The Center for Government
Law Programs
The Center for Government Law has many associated benefits.
Students gain an opportunity for a Certification in
Government Law, invaluable practical experience via
Externships in various governmental entities, increased
employment possibilities, and extensive career contacts.
Government Law Certification Program
Students with a demonstrated interest in government
administration, regulation, and policy are encouraged to
participate in the Center for Government Law concentration
Program. Administrative law, local government, and
government contracts are among the courses offered to law
students wishing to concentrate studies in government law.
The concentration program allows students to focus their
area of study on government law. TMSL will award a
Certificate in Government Law to graduating students who
successfully complete the requisite number of hours in
government law course work, Externships, and independent
study.
The Government Law concentration program requires
completion of a minimum of 19 credit hours in the required
core classes (7 hours), practical skills/externships (5
hours), governmental structure courses (2 hours), and
government regulation courses (5 hours).
To learn more about this program or to formally express
your interest in participating in the Government Law
Certification Program
click here. Students completing
the Government Law program will be recognized at the Hooding
Ceremony and receive a certificate signed by the Dean of the
Law School and the Director of the Center for Government
Law.
General Courses:
- Federal Jurisdiction (3 hours)
- Administrative Law (3 hours)
Practical Skills/Externships:
- Administrative Law Clinic (4 credit hours)
- Civil Externship (3 credit hours)
- Criminal Externship (3 credit hours)
- Judicial Externship (3 credit hours)
- Legislative Externship (12 credit hours)
Governmental Structure Courses:
- Government Powers (3 credit hours)
- Legislation (2 credit hours)
- Local Government (3 credit hours)
Government Regulation Courses:
- Communications Law (3 credit hours)
- Copyright Law (3 credit hours)
- Employment Discrimination; Title VII (3 credit
hours)
- Environmental Law (3 credit hours)
- First Amendment (3 credit hours)
- Insurance Law (3 credit hours)
- Intellectual Property (3 credit hours)
- Immigration Law (3 credit hours)
- Public Education law (3 credit hours)
- Securities Regulations (2 credit hours)
** This is a partial list. Check with the Director for
additional courses qualifying for certificate program.
Texas Legislative Internship Program (TLIP)
Students gain practical experience via placement in
various federal, state, and local government agencies.
Current offerings included are the legislative internship
and the Semester in Government Externship.
- Semester in Austin Externship, i.e. Texas
Legislative Internship Program
- Semester in Washington, D.C. Externship, i.e. Mickey
Leland Congressional Internship Program
- Semester in Government Externship, i.e. City of
Houston Mayor’s Office, Harris County Attorney’s office
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/Members/Dist13/tlip/about.htm
Judicial Internship
Students will learn about the process of judicial decision
making by observing the function of a particular court while
thinking about the management and administration of the
court system. By evaluating the role of judges and courts in
administering justice and resolving disputes, students learn
the litigation process from the perspective of the
judiciary. During the practicum students will learn about
professional responsibility by understanding the Code of
Judicial Conduct and its application within the judiciary.
Students will learn the Rules of Professional Conduct and
their application to the legal work the students observe in
the context of the complexity of the application of ethical
rules in a real-world setting.
Another objective of the judicial externship is the
development of legal skills such as writing, research, and
analytical skills. By thinking critically about law from the
perspective of the judiciary, students develop the ability
to communicate legal theories effectively and perform the
role of decision maker. As students engage in self-directed
learning, they set learning goals for the work experience
with an externship learning plan. This includes keeping a
journal, deciding with the supervising judge how best to
achieve goals, and engaging in self-evaluation, critique and
reflection. For more detailed information on the externship
click here.
TMSL Summer Judicial Externship
TMSL Summer Application
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