I understand how tedious it can be to go back to school especially if you’re a working professional, you now have a family to take care of, or both. And you want to complement your career or begin a new one with a highly-respected legal education.
Just like law schools in California, New York, and even Florida, some law schools in Texas also understand your obligations and have structured their part-time programs to fit your needs. The most important part is that these schools are ABA-accredited which is crucial for licensure, and strong job placement rates for graduates.
Let’s get started with these schools.
Part-time Law Schools in Texas
When you see a school that fits your goals, you shouldn’t hesitate to contact admissions offices, current students, or alumni to gain further insights into the specific programs you’re considering.
1. University of Houston Law Center
University of Houston Law Center has created its part-time Evening program in such a way as to allow you to attend law school while maintaining career, financial, and family obligations. Their competence has made them ranked 8th best in the United States, and the same world-class faculty will teach part-time students as full-time day program students.
2. South Texas College of Law Houston
One of the interesting things about the part-time J.D. program provided by South Texas College of Law Houston is that you can decide which schedule fits best for you whether on campus or online. For over 100 years this school has mastered the art of helping part-time law students become professional lawyers, so when it comes to experience they have enough of it.
3. St. Mary’s University – School of Law
First of all, you should note that the part-time J.D. program at St. Mary University has limited enrollment. Well, the interesting part is that St. Mary’s University School of Law is proud to offer the first fully online J.D. program accredited by the American Bar Association in the nation.
Location:
One Camino Santa Maria, San Antonio, TX 78228.
4. UNT Dallas College of Law
UNT Dallas College of Law’s part-time program only takes 4 years to complete and requires an average of 6-11 hours per semester. Of course, they aim to help you obtain a rigorous, ABA-accredited J.D. degree while maintaining your personal and professional commitments.
Location:
106 S. Harwood St, Dallas, TX 75201
5. Texas A&M University School of Law
Texas A&M provides both full-time and part-time one-year general Master of Laws (LL.M.) for practicing lawyers or graduates of foreign or domestic law schools.
Location:
1515 Commerce Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76102-6509
Now we’ve listed these schools that provide part-time law programs in Texas, let’s look into some things to consider while choosing any of these schools.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Part-Time Law School in Texas
1. Course Format
You can see that some schools’ part-time JD program is done in the evening, some are weekend programs, and there is also a hybrid format (combining in-person and online classes). You should know which one works best for you before applying.
2. Length of Part-time JD program
You also need to know that it takes an average of 3 to 4 years (mostly 4) to complete while a full-time program usually takes only 3 years to complete.
3. Work Experience
One of the admission requirements that most of these part-time law schools demand is work experience. You should look out for the minimum work experience from each school.
4. Cost and Financial Aid
You shouldn’t also ignore the cost of studying from each school, also check out available financial aid and scholarships from each school.
5. Location
Since commuting is likely, consider the school’s distance from your location. Traffic congestion is a concern in major Texas cities like Houston, Dallas, and Austin. Factor in commute times when choosing a program, especially for evening classes. Strategic planning to avoid peak traffic hours can make a big difference.
6. Accreditation
Just like in other states, accreditation ensures your program meets high-quality standards. Texas law schools are accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) or the State Bar of Texas. ABA accreditation allows you to take the bar exam and practice law in any state, while State Bar of Texas accreditation limits your practice to Texas.
Key Takeaway
There you have it! One thing I know is that acquiring a law degree while balancing work and personal commitments is not easy, but it’s still worth it. And these part-time law schools in the Lone State have already structured their curriculum to fit your other obligations.
While choosing don’t forget to consider the factors mentioned above to help you choose the program that best aligns with your needs and career aspirations.