Get Closer to Your Law Career— All Your Questions, Answered
Your Guide to Texas A&M Law’s JD Program
Thinking about joining Texas A&M Law? We’re committed to providing you with an exceptional legal education, a welcoming campus, and the tools you need for a successful law career. Below, you’ll find answers to common questions about admissions, our JD program, visiting the law school, and applying— plus helpful resources to guide you every step of the way.
JD Program
We currently offer fully online programs for the LLM and MLS degrees. While some JD courses are available online, we do not currently offer a fully online JD program. Fully online JD programs remain the exception rather than the norm among ABA-accredited law schools because legal education has traditionally emphasized in-person instruction, experiential learning, and close interaction with faculty and classmates.
Texas A&M Law does not currently offer a formal part-time JD program. Applicants should plan to attend the JD program full-time in Fort Worth, Texas.
JD students may work up to 20 hours per week during the academic year. Most students work full-time only during the summer through internships, clerkships, or other legal employment opportunities.
The JD curriculum is challenging, and even students who excelled in college often find that law school requires a different approach to reading, studying, and analytical thinking. During the first year in particular, students should expect to spend substantial time outside the classroom preparing for courses. Because the first year of law school is academically demanding and grades can significantly influence future opportunities, most first-year JD students focus their time and energy on academics. As Aggie law students progress into their second and third years, many choose to pursue part-time employment that complement their legal education, including positions as research assistants, teaching assistants, law library assistants, law clerks, and other roles within the law school and DFW legal community.
No. The JD program follows a section or cohort model and begins each fall semester. Applicants should plan to start classes in August.
Yes. Texas A&M University School of Law is fully accredited by the ABA.
The JD program requires 90 credit hours and is designed to be completed in approximately three academic years.
A Juris Doctor (JD) degree prepares graduates for careers both inside and outside the traditional practice of law. Many graduates become attorneys, while others pursue careers in business, government, compliance, consulting, policy, higher education, public service, entrepreneurship, and executive leadership.
The skills developed through legal education, including critical thinking, problem-solving, negotiation, advocacy, and analytical reasoning, are highly valued across many professions.
No. There is no preferred undergraduate major for admission to Texas A&M Law. Students come from a wide variety of academic backgrounds, including business, engineering, education, fine arts, humanities, social sciences, communications, political science, liberal arts, history, natural sciences, and many other disciplines.
Entering class size varies slightly from year to year based on enrollment goals and the applicant pool. A typical first-year JD class consists of approximately 120 to 140 students divided into three sections. Current enrollment statistics and admissions data are available in the law school's ABA Standard 509 Report.
Yes. Texas A&M Law offers three dual-degree opportunities that allow students to combine legal education with study in complementary disciplines.
Interdisciplinary Engineering 6-Year Bachelor of Science and Juris Doctor (BS/JD) program.
Juris Doctor (JD) and Master of Maritime Business Administration and Logistics (MBAA) combined degree program
Juris Doctor (JD) and Master of Public Health (MPH) in Health Policy and Management combined degree program
These pathways are designed for students seeking interdisciplinary training that aligns with their academic and professional interests. Applicants interested in pursuing multiple degrees should review Texas A&M University's graduate and professional catalog and program websites for current requirements and available offerings.
Yes. Texas A&M Law offers a wide range of specialized coursework, clinics, externships, and experiential learning opportunities designed to help students explore specific areas of legal practice. In addition, JD students may pursue one or more formal academic concentrations, which are like undergraduate majors and require completion of a designated sequence of courses within a particular field of law. Earning a concentration allows students to develop deeper subject matter expertise and provides an additional credential that can help distinguish them in the job market. Students may choose from academic concentrations in:
Business Law
Criminal Law, Justice & Policy
Dispute Resolution
Domestic Public Policy
Energy Law
Environmental Law
Estate Planning
Family Law
Intellectual Property and Technology Law
International Public Policy
Tax Law
Water Law
Workplace Law
In addition to formal academic concentrations, Texas A&M Law offers numerous opportunities for students to explore other areas of legal practice through elective coursework, clinics, externships, centers and institutes, student organizations, competitions, journals, and professional development programming. Students interested in building knowledge and experience in a particular field may find robust opportunities in areas such as:
Agricultural Law
Civil Litigation
Commercial Law
General Practice
Health Law
Immigration Law
Oil and Gas Law
Real Estate Law
Sports and Entertainment Law
Texas A&M Law graduates consistently achieve strong employment and bar passage outcomes. For the Class of 2025, 99.2% of graduates obtained full-time, long-term, bar passage required or JD advantage employment, resulting in a #3 national ranking for Gold Standard Employment. Additionally, Texas A&M Law graduates achieved a 95.33% pass rate on the July 2025 Texas Bar Examination.
