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.
First Year
(Required Courses) |
Fall Semester |
Spring
Semester |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
Law 504 |
Contracts I |
3 |
Law 505 |
Contracts II |
3 |
Law 506 |
Property I |
3 |
Law 507 |
Property II |
3 |
Law 508 |
Torts I |
3 |
Law 509 |
Torts II |
3 |
Law 900 |
Lawyering
Process I |
3 |
Law 930 |
Lawyering Process II |
2 |
Law 530 |
Criminal
Law |
3 |
Law 502 |
Civil Procedure |
4 |
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Second Year
(Required Courses) |
Fall Semester |
Spring Semester |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
Law 600 |
Evidence |
3 |
Law 601 |
Criminal Procedure |
3 |
Law 540 |
Constitutional Law |
4 |
Law 921 |
Trial Simulation |
2 |
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Second Year
Required Courses (taken anytime during the second
year) |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
Law 640 |
Business
Associations |
3 |
Law 650 |
Wills and Trusts |
4 |
Law 610 |
Commercial
Law |
4 |
Law 620 |
Professional Responsibility |
2 |
Law 740 |
Basic
Federal Taxation* |
3 |
Law 920 |
Appellate Litigation |
2 |
*Taken anytime
during the second year by students with a GPA below
3.0 at the end of their first year. |
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Third Year
(Required Courses) |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
Law 802 |
Writing
Seminar/Independent Research* |
2/3 |
Law 711 |
Consumer Rights** |
3 |
Law 602 |
Federal
Jurisdiction* |
3 |
Law 903 |
Texas Practice** |
3 |
* Taken anytime
during the second or third year. |
** Taken anytime
during the third year by students with a GPA below
3.0 at the end of their first year. |
Third Year Bar Elective Courses |
Fall/Spring Semester |
Fall/Spring
Semester |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
Law 982 |
Multistate Performance Test |
2 |
Law 990 |
Advanced Bar Review |
3 |
Law 809 |
Bar Essay Writing |
2 |
Law 725 |
Domestic Relations |
3 |
Law 721 |
Oil and Gas |
3 |
Law 784 |
Marital Property |
2 |
Law 741 |
First Amendment |
3 |
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Other Elective Courses |
Fall/Spring Semester |
Fall/Spring Semester |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
Law 790 |
Amateur Sports |
2 |
Law 747 |
Civil Rights |
3 |
Law 759 |
Employment Discrimination |
3 |
Law 825 |
Employment Law |
3 |
Law 791 |
Entertainment Law |
3 |
Law 787 |
Health Law |
3 |
Law 854 |
Intellectual Property |
3 |
Law 760 |
International Law |
3 |
Law 726 |
Juvenile Law |
2 |
Law 924 |
Law Practice Management |
3 |
Law 757 |
Local Government |
3 |
Law 985 |
Music Contracts |
3 |
Law 758 |
Public Education |
2 |
Law 723 |
Recreational Injuries |
2 |
Law 789 |
Sports Law |
3 |
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Clinical Elective Courses |
Fall/Spring Semester |
Fall/Spring Semester |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
Law 934 |
Administrative Law Clinic |
4 |
Law 933 |
Administrative Trial Practice |
2 |
Law 935 |
Civil Law Clinic |
4 |
Law 932 |
Civil Trial Practice |
2 |
Law 960 |
Criminal Law Clinic |
4 |
Law 902 |
Criminal Trial Practice |
2 |
Law 823 |
Innocence Clinic |
2 |
Law 822 |
Innocence Practice |
2 |
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Externship Elective Courses |
Fall/Spring Semester |
Fall/Spring Semester |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
Law 908 |
Civil Externship |
4 |
Law 907 |
Criminal Externship |
4 |
Law 909 |
Judicial Externship |
4 |
Law 912 |
Legislative Externship |
12 |
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Seminar and Other Offerings |
Fall/Spring Semester |
Fall/Spring Semester |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
Law 832 |
Advanced Legal Analysis |
2 |
Law 802 |
Independent Research 1 |
3 |
Law 803 |
Independent Research 2 |
3 |
Law 796 |
Law Review |
2 |
Law 828 |
Mock Trial |
2 |
Law 901 |
Moot Court |
2 |
Law 810 |
Sem. Bankruptcy Law |
2 |
Law 845 |
Sem. Jurisprudence |
2 |
Law 850 |
Sem. Latinos and the Law |
2 |
Law 728 |
Medical Legal Liability |
2 |
Law 847 |
Sem. Patent Law |
2 |
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Summer Elective Offerings |
Summer Semester |
Summer Semester |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
Course |
Title |
Credits |
Law 952 |
Accounting for Lawyers |
2 |
Law 715 |
Bankruptcy Law |
3 |
Law 830 |
Death Penalty |
3 |
Law 858 |
Family Based Immigration |
2 |
Law 777 |
Immigration & Criminal Law |
2 |
Law 706 |
Remedies |
3 |
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