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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.

 

Source: HISPANIC BUSINESS Magazine