Because employment and bar passage outcomes can vary from year to year, applicants are encouraged to review the law school's most recent ABA Employment Summary Reports, ABA Standard 509 Reports, and bar passage disclosures for current information.
From foundational coursework and faculty mentoring to customizable pathways and experiential learning, the JD program is designed to prepare you for a successful legal career. For an overview of the curriculum and how your learning experience takes shape, visit the JD Curriculum page.
To review the full range of course options and degree requirements, including detailed descriptions of all required and elective courses, explore the Texas A&M Graduate Catalog and Law Course Descriptions.
Visiting and Learning About Texas A&M Law
Yes. Texas A&M Law offers a variety of virtual information sessions throughout the admissions cycle. During the fall admissions season, sessions are primarily geared toward prospective applicants and focus on topics such as the application process, admissions requirements, standardized testing pathways, scholarships, financial aid, and student life. During the spring, Texas A&M Law hosts virtual programs specifically for admitted students that provide additional information about academics, career services, student organizations, the state of the law school with Dean Bobby Ahdieh, and the transition to law school.
In addition, Texas A&M Law periodically offers a virtual Waitlist Information Session for applicants who have been placed on the waitlist. This session explains how the waitlist process works, provides updates on the admissions cycle, and answers commonly asked questions. Information about upcoming virtual events and registration opportunities is available on the Admissions website or through our communications.
Yes. Prospective students may schedule a campus tour through the Admissions website. Tours are led by current Student Ambassadors and provide an opportunity to see the law school, learn about student life, and ask questions about the Texas A&M Law experience. Availability varies throughout the year, and advanced registration is required.Yes. Prospective students may schedule a campus tour through the Admissions website. Tours are led by current Student Ambassadors and provide an opportunity to see the law school, learn about student life, and ask questions about the Texas A&M Law experience. Availability varies throughout the year, and advanced registration is required.
Yes. Admitted students are invited to participate in special visit programs and events designed to help them make an informed enrollment decision. These programs often include opportunities to meet faculty, staff, current students, alumni, and future classmates, learn more about academics and student life, and attend a live first-year (1L) class. We communicate information about admitted student tours, admitted student events, and registration opportunities through email.
Applying to Texas A&M Law
Step 1: Complete a Bachelor’s or Equivalent Degree
Applicants must hold (or be completing) a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (or an international equivalent).
Step 2: Take an Entrance Exam
Applicants must send all accepted exam score reports directly to the law school; the highest score will be considered.
LSAT The LSAT is widely accepted and offered eight times per year.
GRE Select Texas A&M Law as the recipient for your GRE report via ETS.
JD-Next Designate Texas A&M Law to receive your JD-Next score report and writing sample.
Test-Optional Texas A&M Law offers limited test-optional admission for strong academic, professional, military, or advanced degree applicants.
Step 3: Register with LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS)
The Law School Admission Council Credential Assembly Service (CAS) lets you access the application and upload required documents, including recommendation letters and official transcripts, which must be sent directly to LSAC. Applicants must pay a CAS fee to LSAC or request a CAS waiver.
Step 4: Submit Your Online JD Application
Applicants may apply online through their LSAC account and should carefully read and fully answer each question to ensure a strong application.
