The University of Texas at Austin - School of Law

The University of Texas at Austin School of Law “fosters excellence and achievement while also maintaining a culture of mutual respect, caring, support, and inclusion.” Students appreciate the school’s “prestige and alumni connections” and that it provides great “value for your dollar.” Professors “are always available” and are “impressive both as academics and as classroom teachers.” The school offers support to help students navigate law school and develop their careers, including through its mentoring program that matches students with nearby alumni to provide academic guidance and a first-hand look at the legal profession. UT Austin is a place where “professors respect your intelligence” and make an effort to “get to know us personally,” and where “students work together to learn.” As one student elaborates, “Professors have been incredibly accessible despite large class sizes in some large substantive courses,” and another adds, “I have been overjoyed with the quality of the professors I have had at UT. They are all kind and brilliant and dedicated to actually teaching their students.”
The ability to provide “career opportunities post-graduation” is among the school’s greatest strengths. Students describe an emphasis on preparing graduates for careers in “big law” and public interest, with one student noting that, outside of these two career paths, “you have to create your own networking opportunities.” Overall, many students are impressed with the school’s career support. Even before graduation, students can often find jobs while in school. As one student explains, “recruiting starts from day one,” and a “large portion of students…land 1L summer gigs,” including well-paid positions.

The school has a “gorgeous outdoor patio” that provides “a great place to study or just hang out with friends, almost year-round.” And although some of the classrooms “can be outdated,” students cite ongoing renovations to improve the campus. The “general atmosphere among the students is friendly and collaborative.” Fellow classmates “work hard but are happy to enjoy their weekends and evenings with each other.” Students enjoy a “thriving social environment” and appreciate the “collegial atmosphere.” The school fosters this feeling of community through the "society program,” which splits the first-year students into groups that compete in events like intramural sports and trivia. Citing the success of this program, one student remarks, “I moved here without knowing anyone, and now I have more friends here than I did in my previous city.” In addition to the society program, there are Halloween parties and a spring Law Prom, as well as “plenty of informal social events.” As one student illustrates, friendships extend “across the class years and sections,” adding, “I never have any trouble finding something to do.”