Student Affairs
Academics
We are a mission-driven institution dedicated to expanding opportunities for the underserved in the legal profession, prepare a diverse group of students for leadership roles in the legal profession, business, and government, and offer leadership in teaching, research, and service. For almost 70 years, the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University has been a catalyst for initiating courageous conversations and a progenitor of equality, diversity, and opportunity in keeping with the values and ideals of our namesake, Justice Thurgood Marshall.
As a community of change agents, our law school has empowered the disenfranchised and underserved by preparing lawyers to practice law and to shape social and public policy. In addition, our diverse faculty is a community of prolific and cutting-edge teachers and scholars who emphasize teaching excellence and who produce legal scholarship that enriches, embraces, and celebrates an array of legal issues and perspectives.
We wish you well as you begin your journey toward your legal career and welcome you to Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University.
Curriculum
TMSL's curriculum places particular emphasis on both bar preparation and available areas of advanced study to support the student's professional goals. Curriculum oversight, policy, and structure are determined by the Law School's Curriculum Committee. The first year program emphasizes traditional first year course offerings in a five section format that is tailored to our students' particular needs and background. Download the curriculum in pdf format
THURGOOD MARSHALL SCHOOL OF LAW JD DEGREE PLAN HOURS REQUIRED TO GRADUATE: 90 HOURS |
|
1L FALL SEMESTER (REQUIRED COURSES) |
CREDIT HOURS |
L-504 CONTRACTS I |
3 |
L-506 PROPERTY I |
3 |
L-508 TORTS I |
3 |
L-900 LAWYERING PROCESS |
3 |
L-510 CIVIL PROCEDURE |
3 |
TOTAL 1L FALL HOURS (REQUIRED) |
15 |
1L - SPRING SEMESTER (REQUIRED COURSES) |
CREDIT HOURS |
L-505 CONTRACTS II |
3 |
L-507 PROPERTY II |
3 |
L-509 TORTS II |
3 |
L-930 LAWYERING PROCESS II |
2 |
L-511 CIVIL PROCEDURE II |
2 |
L-530 CRIMINAL LAW |
3 |
TOTAL 1L SPRING HOURS (REQUIRED) |
16 |
TOTAL1L HOURS |
31 HOURS |
2L FALL SEMESTER (REQUIRED COURSES) |
CREDIT HOURS |
L-600 EVIDENCE |
3 |
L512 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW I |
3 |
TOTAL 2L FALL SEMESTER REQUIRED HOURS (6 HOURS) STUDENTS NEED TO ADD 9 MORE HOURS FOR A TOTAL OF 15 HOURS |
|
2L SPRING SEMESTER(REQUIRED COURSES) |
HOURS |
L-601 CRIMINAL PROCEDURE |
3 |
L-514 TRIAL SIMULATION PRACTICUM L. 515 TRIAL SIMULATION LECTURE |
2 2 (SATISFIES PART OF THE 6 HOUR EXPERIENTIAL REQUIREMENT.) |
L-513 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW II |
3 |
TOTAL 2L SPRING SEMESTER REQUIRED HOURS (10 HOURS) |
|
COURSES REQUIRED TO BE TAKEN IN EITHER THE FALL OR SPRING SEMSTER OF 2L |
HOURS |
L-920 APPELLATE LITIGATION |
2 |
L-640 BUSINESS ASSOCIATION |
3 |
L-650 WILLS AND TRUSTS |
4 |
L-620 PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY |
2 |
REQUIRED COURSE TO BE TAKEN ANYTIME DURING 2L OR FALL SEMESTER OF 3L |
11 |
REQUIRED COURSE TO BE TAKEN ANYTIME DURING 2L OR FALL SEMESTER OF 3L |
HOURS |
L-610 COMMERCIAL LAW |
4 |
CREDITS THAT MAY BE TAKEN ANYTIME DURING 2L OR FALL SEMESTER OF 3L |
4 |
|
27 HOURS |