Step 5: Upload Supporting Documents
Applicants must upload a personal statement, descriptive résumé, and any additional documents as required in the application instructions. The personal statement should reflect life experiences, talents, or challenges and demonstrate writing ability; the résumé should detail education, work history, honors, activities, and achievements.
There are no absolute testing requirements for every applicant; however, a standardized test score is one of the most important indicators of academic readiness for law school and is considered alongside a student's cumulative undergraduate GPA and other application materials. Most applicants apply with a valid LSAT, GRE, or JD-Next score that is no more than five years old at the time of enrollment. We generally encourage applicants to choose the testing pathway that best aligns with their strengths and preparation, rather than taking multiple types of admissions exams.
The LSAT remains the most commonly submitted law school admissions test and is the exam used by the vast majority of applicants. If an applicant has a reportable LSAT score, the Admissions Committee will use the LSAT for evaluation purposes, even if a GRE score is also available. Applicants may take the LSAT or GRE multiple times, and the highest score typically receives the greatest consideration, although all reported scores, absences, and cancellations remain visible to the admissions team. Applicants who wish to maximize merit scholarship opportunities in the admissions process should choose the LSAT as their preferred test pathway.
Applicants may also choose to apply with the GRE or JD-Next exam instead of the LSAT. Texas A&M Law accepts all three testing pathways and evaluates them as admissible indicators of academic potential. Competitive GRE applicants generally present scores that align with the academic profile of the entering class, while JD-Next applicants are evaluated based on their performance in the eight-week law school readiness program and admissions assessment.
Texas A&M Law also offers limited Aggie Direct (for Texas A&M University – College Station undergraduate seniors) and Test-Optional pathways for qualifying applicants. These pathways allow certain candidates to demonstrate their readiness for law school through exceptional undergraduate academic achievement, professional experience, military service, advanced degrees, or other accomplishments without submitting a traditional law school admissions test score.
Regardless of the pathway used, applicants should understand that no single factor determines an admissions decision. Standardized test performance is an important component of the review process, but it is considered as part of a holistic evaluation that includes academic performance, personal statements, résumés, letters of recommendation, leadership experiences, and other evidence of potential success in law school.
We review applications on a rolling basis in keeping with our priority deadlines for JD applicants and based on the term start dates for LLM and MLS applicants. Generally, JD applicants will receive a decision within 8 to 12 weeks of their application completion. LLM and MLS applicants may receive a decision faster. For your specific timeline, refer to the application instructions and the emails you’ve received.
Students enrolled in the JD program may be eligible to receive Hazlewood Exemption benefits through the State of Texas. However, some Texas A&M Law programs are classified as self-supporting programs and are not eligible for Hazlewood benefits or other state-funded tuition waivers and exemptions. Applicants interested in using Hazlewood benefits should confirm their program's eligibility and review the requirements on the Texas A&M Veterans Benefits website.
To transfer as an incoming J.D. student, you need to send the following directly from your current law school to the Office of Admissions: a letter of good standing, an official law school transcript, and one letter of recommendation from a law professor. Transfer applications are accepted through July 31, but applying earlier is encouraged to maximize opportunities. Conditional offers may be made based on 1L Fall performance. To be eligible for the 1st OCI session, submit your application and 1L Fall grades by April 30th. You must have completed a substantial portion of the first-year curriculum at an ABA-accredited law school.
Yes. International applicants are welcome to apply to the JD program and mustpossessa degree that is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree. For applicants who attended universities outside the United States, LSAC will evaluate foreign transcripts as part of the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report. Because LSAC does not calculate a standardized cumulative undergraduate GPA for most international academic records, the Admissions Committee may place greater emphasis on other indicators of academic preparedness, including standardized test performance, academic achievement, professional experience, and the overall strength of the application.
Students admitted to the JD program are considered for a scholarship with no additional application. Scholarships are awarded based on a variety of factors. Additionally, non-resident students who receive a scholarship are eligible for a non-resident tuition waiver. If you’re seeking additional funds, there are additional resources for external scholarships.
Get expert tips on applying to law school—including preparing early, writing a strong personal statement, building your law school list, and more. Watch our Admissions 101 video series to help you succeed!
