Frequently Asked Questions

A disbursement occurs when the Financial Aid Office credits your financial aid to your student account.

You will receive a refund if your financial aid is greater than your tuition and fees.  Refunds are processed through the Accounting Services Office within 14 days of the disbursement date.

Yes, the Financial Aid Office will email you when we have disbursed your student loans to your student account.  If you should choose not to accept all of the loan funds at the time of disbursement, please email the Financial Aid Office at studentservices@stcl.edu

You may submit a Loan Modification Request Form to modify your loan amount. A separate form must be submitted for each loan modification. Please allow 2-3 business days for processing.

If you drop all of your classes before the end of the add/drop period, the Financial Aid Office must return all of your loan funds to the U.S. Department of Education.  If you received a refund, you must return it to the Accounting Services Office.

If you change your enrollment status from part-time to full-time, you must email the Financial Aid Office at studentservices@stcl.edu if you wish to increase your student loans to cover your additional costs. Your loan amount will not automatically be increased.

If you change your enrollment status from full-time to part-time after you receive your refund, the Financial Aid Office will recalculate your financial aid eligibility. As a result, you may need to return a portion of the refund that you received.  It is advisable to see a Financial Aid Counselor before changing your enrollment status from full-time to part-time.

No. Students are only allowed to be actively employed for one Work Study position concurrently.

Yes. Students are able to work as Federal Work Study students with approved firms/agencies. You may search for open positions within Symplicity.

*If a firm/agency is not currently in contract with STCL to hire student workers, then they may contact the Sr. Director of Student Services for more information.

Chandra Gonzalez – cgonzalez@stcl.edu

The current hourly rate of pay is $13.00 per hour for On-Campus positions. Off-campus hourly rates vary by firm/agency.

The current standard FWS award offer is $3,000 per term.

Note: You may be able have your FWS award modified based on your anticipated employment earnings and availability of funding. Please reach out to Student Services for further information.

You can work a maximum of 20 hours per week. You will develop a schedule with your supervisor once you are hired.

Student employee work schedules must:

• not exceed 20 hours per week
• not exceed 8 hours per day
• not conflict with schedule class time
• not work on holidays, breaks, or during exam week(s).
• allow for at least a 30-minute break if working a consecutive 6-hour period

Work Study funds are considered earned income and will be paid directly to you on a bi-weekly basis.

It is advised to enroll in direct deposit upon hire to ensure paychecks are received in a timely manner. If direct deposit setup is not established or complete, then a check will be mailed each applicable pay period.

In some cases you may. You should review each job description in order to determine if you meet all of the identifying qualifications for the position.

Although the title of the program is Federal Work-Study, it doesn’t imply that you will have time to study. The primary purpose of the FWS program is to gain experience in an employment setting. If you find that you have completed all of your work, you should ask your supervisor for direction.

Ensure that you have a current FAFSA on file and have confirmed your eligibility with Student Services. Your supervisor must have the job position posted within Symplicity. Once posted, you may apply for the position and your supervisor will initiate the re-hiring process.

Once admitted, applicants are considered for scholarships and are awarded them automatically based on their undergraduate GPA and the LSAT or GRE score. There is no separate application. If an admitted student is not awarded a scholarship their first year, they may be eligible for academic scholarships based on their law school GPA for their 2nd and 3rd year.

You can complete the FAFSA after January 1st. That gets the process started. STCLH will not make a decision on your financial aid until you have been admitted into the JD program. We will automatically mail you any additional information that you need to apply. You can complete the FAFSA online. You should not wait until you have been admitted to complete the FAFSA.

As a graduate student, financial aid consists of Federal Direct loans including Unsubsidized and Graduate PLUS loans and Federal Work-study. Institutional aid consists of scholarships. Residents of the State of Texas can apply for the Texas Equalization Grant (TEG).

A comprehensive webpage of all Federal Direct Student Loan information is located here.

Yes, anyone may complete the FAFSA before applying for admission or being accepted. The FAFSA application is located here.   South Texas College of Law Houston’s Federal School Code number is (004977).  Once you complete the FAFSA, the Financial Aid Office will receive your results electronically.

Students planning to borrow Federal Direct Student loans must complete both loan entrance counseling and Master Promissory Notes located here.

All entering students are considered for merit scholarships based on their undergraduate performance and LSAT score. Please contact the Admissions Office at 713-646-1810 for more information on scholarships.

