the goals of fairness and equity in all aspects of the educational enterprise in full compliance with the requirements of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and other federal, state, and local laws.

The University fully subscribes to all federal and state civil rights laws banning discrimination in institutions of higher education. The University will not discriminate against any employee, applicant for employment, student, or applicant for admission on the basis of race, color, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, veteran or military status (including special disabled veteran, Vietnam-era veteran, or recently separated veteran), predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status, or any other protected category under applicable local, state, or federal law, including protections for those opposing discrimination or participating in any allegation process on campus or within the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or other human rights agencies.

This policy covers nondiscrimination in employment and in access to educational opportunities. Therefore, any member of the University community who acts to deny, deprive, or limit the educational or employment access, benefits, or opportunities of any member of the University community on the basis of their actual or perceived membership in the protected classes listed above is in violation of this policy.

The Director of Human Resources serves as the Title IX Coordinator and oversees implementation of this policy. Allegations of violations of this policy must be reported to the Title IX Coordinator immediately.

Payment Policies

To accept the School of Law's offer of admission, an admitted student is required to make a non-refundable $300 seat deposit and later pay a non-refundable tuition deposit of $500. Both deposits will be applied to tuition if the student enrolls. Student registration is not complete until all financial obligations have been met by the established deadlines. Full tuition is due by the start of classes each semester. Balances not paid in full by this date will automatically be placed on an installment plan. In determining the balance due, financial aid from the university or from external sources is taken into consideration if the student's eligibility for financial aid has been properly certified.

Enrollment in any St. Mary?s University course constitutes a promissory note for educational purposes and includes a valid electronic signature. These charges are not dischargeable in bankruptcy. Should this note be placed in the hands of a collection agency, the student agrees to pay all costs of collection, including but not limited to, the reasonable fees charged by the collection agency to enforce this note and costs associated with enforcement.

Students should notify the law school of any address change or of withdrawal from the university. Registration for an academic term is not complete until full payment for the current and prior terms has been made, or satisfactory arrangements have been made with the business office. Students who have not met their total financial obligations to the university may not be permitted to enroll for a subsequent academic term. Credits, honors, and credentials are withheld until all accounts with the university are paid in full. All fees are subject to change.

Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report

St. Mary?s University is committed to assisting all members of the community in providing for their own safety and security. The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at www.stmarytx.edu/compliance/clery-act-information/.

If you would like a hard copy of the report, stop by the St. Mary?s Police Department Office at One Camino Santa Maria, San Antonio, Texas 78228 or request a copy be mailed to you by calling 210-436-3330.

The report contains information, as required by law, regarding campus security and personal safety. The report also contains information about fire statistics in campus residential facilities and crime statistics for the three previous calendar years that occurred on campus; property owned or controlled by the University; and public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus.

Application Calendar

Late September
J.D. Application is available through www.LSAC.org

November 15
Priority Application Deadline for full-time, in-person applicants only.
There is no priority application deadline for the part-time, online program.
Application review process begins

March 1
J.D. application deadline (Applications received after March 1 will be considered, but on a more competitive and space available basis.)

March 31
Financial aid application--priority deadline

April 15
Those offered admission submit a non-refundable $300 seat deposit to reserve a seat. Deposit deadlines are based on date of offer and can be found on each applicant's individual online status checker.

June 5
Those offered admission submit a non-refundable $500 tuition deposit to continue to hold a seat in the class. Deadlines for this deposit can be found on an applicant's online status checker.

July
Courses assigned and schedules for the fall semester released to students.

August
Mandatory Orientation
Tuition due
Classes begin