Web Exclusive:
The Hispanic Business 2003 Top 25 Law Schools for Hispanics
September 2003, HISPANIC BUSINESS Magazine
1. University of Texas at Austin School of Law
727 E. Dean Keeton Street
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 232-1200
Fax: (512) 471-2765
www.law.utexas.edu
Total graduate enrollment 1,434
Hispanic graduate enrollment 153
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 11%
Total J.D. degrees earned 478
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 38
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 8%
The University of Texas School of Law has graduated more Hispanic and
African-American students combined than any other top-20 law school in the
United States. Many of the school's 1,300-plus Hispanic graduates work at the
highest levels of the bar and government, in state and federal judgeships, in
public interest work, and in the national media. UT Law hosts the permanent
office of the Texas-Mexico Bar Association. And this past year the law school
was nationally recognized for its innovative and successful pre-law
educational centers located in primarily Hispanic communities. The school has
also established strong links with Latin America through student and faculty
exchanges and cooperates with UT-Austin's Long Institute for Latin American
studies. The Long Institute is widely regarded as the premier Latin American
center in the United States, with more than 150 affiliated faculty members.
2. University of Miami School of Law
1311 Miller Drive, Room F-203
Coral Gables, FL 33146
(305) 284-2795
Fax: (305) 284-3084
www.law.miami.edu
Total graduate enrollment 1,168
Hispanic graduate enrollment 177
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 15%
Total J.D. degrees earned 387
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 77
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 20%
"Law firms regard UM as the best school in the country to recruit
Hispanic graduates," says Dean Dennis Lynch. Hispanic students occupy key
roles not only in the Hispanic Law Students Association, but also in law
reviews, student government, and other student organizations. With a diverse
faculty nationally recognized for its academic excellence, and a talented and
diverse student body drawn from around the country as well as Latin America
and Europe, classroom discussions at UM foster intellectual rigor. UM students
also have the benefit of semester abroad and summer programs in Spain, take
advantage of a wide range of opportunities for externship and pro bono
opportunities in Miami, and enjoy the option of enrolling in a number of
international and comparative law courses in Spanish. "It's no
wonder," says Dean Lynch, "that so many Hispanic students choose UM
as the place to launch a successful career in law."
3. University of New Mexico School of Law
1117 Stanford Drive N.E.
Albuquerque, NM 87131
(505) 277-0959
Fax: (505) 277-9958
www.unm.edu
Total graduate enrollment 324
Hispanic graduate enrollment 74
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 23%
Total J.D. degrees earned 115
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 29
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 25%
Hispanic students are an integral part of the University of New Mexico School
of Law. Making up nearly a quarter of the student population, they take on
leadership roles throughout the school and are prominent in the Student Bar
Association, law journals, and national moot court and mock trials teams.
"Diversity is a way of life in New Mexico, and our school reflects that
on all levels, among faculty and the student body," says Associate Dean
Peter Winograd. "When recruiting at colleges, we make a special effort to
reach out to Hispanics and others underrepresented in the legal profession
because we value their presence."
4. St. Mary's University School of Law
One Camino Santa Maria
San Antonio, TX 78228-8601
(866) 639-5831
Fax: (210) 431-4202
www.stmarytx.edu
Total graduate enrollment 700
Hispanic graduate enrollment 202
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 29%
Total J.D. degrees earned 230
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 90
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 39%
Leadership by the Hispanic dean, faculty, students, administrators, and alumni
forms the core of St. Mary's University School of Law. In addition to their
participation in the school's Hispanic Law Student Association, Hispanic
students serve on the editorial boards of both law journals, hold leadership
roles in the Student Bar Association, and occupy key positions in the 38
student organizations at the law school. A Hispanic woman, Monica Galvan, was
one of three members of the St. Mary's University School of Law team, which
won the American Bar Association Moot Court National Competition last year.
These leadership roles flow naturally from the school's location in San
Antonio, where Hispanic alumni of St. Mary's occupy strategic roles in the
business and legal community. In encouraging Hispanics to consider St. Mary's,
Dean Bill Piatt says, "Ofrecemos una educación de alta calidad en un
ambiente bicultural-la combinación perfecta."