Approximately 56 percent of South Texas College of Law Houston’s admitted students receive partial scholarships. The College also offers scholarships to continuing students.  These scholarship opportunities are announced during the academic year.

A combination of Federal Direct Unsubsidized and Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loans may be necessary to cover the full cost of attendance at South Texas College of Law Houston. Costs of attendance include tuition, fees, books, room, board, transportation, and miscellaneous.  The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan maximum amount per fall and spring semesters is $20,500.  This amount doesn’t cover the full amount of tuition and fees and therefore, students borrow the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan to cover the remaining balance. A Graduate PLUS loan maximum amount per year is limited to the College’s Cost of Attendance.

After a student is admitted and submits a seat deposit, the Financial Aid Office will review a student’s FAFSA and institutional financial aid application for eligibility.  Based on a student’s eligibility, the Financial Aid Office will email a student a financial aid award letter which may consist of loans, scholarships and or grants.

After a student is admitted and submits a seat deposit, the Financial Aid Office will review a student’s FAFSA and institutional financial aid application for eligibility.  Based on a student’s eligibility, the Financial Aid Office will email a student a financial aid award letter which may consist of loans, scholarships and or grants.

A student should borrow only the amount needed. When you receive your financial award letter detailing how much you are eligible to borrow, you may reduce that amount simply by logging into your STANLEY web account.  Information and directions are provided along with the award letter.

Step 1: A student wishing to accept all of the loans offered to him/her will log into STANLEY and accept the awards.

Step 2: Navigate to here to complete entrance counseling and the Master Promissory Note.

Step 3: If the student chooses to borrow a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan, he/she will apply here and a credit check will be completed as part of the application process.

Many students who attend South Texas College of Law Houston borrow Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loans in addition to the unsubsidized loan. To be eligible for the Graduate PLUS loan, a student must have non-delinquent credit.  Bad credit usually implies having made late payments (more than 30 days) on credit cards, medical bills, telephone bills, rent or other types of credit.  Defaults, collections actions, write-offs and bankruptcy also indicate bad credit.  Because mistakes often occur with credit reporting agencies, we strongly recommend that you contact one or all of the national credit agencies to receive a copy of your credit report in advance of applying for Graduate PLUS loans.  You may request your annual free credit report here.

If your credit rating is negative, you should remedy any deficiencies before applying for a loan.   Some students are required to have co-signers for Federal Graduate PLUS loans.  Negative credit may seriously affect your ability to finance your education through the Graduate PLUS loan program.  South Texas College of Law Houston does not have the resources to lend money to students who cannot obtain Federal Graduate PLUS loans or Private (Alternative) Loans.

Yes. A student can return Federal Direct Student loan funds to the U.S. Department of Education at any time. The return is done through the loan servicer that your loans have been assigned. If you do not know your servicer or do not have their information, do the following:

1. Log onto to www.nslds.ed.gov (National Student Loan Data System) and select “Financial Aid Review” (FAFSA ID login information is required)
2. Once in your account on NSLDS you will see:
   • Each student loan ever borrowed and the college attended
   • Each servicer assigned by the U.S. Department of Education to each
     loan
   • Contact information for each servicer
3. Contact your servicer for all information regarding your loan including
   returning funds, repayment plans, etc.

You may call or email the Financial Aid Office at South Texas College of Law Houston. The email address is faid@stcl.edu and the phone number is 713-646-1820.

Experian, 1-888-397-3742 or visit their website

Trans-Union, 1-800-888-4213 or visit their website

CBI/Equifax, 1-800-997-2493 or visit their website

Our Fall Priority Deadline is February 10th, followed by our regular deadline March 24th and our final deadline is May 9th. For our Spring start, our priority deadline is September 24th, and our final deadline December 1st. In order to be considered for our priority deadline (which includes a fee waiver) you will need to submit your application, resume, and personal statement. Your test score and CAS report can be provided following a deadline.

In order to apply to our program you need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and a current LSAT or GRE score, an STCLH application, a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and a resume. All applicants must also register with CAS.

While we require an accredited bachelor’s degree it does not need to be in a specific area or focus.

Yes, our spring class starts in early January. See the above question for deadline information.

We recommend taking the LSAT or GRE when you feel most prepared however by taking it on the earlier side of the application cycle it will allow you extra time should you want/need to retake the exam. Results are sent timely after your exam is taken.

Yes, as long as your application is submitted by the application deadline your application will be considered. Once we receive your score and your file is complete, we will place your application in review.

LSAT/GRE scores are valid for five years. Your most recent score must still be valid at the start of the semester for which you are applying.

