The Summer Law School Preparation Academy is part of the UTSA Institute for Law and Public Affairs located in the Buena Vista Building 4.356 at UTSA's Downtown Campus.  The Academy began in 2002 through the vision and leadership UTSA President Ricardo Romo, then UT School of Law Dean William Powers, Jr., and Institute Director Richard Gambitta.  Its purpose is to enhance pre-law educational opportunities and increase the number of Texas students who gain admission to and excel in high-quality law schools. Since the Institute’s creation, our students have secured acceptances to over sixty law schools and enrolled in law schools as diverse as the University of California-Berkeley, Wisconsin, State University of New York-Buffalo, Denver, Idaho, Columbia, Boston University, Wisconsin, Akron, Hofstra, St. Thomas, Ave Maria, Syracuse, City University of New York, and all nine law schools in Texas. The Institute provides financial stipends to its students to reduce economic pressures while attending the Summer Academy.

Phase I (June 1 - July 3, 2009)

The Academy incorporates two phases, Phase I and Phase II.  Students apply for Phase I as sophomores and attend the Academy during the summer between their sophomore and junior years.  Students attend six hours of specially designed academic classes on Monday through Friday. Classes are supplemented by additional seminars and events, including visits from luminary professors and law school deans talking on special topics in law and about law school experiences.  The curriculum is designed to prepare students for law school and the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test) by emphasizing analytical thinking, critical reading, and quality writing skills.  Once students have completed Phase I they are mentored, counseled, and advised by the Academy faculty and staff.  

Phase II (July 6 - August 8, 2009)

Students enroll in Phase II during the summer after their junior year and before their senior year.  Students attend 6 academic hours of law school preparatory classes, Monday through Friday.  Throughout the summer, deans, directors of admission, faculty, and other representatives from each law school in Texas and many from across the nation visit the Academy to provide information on admissions policies, application procedures, financial aid, scholarships, and their law schools’ special programs. Numerous law schools provide our students with fee waivers for the application process. Leading professors from law schools conduct seminars on special topics for students during each week, also. As part of Phase II, students may enroll in a special UTSA administered LSAT Preparatory Course to help them prepare for the competitive entrance exam.  Academy students are assisted by Institute faculty and staff in the law school application process, personal statements, letters of recommendation, and preparation of required materials.  Institute staff members serve as advocates for students, focusing on the Academy's mission of increasing the number of Texas students who will excel in law school.

 How Do We Help Our Students Get Into Law School?

SLSPA Coursework

The Summer Law School Preparation Academy encompasses 12 hours of coursework specifically designed to hone the reading and writing skills our students will need to successfully gain admission to and excel in their legal education.  Students who complete these 12 hours of coursework within the Institute receive the UTSA Certificate in Legal Reasoning.  For a complete list of the courses required for this certificate please click on the Curriculum link below.  The academy has hosted numerous award winning guest lecturers from UT Austin, University of Houston, University of California-Berkley, Wisconsin and St. Mary's Schools of Law, to name only a few.  These two hour lectures give our students a true taste of the law school classroom environment and challenges them to the limits of their abilities.

SLSPA Curriculum

UTSA Tuition and Fees 2008 Spring

SLSPA Guest Lecturers

Getting Our Students In Touch With Law School Representatives and Professionals in the Legal Field

The SLSPA incorporates visits from admissions representatives from each law school in the state of Texas.  Moreover, the Institute secures grants to finance student travel, lodging, and expenses to attend the regional forum of the Law School Admissions Council where a hundred and sixty law schools recruit students. Additionally, the Institute has sponsored a Law School Fair, where over eighty-five law schools send admission representatives to visit UTSA to recruit and answer various student questions.  We also work toward helping our students learn first hand about the legal field from some of the most prominent judges and attorneys from Texas and other states.

ILPA History of Speakers and Events

Providing Our Office as Resource for Our Students

Faculty and staff of the Institute for Law and Public Affairs office advocate for each of our students and help them with the process of applying to law school.  Whether they need help with LSAT preparation, resumes, personal statements, internships or letters of recommendation, our faculty and staff make every effort to be there for our students throughout the application process.

How to Apply to the Summer Law School Preparation Academy

Applications are released in January with a deadline sometime around late March or early April.  Besides the application, students must submit a 1 to 2 page Personal Statement and a one letter of recommendation. The Personal Statement must tell us why you would like to go to law school or why you would like to be admitted into the SLSPA.  Students may submit a resume and/or an additional letter of recommendation, but these are not required.  There is no minimum GPA requirement, but students must be competitive and have a serious interest in attending law school.  The SLSPA is open to all undergraduate students in any college or university in the nation.  The only cost of the program is applicable UTSA resident/non-resident tuition, admissions application fee and books.  It you are interested in the program and would like to be placed on our list serve to be invited to ILPA events and to be send an application, please email your request to ilpa@utsa.edu.