5. University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law
P.O. Box 210176
Tucson, AZ 85721
(520) 621-3477
Fax: (520) 621-9140
www.law.arizona.edu
Total graduate enrollment 480
Hispanic graduate enrollment 55
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 12%
Total J.D. degrees earned 145
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 14
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 10%
The James E. Rogers College of Law nourishes an ethic of public service and
community involvement and enrolls a diverse body of students with
intelligence, energy, and commitment. The college offers an affordable tuition
structure and a strong scholarship program that enables students to pursue
their legal education with minimal debt burden. It has an active chapter of La
Raza, a dedicated group of alumni, a two-week academic enrichment pre-entry
program (the Gonzales-Villareal Bridge Program), and a wealth of faculty,
administrative, and university resources to recruit, encourage, and support
students. These institutional qualities are particularly attractive to
first-generation lawyers. Typically, 10 percent to 11 percent of the school's
460 students are Hispanic.
6. University of Southern California Law School
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0074
(213) 740-2523
Fax: (213) 740-4570
www.usc.edu/law
Total graduate enrollment 636
Hispanic graduate enrollment 75
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 12%
Total J.D. degrees earned 204
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 17
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 8%
Diversity is a hallmark at USC. More than 40 percent of the university's
current students identify themselves as minority group members. Its admissions
officers attend all major minority recruiting conferences and events, and they
frequently speak about diversity on panels and workshops at admissions-related
events. An active La Raza Law Students Association within the law school
offers mentoring for first-year law students. La Raza also hosts an annual
reception to honor prominent legal figures in the Hispanic community and works
throughout the year to raise scholarship money for current students. USC Law
School also operates two programs - the Domestic Violence Clinic and the
Immigration Clinic - that extensively serve the Hispanic population in South
and East Los Angeles. Additionally, the student-run Public Interest Law
Foundation gives annual scholarships and grants to students who work at legal
aid organizations, including many that predominantly serve Spanish-speaking
communities.
7. Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center
3305 College Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314-7721
(954) 262-6120
Fax: (954) 262-3844
www.nsulaw.nova.edu
Total graduate enrollment 774
Hispanic graduate enrollment 148
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 19%
Total J.D. degrees earned 233
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 31
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 13%
NSU Law ranks third in the nation for juris doctor degrees awarded to
Hispanics. NSU Law's dual degree program with the University of Barcelona (UB)
is the capstone for Hispanic students. NSU/UB law program students study both
common law and civil law systems, which enables them to practice in Spain,
transactionally in the European Union, and on motion in many of the
jurisdictions in Latin America. NSU Law's programs in Costa Rica and Venezuela
(currently on hiatus) take advantage of the strong nexus between South Florida
and Latin America. The Law Center's long-term relationships in those countries
permit NSU Law's many bilingual students to immerse themselves in a legal
setting in the culture of their heritage during the clinical component of
their studies.
8. Southwestern University School of Law
675 S. Westmoreland Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90005
(213) 738-6717
Fax: (213) 383-1688
www.swlaw.edu
Total graduate enrollment 954
Hispanic graduate enrollment 101
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 11%
Total J.D. degrees earned 211
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 17
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 8%
Committed to diversity throughout its 90-year history, Southwestern is a
member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and continues
to attract and support a large contingent of Hispanic students. Southwestern
maintains strong ties with the Hispanic community locally through
long-standing outreach programs with predominantly Hispanic elementary,
middle, and high schools, and globally with Mexico and Argentina through
summer law programs and externships, student and faculty exchanges, and
courses in Latin American laws and institutions. The Latino Law Students
Association is one of the most active on campus and has been honored by the
Mexican American Bar Association, among other groups. Southwestern students
have served as National General Counsel and Western Regional President of the
Hispanic National Bar Association/Law Student Division five years running.
Southwestern also offers several scholarship funds designated for students of
Hispanic heritage, academic support programs, and alumni mentor programs.
9. Loyola Marymount University Loyola Law School
919 Albany Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 736-1074
Fax: (213) 736-6523
www.lls.edu
Total graduate enrollment 1,351
Hispanic graduate enrollment 148
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 11%
Total J.D. degrees earned 420
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 55
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 13%
"At Loyola Law School we are committed to attracting and retaining
diverse and accomplished Hispanic students,"states Dean David W. Burcham.
