APRIL 23, 2024 — UTSA alumnus and former student body president Zack Dunn ’15, who now serves as an assistant district attorney for the Bexar County Family Violence Division, remembers the exact moment he knew he would be pursuing a career in law. He was an undergraduate at UTSA, participating in the Summer Law School Preparation Academy (SLSPA). Walking across campus with a friend after a three-hour session taught by a contracts law professor from UT Austin, he couldn’t contain his excitement.
“Dude,” he exclaimed, “I’m going to law school!”
The SLSPA is hosted each summer by the UTSA Institute for Law and Public Affairs (ILPA), which supports students who are interested in pursuing careers in law. Participants benefit from a pre-law curriculum, experiential learning and networking experiences to help them gain admission to and excel in law school. SLSPA’s credit courses also count toward the Certificate in Legal Studies, which helps students develop the skills needed to pursue a legal education and career.
“I loved every second of it,” Dunn said of his experience at the academy. “We got to meet attorneys from every section of the legal field. It gave me an opportunity to see the legal profession in ways I never had.”
Of the SLSPA students who decide to apply to law school, 95% are admitted into at least one school. Since the program began in 2001, SLSPA students have been accepted to more than 160 law schools across the country.
Dunn attended the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School after graduating with his bachelor’s in finance from UTSA. He credits the SLSPA with helping him get there.
“I didn’t have lawyers in my family, so I didn’t know much about law school,” Dunn explained. “This program taught me how to take the LSAT and how to apply to law school, as well as everything you can do with a law degree.”
The academy is open to undergraduate students attending any college or university who have earned or are on track to earn at least 30 credits by the end of the spring 2024 semester. Admittance is on a competitive basis.
Dunn says the program is beneficial for students of all majors.
“I’d recommend this program for anybody even remotely interested in a career in law,” he said. “All students will be better off after going through this program because they learn test skills, networking skills and just how to think about the future in a focused way.”
This summer’s program will be broken up into two five-week sessions. Students will take two three-credit courses during each session, a total of 12 credit hours they can apply toward their degree. The Summer I session runs from Tuesday, May 28, to Tuesday, July 2. The Summer II session runs from Wednesday, July 3, to Wednesday, August 7.
The UTSA Institute for Law and Public Affairs is part of the UTSA Career-Engaged Learning ecosystem of offices and services that help students connect what they are learning in the classroom to their career goals. These experiential learning opportunities encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration, foster partnerships with the community and help students articulate their marketable skills to improve their career outcomes.
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At this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusRoadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusJoin us for a tribute to Willie Velásquez, honoring the legacy of Willie Velásquez, a pivotal figure in shaping the history of Latino and Hispanic participation in the American voting process. Delve into his life and contributions as a champion of Latino voting rights. Moderated by UTSA's Teresa Niño, the event will feature influential voices, including Jane Velásquez, María Antonietta Berriozábal, Dora Oliva, and Anthony Gonzales.
Buena Vista Building, Gregory Luna Room, Downtown CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
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The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