We will consider your highest LSAT score as we review your application. However, all LSAT scores will be reported to us by CAS. We will consider all reportable GRE scores and will evaluate each section of the GRE independently. We are required to report to the ABA the highest score achieved.

Yes. All applicants are required to register with the CAS; foreign educated applicants will submit their foreign transcripts to the LSAC JD Credential Evaluation Service for evaluation. For information on CAS go to https://www.lsac.org.

If you would like to take advantage of the application fee waiver you should apply for February 10th (for Fall) and September 24th (for Spring). We have a rolling admissions process and we review applications as they are completed.

We admit students who are below the median and review all applications on a holistic basis.  However if your scores or grades are on the lower side your personal statement, letters of recommendation, and resume will be very important.

We do not have a minimum LSAT/GRE score and all test scores will be considered. However, files are reviewed holistically.

We do not have a minimum GPA and like the LSAT/GRE, all files are reviewed holistically.

We will look at them however they are not weighed as heavily as undergraduate grades. Not all applicants earn graduate degrees, so it is better for us to use the undergraduate GPA. Also, we have no context for considering and comparing graduate grades.

Our admissions committee takes the personal statement very seriously. Since we do not offer Admissions interviews you should approach it as an opportunity to interview with the committee. You may write about your skills, strengths, advanced degrees, work experiences, personal struggles you have overcome, and professionally related extracurricular activities. Make sure that you do not restate your resume. In a separate statement of no more than 1 page, you may want to explain any mitigating circumstances in your record. Also, remember to proofread your information very carefully!

It should be 2-3 pages double-spaced.

No, we do not.

No. The Admissions Committee wants to have all kinds of people as part of its law school. As a non-traditional student, you can use your experience as a benefit in your application.

South Texas College of Law Houston (STCLH) Faculty and Students. Members of Houston Area Law Librarians (HALL) may also request an account.

Anything not in the Library’s collection.

STCLH will not charge you for this service. Fees charged by lending libraries are passed on to you, but only with your prior approval.

This varies depending on what is requested, how many libraries have the item and where they are located. For copies, it could take as little as 24 hours, or for a book, as long as 4 weeks.

Yes, by logging on to your Interlibrary Loan account and viewing your “Outstanding Requests.”

An automatic email or text will be sent. [At the time you created your account, you should select a notification method (email or text).]  To verify or change your notification preference, log into your account and update your preferences.

Pick up materials at the Patron Services Desk (2^nd floor).  Microfilm and In-Library-Use-Only materials may NOT leave the Library.

Due dates are set by the lending libraries.  Specific due dates are written on the book bands that identify Interlibrary Loan items.

It is up to the policies of the Lending Library. We can request a renewal, but if they deny the request then you must return the item.  We can always re-request from another library.

Return materials in person at the Patron Services Desk.

Yes. Log on to your account and click on Interlibrary Loan Requests.

Contact the Interlibrary Loan Department via email at AskBlanche@stcl.edu, or call 713-646-1712.

The J.D. Part-time / Online schedule is designed for motivated self-starters who wish to pursue a law degree through a more flexible delivery format that allows them to maintain their professional and personal responsibilities while obtaining their legal education. We expect students in the online schedule to be comfortable in an online learning environment and have access to reliable internet access for the virtual classroom and digital resources.

Yes. South Texas requires all students to meet exacting admissions criteria. Just like students in the traditional, on-campus programs, online students will be expected to meet rigorous academic and professional standards.

We anticipate our J.D. Part-time / Online students to continue working at their full- or part-time jobs during the day. Additionally, we expect they will commit the necessary time and effort during the evenings and weekends to complete classwork, including attending some regularly scheduled synchronous classes in the evening as well as participating in some daytime commitments, such as faculty office hours or school events.

As with any law school degree program, the J.D. Part-time / Online schedule will require significant dedication during and after class times, which will include readings, preparation, office hours, discussion board submissions and responses, and synchronous and asynchronous classes. Students should plan to commit approximately two to three hours per week outside of class for every credit hour.

Some students may periodically choose to take time off from work or daytime commitments to complete assignments or prepare for classes or exams.

Types of classes: Beginning in fall 2023, J.D. Part-time / Online students will take classes mostly online in​ a combination of synchronous classes (face-to-face virtual at set times) and asynchronous classes (no set class time, but with regularly assigned deadlines) each semester.