"Our Hispanic students enrich the educational climate while here, and
when they leave Loyola they achieve remarkable success in
every facet of the legal, business, and political world." An active La
Raza student organization, ever-increasing scholarship funding, and
sponsorship of regional and national Hispanic Moot Court Competitions enrich
the Hispanic student experience at Loyola. Graham Sherr, Assistant Dean for
Career Services, comments: "Employers find our Hispanic graduates
extraordinarily well prepared to practice law at the most sophisticated
levels. Our Hispanic alumni are frequently considered to be stars who also
bring an exceptional cultural awareness and sensitivity that enriches the
diversity of their workplaces."
10. Stanford University Stanford Law School
559 Nathan Abbott Way
Stanford, CA 94305-8610
(650) 723-4985
Fax: (723) 723-0838
www.law.stanford.edu
Total graduate enrollment 545
Hispanic graduate enrollment 73
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 13%
Total J.D. degrees earned 180
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 31
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 17%
Stanford's Office of Student Affairs, in conjunction with the Office of
Admissions, sponsors a special recruiting weekend for minority students each
spring. The weekend features substantive conversations with faculty, students,
and alumni as well as social events officially sponsored by the law school or
hosted by current students. This year, the alumni panel featured two
successful Hispanic lawyers speaking about their experiences at Stanford Law
School and beyond. The diversity of the student body and, increasingly, the
faculty is a factor in recruitment and retention of Hispanic and other
minority students. The intimacy of the law school's class size also fosters
the sharing of cultural experiences, thus enriching classroom discussion.
11. University of California Hastings College of Law
200 McAllister Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 565-5623
Fax: (415) 565-4863
www.uchastings.edu
Total graduate enrollment 1,257
Hispanic graduate enrollment 87
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 7%
Total J.D. degrees earned 391
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 33
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 8%
Hastings was founded in 1878 as the first law department of the University of
California and is now one of nation's leading legal education centers. Faculty
members are nationally renowned as both teachers and scholars, and the student
body reflects a broad array of interests and backgrounds. Students hail from
more than 120 universities and colleges across the country. Many have advanced
degrees or several years of experience in the workplace, and their diverse
backgrounds and interests allow for a wide variety of perspectives to be
shared in discussions both in and outside of class. More than 50 student
organizations are present on campus.
12. George Washington University Law School
700 20th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20052
(202) 994-7230
Fax: (202) 994-3597
www.gwu.edu
Total graduate enrollment 1,210
Hispanic graduate enrollment 121
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 10%
Total J.D. degrees earned 430
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics N/A
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics N/A
Since its founding, GW Law has held an important place in the local and
national community. The Law School enrolled its first class in 1865, and two
years later, 60 students received the degree of bachelor of laws. Although the
school remains grounded in its history, GW Law is an entirely different school
today, from the vastly expanded curriculum and faculty to its ethnic and
gender diversity to smart classrooms. Its curriculum continually evolves to
meet the demands of a changing world and profession, its faculty attracts the
most promising and proven scholars, and GW Law students become leaders in
every type of practice after graduation. As the law school has grown, its
scope and mission have grown as well, taking on an international dimension
that reflects the global nature of society and the law today.
13. University of California at Los Angeles School of Law
71 Dodd Hall, Box 951445
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1476
(310) 825-2080
Fax: (310) 825-9450
www.law.ucla.edu
Total graduate enrollment 951
Hispanic graduate enrollment 75
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 8%
Total J.D. degrees earned 303
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 13
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 4%
The UCLA School of Law is an outstanding institution where a diverse law
student population comes together in a rigorous, innovative, and supportive
environment. Members of the UCLA Law faculty, who have won numerous awards for
the excellence of their teaching, pursue research relating to a broad range of
issues. The tone of the school is characterized by the faculty, known for its
involvement in critiquing the law and furthering law reform. Equally
important, the UCLA Law faculty is committed to the view that teachers can be
intellectually and professionally demanding of students, while also being
supportive. "UCLA welcomes the opportunity to educate professionals of
tomorrow," the school proclaims.
14. University of Illinois College of Law
504 East Pennsylvania Avenue
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 244-6415
Fax: (217) 244-1478
www.law.uiuc.edu
Total graduate enrollment 676
Hispanic graduate enrollment 48
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 7%
Total J.D. degrees earned 218
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 21
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 10%
Founded in 1897, the University of Illinois College of Law is a charter member
of the Association of American Law Schools. In addition to offering a J.D.
program, the college also has one of the oldest international legal studies
programs in the United States, with 750 LL.M. degree alumni in 61 countries.
