Texas Law-ITAM Program

The University of Texas School of Law joins with the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) to provide an opportunity for a cohort of selected students to earn both a Juris Doctor degree (J.D.) from Texas Law and a Licenciatura en Derecho from ITAM. The aim of the program is to train lawyers to be well-qualified to practice law on an international level. Together, the two schools offer a complete course of study in both legal systems, affording students a high level of preparation for the transnational practice of law. Graduates of both schools will be eligible, from the academic point of view, to sit for the bar examination in any U.S. jurisdiction and file a license before the Mexican Ministry of Education to be admitted to practice law in Mexico.

Texas Law J.D. students interested in applying to study at ITAM should contact OutgoingExchange@law.utexas.edu.

Program Structure

Duration

All students who participate in the program spend a minimum of two full academic years in residence at Texas Law. Students who begin their studies in Mexico spend their first four years of study in Mexico and then spend the following two years of study at Texas Law. Students who begin their studies at Texas Law spend their first two years in Austin and then spend their third year at ITAM as an exchange/study abroad student; those students graduate from Texas Law at the end of their third year, and then may spend a fourth year at ITAM to earn a Liecentiatura en Derecho from ITAM.

Dedication

Texas Law’s J.D. program is full-time with classes offered only during the day. Because students in the program must complete their graduation requirements in a compressed period, they should not plan to engage in outside employment during their two academic years of study at Texas Law.

Degree Requirements and Academic Policies

A student must complete a minimum of 58 credits in residence at Texas Law to earn a J.D. degree.  For more information, see: https://law.utexas.edu/student-affairs/graduation/degree-requirementsgeneral-graduation-info/

Texas Law’s academic policies apply to all enrolled students. For more information, see: https://law.utexas.edu/student-affairs/academic-services/

Tuition

Students who begin their studies at ITAM pay a total amount of tuition equal to the credits for the program and 20% of ITAM’s units of credits accepted from Texas Law courses taken in the last two years. In addition, students pay two years of tuition at the nonresident rate to The University of Texas. During the time of enrollment at ITAM, students make tuition payments directly to ITAM. During the two years of enrollment at Texas Law, students make Texas Law tuition payments directly to Texas Law and make the accepted credits payments directly to ITAM.

Language

Classes at Texas Law are taught in English. Students who participate in the Texas Law-ITAM Program are expected to be fluent in both English and Spanish and must be able to express themselves orally and in writing in both languages at a graduate level. As part of the application process, students are required to sit for an interview with Texas Law professors or administrators.

Immigration

ITAM students are required to obtain the F-1 U.S. visa. Texas Law provides students with the formal acceptance document required by American consulates in the U.S. to apply for an F-1 visa. International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS), the University’s international office, is available to provide students with general information on the visa application process. However, students are ultimately responsible for obtaining the visa in a timely manner and meeting the requirements for admission. For more information, contact hotline@austin.utexas.edu.

Career Services 

Texas Law’s Career Services Office (CSO) is available to all students at Texas Law, helping students achieve their career goals by advising them of career options, providing job search strategies and resources, and connecting students with potential employers.

Bar Examinations

Students with the J.D. degree are eligible, from the academic point of view, to take the bar examination in any American jurisdiction once certified as having completed the requirements for the J.D.

Rules and Regulations

Students in the program are subject to the academic rules, policies, and regulations of their home and host universities, to all program guidelines, and to the laws of their home and host countries.

Application Information for ITAM Students

  • Must be currently enrolled at ITAM and have completed their seventh semester of study. Contact the ITAM program coordinator, Claudia Álvarez Estrada, to start the application process.
  • Must submit an application for J.D. admission by March 1. The application can be found at www.lsac.org and will be available starting September 1. ITAM applicants are not eligible for the Early Decision Program.
    • Must submit a personal statement as part of their application. Your personal statement may not exceed two (2) double-spaced pages with a minimum 11-point font size and 1-inch margins.
    • Applicants to the Texas Law-ITAM Program must take the LSAT no later than February’s test administration and submit their applications by March 1.
    • You should plan to take the GRE so that you have a reportable score in by March 1.
    • Register with the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). Additionally, applicants with a foreign law degree must register for the International Transcript Authentication and Evaluation Service (ITAES).
    • Two letters of recommendation (LORs) are required. We strongly recommend that at least one letter come from an academic source. However, letters from employers or others who have worked closely with you can be very helpful, particularly if you have been out of school for many years.
    • Must submit an official law school transcript to LSAC. If the official law school transcript is in a language other than English, literal (word-for-word) English translations are required. Certified English translations are not required. Applicants must submit all higher education transcripts, including transcripts for study abroad programs, and proof(s) of degree.
    • Must submit a résumé . Please limit your résumé  to 3 pages in length.
  • Application questions should be sent to admissions@law.utexas.edu.

Financial Aid

Texas Law-ITAM Program students are considered transfer students at Texas Law, and transfer students  are not eligible for scholarships from the Law School. Nevertheless, there are a number of internal third-party scholarships for which admitted and current students are eligible to apply. Please note that internal third-party scholarships require a separate application and have their own internal deadline.

Since the number of internal third-party scholarships we offer is limited, admitted and current students are strongly advised to apply for financial aid and scholarships from Mexico and the U.S.

Texas law classifies each person who applies for admission to a Texas public college or university as a resident of Texas, a nonresident, or a foreign (international) student. How you are classified is important because it determines whether you pay non-resident rates or in-state tuition rates, which are lower. Being a resident also qualifies you to apply for financial aid awarded by the state. The two options available for establishing residency are high school graduation and establishing domicile.

Internal Third-Party Scholarships

External Scholarships

Interest-Free Loans

Rowe Fund Loan

Loans

Federal Student Aid

Advisors at Texas Law

Office of Graduate & International Programs

Sarah Vela
+1 (512) 232-1175
IncomingExchange@law.utexas.edu

Office of J.D. Admissions

Cassandra Shulter
+1 (512) 232-1205
admissions@law.utexas.edu