On-campus requirement: At the beginning of the fall semester each year, students will have a required in-person experience on campus in Houston (7-8 days). For the first year, this includes orientation with all students, opportunities to meet the professors teaching online courses that semester, connections with student organizations, and in-person class time. This “residency” experience will ensure that online students are familiar with and become a part of the South Texas community.

Time to completion: The part-time J.D. degree can be completed in four years.

Synchronous activities will typically be scheduled on weekday evenings and occasionally during the day on Saturdays.

STCL Houston Student Services will be available for virtual meetings and phone calls with online students, in addition to various online workshops and connection opportunities. Some of those include academic advising, financial aid and debt counseling, library services, and career services.

For all students, STCL Houston faculty are available during regular office hours, and phone or virtual conversations are quite common. Students and professors also engage through email and through the learning system messaging features. If online students sign up for co-curricular or extracurricular activities involving professors, they will have additional opportunities to make connections with faculty members.

Student organizations will offer virtual opportunities for online students to participate in various meetings and in academic, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities including law reviews, clinics, and advocacy. Students who are able are always welcome to come to campus for in-person participation, as well.

J.D. Part-time / Flex and J.D. Part-time / Online students may seek to transfer to the full-time, on-campus schedule after successfully completing the initial fall and spring semesters. Transfers are granted on a case-by-case basis.

Yes, J.D. Part-time / Online students are eligible to apply for the same financial aid and scholarship opportunities as all other South Texas students.

South Texas College of Law Houston offers one ABA-accredited J.D. degree, and each student’s diploma only notes that degree — regardless of whether the degree was achieved full-time or part-time, on campus or online.

We offer a joint JD/MBA program with Texas A&M University and the University of St. Thomas.

For all of the joint degree program, you need to apply to both our program and theirs and be accepted by both. Admitted students will apply for the MBA program after their first year of Law School.

Yes, at least two letters of recommendation are required, and you may submit up to three. It is more important what your recommenders say versus who they are. However academic or professional recommendations are preferred.

Letters of Recommendation may be addressed to the members of the Admissions Committee and  must be submitted using the CAS letter of recommendation service. Go to https://www.lsac.org for more information.

No. We require that you use the CAS recommendation service. If you are unable to submit them during CAS please contact admissions@stcl.edu.

No. We do not review files until a CAS report has been received.

Decisions are made on a rolling basis, and all decisions will be sent out via email. You will also receive an email once you apply with access to our online portal where you can check the status of your application.

The Admissions Committee will begin to review applicants on the waitlist throughout the admissions process. Please be advised that this review often continues throughout the summer and fall and we may not have a final decision until weeks before the term begins. Candidates on the waitlist will receive a second full-file review by the Committee, so candidates are encouraged to submit additional new information, such as updated resumes and statements of interest. No set number of seats in the entering class are reserved for candidates on the waitlist, and decisions to admit candidates from the waitlist are made on a space available basis.

Yes, while we would like to be notified as soon as possible we understand that circumstances change. The registrar will work with you to update your schedule and academic plan.

We do not offer deferments. If an applicant is interested in being considered for the following application year they will need to submit a new application, resume, and personal statement.

Complete the application and pay the application fee online using the URL from the program brochure or website. Non-STCL Houston students should submit a Letter of Good Standing from their Registrar.  We will verify good standing or request Letters of Good Standing for South Texas College of Law Houston students. If you plan to receive Financial Aid for the study abroad program, stop by the Financial Aid office first to schedule an appointment to speak to a counselor about your aid eligibility and requirements to receive aid.

“A Letter of Good Standing will be issued only if a student has made satisfactory arrangements for settlement of his/her account and is not considered at Academic Risk. No student may become a visiting student at another ABA-approved law school at any time such student is on Probation or under Special Academic Supervision.” In addition to the academic status requirements, South Texas College of Law Houston students must also have completed at least 30 semester hours at the end of the semester immediately preceding enrollment in the study abroad program.

The minimum GPA requirement is 2.7 cumulative GPA and 30 STCL Houston semester credit hours.

You will need a current, valid passport to travel abroad. A visa or residence permit may be required for full semester programs when the duration is longer than three months.

Visit the website https://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html for complete details on obtaining a passport.

Unless your existing medical insurance policy covers you while overseas, you will need to purchase a separate policy to cover medical emergencies, including coverage for medical evacuation or repatriation expenses should it become necessary. Several companies offer this type of insurance and it is relatively inexpensive.