The college maintains an active recruitment schedule nationwide and abroad to
attract a richly diverse student body. Currently, 25 percent of the students
are people of color - the top percentage among public universities in Illinois
and in the Big Ten. Numerous student organizations and activities are
available, including the Latino/a Law Students Association.
15. University of Colorado at Boulder School of Law
403 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0403
(303) 492-7203
Fax: (303) 492-2542
www.colorado.edu
Total graduate enrollment 490
Hispanic graduate enrollment 36
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 7%
Total J.D. degrees earned 159
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 9
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 6%
The University of Colorado School of Law is situated at the foot of the Rocky
Mountains in Boulder, a city well known for its liberal thinking and policies.
The law school allocates significant resources to ensure a diverse and
successful student community. Racial and ethnic minority students account for
approximately 20 percent of the student body. Many of Colorado's Hispanic
leaders are graduates of the law school, including a justice on the Colorado
Supreme Court and a retired chief justice of the Colorado Supreme Court. The
law school strives to create an atmosphere in which all students and faculty
members flourish.
16. California Western School of Law
225 Cedar Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 525-1401
www.cwsl.edu
Total graduate enrollment 857
Hispanic graduate enrollment 64
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 7%
Total J.D. degrees earned 215
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 26
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 12%
"For more than 70 years, California Western has trained lawyers to be
creative problem solvers who contribute to improving the lives of their
clients and the quality of justice in American society," the school
declares. In just a few years, the school's minority student population has
grown from 9 percent to 26 percent, providing an enriching experience for all
students. A highly successful mentor program, sponsored by Diversity Services,
links San Diego judges and practicing attorneys with students.
17. University of California at Davis School of Law
400 Mrak Hall Drive
Davis, CA 95616-5201
(530) 752-6477
Fax: (530) 754-8371
www.ucdavis.edu
Total graduate enrollment 552
Hispanic graduate enrollment 45
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 8%
Total J.D. degrees earned 165
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 16
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 10%
"At King Hall," the U.C. Davis Law School states, "you will
find nationally and internationally distinguished faculty in fields as diverse
as environmental law, evidence, legal writing, trial practice, tax, legal
ethics, immigration, and international and comparative law." Students are
exposed to the fundamental objects of legal analysis - judicial decisions,
statutes, administrative rules, and constitutions - and to the social,
political, economic, and jurisprudential policies and principles that underlie
the law. The school also boasts a supportive atmosphere for the study of law,
with its outstanding ranking, its small size, and its unusually accessible
faculty providing the starting point. A diverse student body, dedicated staff
and administration, and loyal alumni also contribute to a community that
fosters intellectual rigor and creates an atmosphere of cooperation.
18. University of San Francisco School of Law
2130 Fulton Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 422-6586
Fax: (415) 422-6433
www.usfca.edu
Total graduate enrollment 527
Hispanic graduate enrollment 42
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 8%
Total J.D. degrees earned 150
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 14
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 9%
The University of San Francisco's School of Law provides an extensive
curriculum that requires each student to master the fundamentals of law while
developing analytical ability, essential skills, and a full awareness of an
attorney's special obligations to society. Faculty members are accessible and
make particular efforts outside of the classroom to engage students in legal,
political, ethical, philosophical, and social discussion. Embracing the
University of San Francisco's motto - Pro Urbe et Universitate (For City and
University) - the School of Law integrates within its educational program the
cultural diversity and needs of the community of which it is a vital part.
Accordingly, the curriculum includes a focus on contemporary issues of our
complex global society.
19. University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law
P.O. Box 117622
Gainesville, FL 32611-7622
(352) 392-2087
Fax: (352) 392-4087
www.law.ufl.edu
Total graduate enrollment 1,200
Hispanic graduate enrollment 75
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 6%
Total J.D. degrees earned 381
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 48
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 13%
The University of Florida's Fredric G. Levin College of Law employs four
Hispanic law professors - two of them chaired - including Berta Hernandez-Truyol,
one of the founders of the Latino Critical Theory movement. A number of
prominent Hispanic attorneys throughout Florida and the southwest are UF
alumni who assist with student mentoring. Through an exchange program with the
University of Costa Rica, faculty and students direct projects throughout
Central America and Brazil.
20. Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law
3100 Cleburne Street
Houston, TX 77004
(713) 313-7114
Fax: (713) 313-7384
www.tsulaw.edu
Total graduate enrollment 580
Hispanic graduate enrollment 117
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 20%
Total J.D. degrees earned 175
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 38
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 22%
Texas Southern carries out intensive recruiting in areas of Texas with high
populations of Hispanic students, then mentors and supports those students
through the Chicano Law Student Association. According to a school official,
"The Thurgood Marshall School of Law works collaboratively with the
Hispanic Bar Association on several community projects. Through established
and nurtured relationships with this organization and others, we have hired
Hispanic professors [and] maintain an open-door policy for students to
interface with the professors."
21. St. Thomas University School of Law
16400 NW 32 Avenue
Miami, FL 33054
(305) 623-2310
Fax: (305) 623-2357
www.stu.edu
Total graduate enrollment 487
Hispanic graduate enrollment 168
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 34%
Total J.D. degrees earned 155
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 47
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 30%
St. Thomas University's School of Law describes its unique community as one of
the nation's most exciting places to study law. "A commitment to teaching
the practice of law ensures our students success in the legal profession, and
a deep belief in ethical behavior guides our actions," the school
asserts. St. Thomas is a small Catholic law school dedicated to diversity and
public service, in which students work together with a distinguished faculty
in an atmosphere of collegiality.
22. Texas Tech University School of Law
1802 Hartford Avenue
Lubbock, TX 79409-0004
(806) 742-3985
Fax: (806) 742-1629
www.ttu.edu
Total graduate enrollment 690
Hispanic graduate enrollment 51
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 7%
Total J.D. degrees earned 173
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 13
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 8%
"The Texas Tech University School of Law is one of the most dynamic,
technologically advanced and diverse law schools in the country," the
school states. "The smaller student body, surrounding community, personal
computer-equipped student carrels (with more computers than any other law
school in the nation), high passage rates on the bar exam, tremendous success
in student advocacy competitions (including numerous national championships),
and unparalleled access to a distinguished faculty make the Texas Tech School
of Law an ideal learning environment for preparing out students to practice
law."
23. Georgetown University Law Center
600 New Jersey Avenue NW, Room 509
Washington, DC 20001-2075
(202) 662-9010
Fax: (202) 662-9439
www.law.georgetown.edu
Total graduate enrollment 2,029
Hispanic graduate enrollment 86
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 4%
Total J.D. degrees earned 547
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 33
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 6%
Georgetown University Law Center prepares its graduates to excel in a range of
legal careers from private practice to teaching and public service of all
kinds. "It is an educational institution dedicated to the principle that
law is but a means, justice is the end," the school avows.
"Georgetown has built an environment that is conducive to the exchange of
practical ideas and the pursuit of academic excellence. It brings together a
varied group of scholar-teachers and practitioners, as well as a highly
qualified student body representing a broad range of backgrounds and
perspectives. This combination of people and ideals provides an atmosphere for
study that is supportive, provocative, challenging, and satisfying."
24. Boston University School of Law
765 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
(617) 353-3100
Fax: (617) 353-0578
www.bu.edu
Total graduate enrollment 823
Hispanic graduate enrollment 57
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 7%
Total J.D. degrees earned 291
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 29
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 10%
Boston University School of Law is a community of top legal scholars,
teachers, students and alumni, dedicated to providing the finest legal
education, in a rigorous but supportive environment. Since its doors opened in
1872, the school has welcomed qualified men and women, without regard to
background or belief. Its founding principle, that legal education should
emphasize not just theory and analysis but practical applications, still
governs the curriculum today.
25. University of Connecticut School of Law
45 Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 570-5100
Fax: (860) 570-5153
www.law.uconn.edu
Total graduate enrollment 624
Hispanic graduate enrollment 36
Percent Hispanic graduate enrollment 6%
Total J.D. degrees earned 200
J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 7
Percent of J.D. degrees earned by Hispanics 4%
The beautiful campus of the University of Connecticut School of Law is listed
on the National Register of Historic Sites. The school's program emphasizes
intellectual discipline and the development of the professional analytic
skills required to respond effectively to the challenge of continuing change
in the law and in the society it serves. The school prepares its students to
practice law in any jurisdiction, with no special emphasis on Connecticut law.
The diverse backgrounds, specialties, and intellectual approaches of the
faculty assure a wide variety of teaching styles and formats, including
clinical instruction, skills training, interdisciplinary work, and courses and
workshops employing the problem method.