Dean's Message

America has many fine law schools, including many law schools in Texas. As a law school applicant, the key question you must answer is which law school best fits you. For many students the answer to that question is the Texas Tech School of Law.

Most ABA-accredited schools do a very good job teaching the theory and doctrine of law, and we are no different. Beyond the teaching of theory and doctrine, however, there is something more — a difference that makes a difference. The practice of law is about people, and your law school experience should be about people. The Texas Tech University School of Law was created as a smaller school of law, which is unusual for a state school and different for a purpose. A smaller law school allows students to know each other personally and to know the faculty. Faculty members at a smaller school can be more than just teachers; they can be mentors guiding you through your law school experience.

As your mentors, we believe our responsibility is to go beyond the theory and doctrine of law to ensure that you are prepared for the actual practice of law. We will prepare you to practice by preparing you to pass the Bar exam. You must have a license to practice law, and we are proud of our historically high Bar passage rates.

Part of knowing how to practice is knowing how to function in a courtroom. You’ll get this experience through our extensive and nationally recognized moot court and mock trial programs. In addition, our top-25 ranked Legal Practice Program will aid your preparation, and our clinical and externship training programs will give you the opportunity to practice on real cases with real clients under the supervision of experienced practitioners.

Your future law practice will increasingly depend on your ability to operate in a global environment. To broaden your experience internationally, we will give you the opportunity to work, learn, and study in Mexico, Spain, Australia or France. We are particularly proud of our unique summer program held in cooperation with one of Mexico’s leading law centers. This program will allow you to learn about the practice of law in real terms from lawyers, judges, and professors in Mexico.

While our facilities and instruction at Texas Tech will enable you to practice at the cutting edge of legal technology, our commitment to you as a person is the difference that makes a difference. We really are about people at Texas Tech, and I hope to get to know you personally when you enter the Texas Tech University School of Law

Walter B. Huffman
Dean