In the South Texas College of Law Houston-sponsored summer programs, grades earned will transfer as letter grades and will be averaged in the student’s cumulative grade point average. Students not from South Texas College of Law Houston should check with their home schools for questions about grade transfer policies.

Students regularly enrolled at South Texas College of Law Houston may receive credit toward graduation by taking courses as a visiting student at another ABA-approved law school, or in a study abroad program, by obtaining advance written approval on a form available in the Registrar’s Office. The Registrar in conjunction with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs must approve the student’s overall plan and each course to be taken prior to the student registering at the other law school. A Letter of Good Standing will be sent to the other law school only if a student has made satisfactory arrangements for settlement of his or her account and has a cumulative grade point average of 3.000. No student may become a visiting student at another ABA-approved law school at any time such student is on Probation or under Special Academic Supervision. See the Student Handbook for complete rules regarding visiting other schools for academic credit. If approved to visit another ABA-approved law school, all grades received as a visiting student or at a study abroad program not sponsored by South Texas College of Law Houston are recorded on a pass/fail basis and are not included in the student’s cumulative grade point average.

You should contact the program director to obtain advance permission to bring a family member or friend. Assuming there is sufficient housing available and that you cover the costs of that person’s meals and accommodation, it may be possible.

Prague, Czech Republic – Students make their own housing arrangements in Prague. The International Programs staff will assist in identifying possible housing options upon request.

The Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1992 mandated that a student can receive financial aid for study abroad if the student is enrolled in a program approved by the home institution. Moreover, the student would be eligible to receive “grants, loans, or work assistance without regard to whether the study abroad program is required as a part of the student’s degree.”

Types of financial aid:

Federal Direct Student Loans
A student attending an approved study abroad program while enrolled at STCL Houston can borrow a Federal Direct Unsubsidized and/or Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan. A student must complete the FAFSA and be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible.

STCL Houston Scholarships
Institutional Scholarships such as the Dean’s Merit are not available for study abroad.

National Scholarships
The National Security Education Program (NSEP) and the Fulbright Program funded by the Federal government have grants and fellowships for graduate students for study and research overseas. Students should be aware that government organizations in other countries such as the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offer funding opportunities.

Amounts are budgeted to cover tuition, fees, books, round-trip coach airfare, housing, personal and miscellaneous expenses. Apply directly through the financial aid office at your law school to determine aid eligibility and requirements.

Most programs have one or more long weekends built into the program for travel. See each program’s calendar for specific dates available for weekend travel. Consult your financial aid counselor to see if aid for that type of expense is awarded.

If you plan to travel within the United Kingdom or Europe on long weekends or before or after the program, it could be a worthwhile investment. Consult your financial aid counselor to see if aid for that type of expense is awarded.

Generally, you will be notified within two or three weeks of your application being submitted or after grades from the preceding semester are recorded (whichever is later). Some programs may wait until the application deadline has passed and process the applications in batch.

Once the application deadline has passed and you have been notified of your acceptance into the program, you can begin making your travel arrangements. Early booking can often result in substantial savings. However, financial aid proceeds are not available sooner than 10 days prior to the start of the program, so you will need to pay for your tickets in advance and be reimbursed when financial aid proceeds arrive. We strongly recommend that you consider purchasing trip insurance for your airline tickets in the event that world wide events necessitate a change in your travel schedule.

If the State Department issues a Travel Advisory or Warning for an area where one of our programs is being held, students will have the opportunity to withdraw from the program and receive a full refund of tuition paid. We can not refund the cost of airfare, which is why trip insurance is recommended. Unused housing fees would also be refunded in this case. Likewise, if the program is canceled for any reason, students would receive a full tuition refund, but are responsible for any travel expenses incurred such as non-refundable airfare and housing deposits.

You are responsible for purchasing your airline tickets for travel. If you arrange a group of 10 or more who want to travel together, you may find discounted tickets through a consolidator. Often these types of tickets are non-refundable, so again, look into trip insurance.

Only the professors and former students know for sure. However the courses are designed to be of academic rigor comparable to what you would experience in similar courses at your home school. Most programs require written examinations for each course.

Most programs charge a flat tuition rate based on a set number of hours and you are required to take the courses as set forth in the program materials. Where the choice to enroll in less than the full amount of credits offered, there may be a significant impact on financial aid eligibility. You should contact the program director and your financial aid counselor if you want to take less than the required number of credits.

You need special permission from the program director to miss orientation. Attendance at all regularly scheduled classes is expected of each student. You may contact the program director to see if your request can be accommodated.