REQUIRED TO BE TAKEN ANYTIME DURING 3L FOR STUDENTS WITH GPA BELOW 3.0 AT THE END OF THE SPRING SEMESTER OF THEIR FIRST YEAR |
HOURS |
L-725 DOMESTIC RELATIONS |
3 |
TOTAL REQUIRED HOURS FOR 3L STUDENTS WITH GPA BELOW 3.0 |
3 |
REQUIRED TO BE TAKEN ANYTIME DURING THE RISING 3L OR DURING 3L |
HOURS |
WRITING SEMINAR OR INDEPENDENT RESEARCH |
2 0R 3 CREDITS |
EXPERIENTIAL COURSES TO SATISFY THE 6-HOUR MINIMUM REQUIREMENT FOR EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION |
MINIMUM OF 2 HOURS (IN ADDITION TO 4 HOURS OF TRIAL SIMULATION TAKEN IN 2L) |
TOTAL HOURS REQUIRED TO GRADUATE |
90 HOURS |
IT IS THE STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT ALL REQUIRED COURSES ARE TAKEN IN SEQUENCE. ELECTIVE COURSES VARY FROM SEMESTER TO SEMESTER. STUDENTS ELIGIBLE TO TAKE ELECTIVES SHOULD SELECT FROM THOSE OFFERED DURING THE CURRENT ACADEMIC YEAR, BEARING IN MIND THAT THEY MUST TAKE ALL REQUIRED COURSES IN SEQUENCE AND BEFORE GRADUATION. Minimum credit hours per semester to retain full time status: 12 hours Starting with the graduating class of 2019, the ABA requires each law school to require each student to satisfactorily complete at least the following: > One course of at least two credit hours in professional responsibility that includes substantial instruction in rules of professional conduct, and the values and responsibilities of the legal profession and its members; > One writing experience in the first year and at least one additional writing experience after the first year, both of > One or more experiential course(s) totaling at least six (6) credit hours. |
|
Texas Practice and Federal Jurisdiction are no longer required, but students may enroll in them as electives.
All students are still required to complete a writing requirement, either a 2 or 3 hour seminar that meets the writing requirement, or Independent Research, 3 hours.
Class of 2019: Everyone must enroll in a total of 31 required hours in the fall and spring semesters, no electives. Additionally, everyone must enroll in six (6) required hours of experiential learning. Courses include Trial Simulation 4 hours, Clinic 4 – 6 hours, Externship 6 hours, TLIP 12 hours.
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Curriculum
TMSL's curriculum places particular emphasis on both bar preparation and available areas of advanced study to support the student's professional goals. Curriculum oversight, policy, and structure are determined by the Law School's Curriculum Committee. The first year program emphasizes traditional first year course offerings in a five section format that is tailored to our students' particular needs and background. Download the curriculum in pdf format
THURGOOD MARSHALL SCHOOL OF LAW JD DEGREE PLAN HOURS REQUIRED TO GRADUATE: 90 HOURS |
|
1L FALL SEMESTER (REQUIRED COURSES) |
CREDIT HOURS |
L-504 CONTRACTS I |
3 |
L-506 PROPERTY I |
3 |
L-508 TORTS I |
3 |
L-900 LAWYERING PROCESS |
3 |
L-510 CIVIL PROCEDURE |
3 |
TOTAL 1L FALL HOURS (REQUIRED) |
15 |
1L - SPRING SEMESTER (REQUIRED COURSES) |
CREDIT HOURS |
L-505 CONTRACTS II |
3 |
L-507 PROPERTY II |
3 |
L-509 TORTS II |
3 |
L-930 LAWYERING PROCESS II |
2 |
L-511 CIVIL PROCEDURE II |
2 |
L-530 CRIMINAL LAW |
3 |
TOTAL 1L SPRING HOURS (REQUIRED) |
16 |
TOTAL1L HOURS |
31 HOURS |
2L FALL SEMESTER (REQUIRED COURSES) |
CREDIT HOURS |
L-600 EVIDENCE |
3 |
