Thurgood Marshall School of Law facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thurgood Marshall School of Law |
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|---|---|
| Parent school | Texas Southern University |
| Established | 1946 |
| School type | Public HBCU |
| Dean | Okezie Chukwumerije |
| Location | Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Enrollment | 554 |
| Faculty | 92 (40 full-time) |
| USNWR ranking | 180-196th (2024) |
| Bar pass rate | 68% (2023 first-time takers) |
The Thurgood Marshall School of Law (TMSL) is a special law school at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas. It's approved by the ABA, which means it meets high standards for teaching law. At TMSL, students can earn degrees like a Juris Doctor (which lets them become lawyers) and a Master of Law (for advanced studies). The school is also part of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the Association of American Law Schools.
Contents
History of the Law School
How TMSL Began
The story of TMSL began in 1946 because of a court case called Sweatt v. Painter. A Black man named Heman M. Sweatt wanted to study law at the University of Texas School of Law. However, he was not allowed in because of his race. At that time, Texas had laws that kept white and Black people separate, even in schools.
To try and stop Mr. Sweatt from winning his case, the state of Texas decided to create a new university. This university was meant to offer higher education, including law, for Black students. It opened in 1946 as the "Texas State University for Negroes." Later, in 1951, its name was changed to Texas Southern University.
New Law Programs
In 2016, TMSL started offering a special degree called a Master of Laws in Immigration and Naturalization Law. This was the first program of its kind in the entire country. It helps students learn all about immigration law.
School Standards and Rankings
In 2017, the American Bar Association (ABA) had some concerns about the school. They wanted to make sure the school was following rules about not treating people differently and about sharing information. The ABA also checked that the school was only accepting students who seemed able to finish their studies and pass the bar exam. By 2020, the ABA confirmed that TMSL was meeting all its standards.
For 2024, the law school is ranked among the top law schools in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report.
Students and Bar Exam Results
Who Attends TMSL
As of October 2021, the students at TMSL came from many different backgrounds. About half of the students were African-American. Other students included Asian-American, White, and Hispanic individuals.
In fall 2021, many students applied to TMSL. About 38% of those who applied were accepted. The students who enrolled had good scores on their LSAT (a test for law school) and good grades from their college studies.
Passing the Bar Exam
The bar exam is a very important test that law school graduates must pass to become licensed lawyers. For students who took the bar exam for the first time in July 2023, 68% of TMSL students passed.
Jobs After Graduation
After finishing law school, most graduates look for jobs as lawyers. According to information from 2022, about 53% of the students who graduated from TMSL in 2022 found full-time, long-term jobs that required a law degree within nine months after they graduated.
School Costs
Going to law school costs money for tuition and other fees. For the 2018-2019 school year, the estimated cost to attend Thurgood Marshall was about $43,095 for students who lived in Texas. For students from other states, it was about $50,318.
TMSL Library
The TMSL Library is located inside the law school building. It has a very large collection of books and other materials, with over 350,000 items, to help students with their studies.
TMSL Legal Clinics
Legal clinics are special programs where law students get to work on real cases and help people under the guidance of experienced lawyers. This gives them important hands-on experience.
- Earl Carl Institute for Legal and Social Justice, Inc.: This group works to find solutions for legal and social problems that affect minority communities.
- Center for Legal Pedagogy: This center focuses on how to best teach law and create new ways for students to learn.
- Institute for International and Immigration Law: This institute helps students who want to work in international law or immigration law by giving them special training.
Famous Graduates
Many successful people have graduated from Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Here are a few:
- Roberto R. Alonzo (graduated 1984), who was a member of the Texas House of Representatives.
- Stephanie Flowers, a lawyer and a member of the Arkansas State Senate.
- Sylvia Garcia, who was a member of the Texas Senate and is now a U.S. Representative.
- Al Green (graduated 1974), a U.S. Representative for Texas.
- Kenneth M. Hoyt, a Senior United States District Judge.
- Hank Johnson (graduated 1979), a U.S. Representative for Georgia.
- Harry E. Johnson, who is the President and CEO of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Project Foundation.
- Leslie D. King, a Justice on the Mississippi Supreme Court.
- Chokwe Antar Lumumba (graduated 2008), the Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi.
- Colion Noir, a lawyer.
- Morris Overstreet, the first African-American person elected to a statewide office in Texas.
- Belvin Perry (graduated 1977), a chief judge in Florida.
- Senfronia Thompson, a member of the Texas House of Representatives.
- Craig Washington (graduated 1969), a former U.S. Congressman.
- Brian C. Wimes, a Federal judge.