Due to ABA residency requirements, it is unlikely that participation in a foreign summer program may be used to accelerate graduation. Check with the Registrar’s office about your particular situation.

Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program: www.TLAPHELPS.org AND 1-800-343-TLAP (8527) Available 24/7

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline:1-800-662-HELP (4357) (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.

National Suicide Prevention: 1-(800)-273-8255

Crisis Text Line: Text MATTERS to 741741

Lifeline Crisis Chat (Instant Messaging): 988lifeline.org/chat/

LCSW- Licensed Clinical Social Worker – Completion of a master’s program in clinical social work. Those with an “L” have completed licensure requirements which may involve state board exams and supervision hours.

LPC- Licensed Professional Counselor – Completion of a masters program in counseling. Fully licensed which means they have completed their licensure requirements which may involve state board exams and supervision hours.

LPC-S- Licensed Professional Counselor- Supervisor – Completion of a masters program in counseling. Fully licensed which means they have completed their licensure requirements which may involve state board exams and supervision hours. Additionally, they supervise LPC-As

LPC-A- Licensed Professional Counselor- Associate – Someone who has met all of the educational and competency requirements to be an LPC in the state of Texas, but is in the process of completing 3,000 professional counseling hours under the supervision of an LPC-S.

LMFT- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist – Completion of a masters program in Marriage and Family Therapy. Those with an “L” have completed licensure requirements which may involve state board exams and supervision hours.

NCC- National Certified Counselor – Voluntary National Certification that identifies counselors who have met national standards set by the counseling profession

• Psychology Today
• Talk Space
• Find a Psychologist Org

While it depends on who you see and your insurance, below are some common payment options when it comes to therapy.

• Insurance for in-network care: your insurance pays for at least part of your therapy if they are an in-network provider
• Insurance for out-of-network care: your insurance covers an agreed-upon amount. Usually a reimbursement.
• Out of pocket: If your insurance does not cover out of network therapists or if your therapist does not accept insurance then you have to pay out of pocket.
• Sliding scale: Sone providers may offer the option to pay what you can or pay based on however much money you make.
• Super bill: Some providers may offer a super bill, which serves as an invoice type of bill to your insurance for potential reimbursement for services.

Do not be afraid to ask for a referral from a therapist if you are unable to pay and/or if it is not a good match! Remember your mental health treatment is specific to YOU.

*Check with your insurance to find out about coverage*

The American Psychological Association suggests you consider a time to see a therapist when something causes distress and interferes with some part of life, for example:

• Thinking about or coping with the issues takes up at least an hour each day
• The issue causes embarrassment or makes you want to avoid others
• The issue has caused your quality of life to decrease
• The issue has negatively affected school, work, or relationships
• You’ve made changes in your life or developed habits to cope with the issue

Call or Text: 1-800-343-TLAP (8527) Available 24/7

(Confidential Wellness Support-Mental Health or Substance Issues)

To be admitted with advanced standing, a transfer applicant must have earned credit for at least 24 semester hours at an ABA-accredited law school. The college will not award credit for more than 30 semester hours earned at another law school. Transfer applicants are required to submit the following:

• A completed application for admission
• The $55 non-refundable application fee
• An official letter of good standing from the law school from which the applicant is attempting to transfer
• Personal statement
• Resume
• An official transcript reflecting all law grades earned

If you are waiting for your final grades, we ask that you send your application, supporting documentation, and the official transcript before the deadline of June 15 for fall transfer applicants and November 15 for spring transfer applicants or as soon as documents are available. Decisions on transfer files cannot be made, however, until all the above items are received.

A student from another ABA-accredited law school may apply to South Texas College of Law Houston as a visiting student, subject to availability of space. Visiting students must submit the following:

• An application for admission
• The $55 non-refundable application fee
• A letter of good standing from their law school indicating that transfer credit will be accepted towards the student’s degree program.
• Visiting students will be required to pay registration fees and tuition in full at the time of registration. Visiting students are prohibited from applying as a transfer student once they have visited at South Texas College of Law Houston.

Only current STCL Houston students and in some cases, STCLH alumni, can audit classes.

If you are not licensed in your country, you must definitely get a J.D; however, after your first year of law school, you may be able to receive 30 hours of credit for your prior law school work.

If you have practiced in your country for 5 years of the last preceding 7 years; from a common law country; or have an LL.M., then you may be able to take the bar. Contact the Board of Law Examiners to confirm the rules (512) 463-1621 or https://www.ble.state.tx.us/