L512 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW I |
3 |
TOTAL 2L FALL SEMESTER REQUIRED HOURS (6 HOURS) STUDENTS NEED TO ADD 9 MORE HOURS FOR A TOTAL OF 15 HOURS |
|
2L SPRING SEMESTER(REQUIRED COURSES) |
HOURS |
L-601 CRIMINAL PROCEDURE |
3 |
L-514 TRIAL SIMULATION PRACTICUM L. 515 TRIAL SIMULATION LECTURE |
2 2 (SATISFIES PART OF THE 6 HOUR EXPERIENTIAL REQUIREMENT.) |
L-513 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW II |
3 |
TOTAL 2L SPRING SEMESTER REQUIRED HOURS (10 HOURS) |
|
COURSES REQUIRED TO BE TAKEN IN EITHER THE FALL OR SPRING SEMSTER OF 2L |
HOURS |
L-920 APPELLATE LITIGATION |
2 |
L-640 BUSINESS ASSOCIATION |
3 |
L-650 WILLS AND TRUSTS |
4 |
L-620 PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY |
2 |
REQUIRED COURSE TO BE TAKEN ANYTIME DURING 2L OR FALL SEMESTER OF 3L |
11 |
REQUIRED COURSE TO BE TAKEN ANYTIME DURING 2L OR FALL SEMESTER OF 3L |
HOURS |
L-610 COMMERCIAL LAW |
4 |
CREDITS THAT MAY BE TAKEN ANYTIME DURING 2L OR FALL SEMESTER OF 3L |
4 |
27 HOURS |
|
REQUIRED TO BE TAKEN ANYTIME DURING 3L FOR STUDENTS WITH GPA BELOW 3.0 AT THE END OF THE SPRING SEMESTER OF THEIR FIRST YEAR |
HOURS |
L-725 DOMESTIC RELATIONS |
3 |
TOTAL REQUIRED HOURS FOR 3L STUDENTS WITH GPA BELOW 3.0 |
3 |
REQUIRED TO BE TAKEN ANYTIME DURING THE RISING 3L OR DURING 3L |
HOURS |
WRITING SEMINAR OR INDEPENDENT RESEARCH |
2 0R 3 CREDITS |
EXPERIENTIAL COURSES TO SATISFY THE 6-HOUR MINIMUM REQUIREMENT FOR EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION |
MINIMUM OF 2 HOURS (IN ADDITION TO 4 HOURS OF TRIAL SIMULATION TAKEN IN 2L) |
TOTAL HOURS REQUIRED TO GRADUATE |
90 HOURS |
IT IS THE STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT ALL REQUIRED COURSES ARE TAKEN IN SEQUENCE. ELECTIVE COURSES VARY FROM SEMESTER TO SEMESTER. STUDENTS ELIGIBLE TO TAKE ELECTIVES SHOULD SELECT FROM THOSE OFFERED DURING THE CURRENT ACADEMIC YEAR, BEARING IN MIND THAT THEY MUST TAKE ALL REQUIRED COURSES IN SEQUENCE AND BEFORE GRADUATION. Minimum credit hours per semester to retain full time status: 12 hours Starting with the graduating class of 2019, the ABA requires each law school to require each student to satisfactorily complete at least the following: > One course of at least two credit hours in professional responsibility that includes substantial instruction in rules of professional conduct, and the values and responsibilities of the legal profession and its members; > One writing experience in the first year and at least one additional writing experience after the first year, both of > One or more experiential course(s) totaling at least six (6) credit hours. |
|
Texas Practice and Federal Jurisdiction are no longer required, but students may enroll in them as electives.
All students are still required to complete a writing requirement, either a 2 or 3 hour seminar that meets the writing requirement, or Independent Research, 3 hours.
Class of 2019: Everyone must enroll in a total of 31 required hours in the fall and spring semesters, no electives. Additionally, everyone must enroll in six (6) required hours of experiential learning. Courses include Trial Simulation 4 hours, Clinic 4 – 6 hours, Externship 6 hours, TLIP 12 hours.
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Acting Dean & Professor of Law- About Us
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