Admissionscatalog

BAYLOR LAW SCHOOL The Best Belong at Baylor ADMISSIONSC ATALOG 2 011 Rafael Rodriguez, Baylor Law Student G O L A T A C Law and the society that it upholds dmissions A are always changing. To thrive in this L dynamic climate demands that a lawyer oo not only understand theory, ethics, and legal W SCH La R O doctrine, but also be capable of navigating YL A B the challenges of any given case. A recent Carnegie Foundation report found that “legal education pays relatively little attention to direct training in professional practice.” It comes as no surprise, then, that national surveys also show that only a small fraction of attorneys feel that law school adequately prepared them for the practice of law. Baylor is different. Dean Brad Toben At Baylor, we teach you how to practice law. We’re more than just a graduate school focused Baylor Law School offers seven areas of concentration on theoretical ideas; we’re a professional school to supplement a general JD degree, with focuses on that combines theory with practice and nurtures a administrative or transactional practices, intellectual commitment to service and responsibility. property, or trial advocacy for civil or criminal law. Our commitment to producing disciplined, caring, In addition, the Law School offers joint degree programs and ethical lawyers is demonstrated through our with Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business for students experienced and dedicated faculty, small class size, interested in business and tax law and with the and rigorous curriculum integrated with practical, Department of Political Science for those interested skills-training exercises. Our faculty treasures our in public policy. dual teaching mission: to meaningful and insightful Baylor Law School utilizes the unique quarter scholarship and to being examples of what it means to system, which allows admitted students to start class live a life of service within the context of a Christian in the spring, summer, or fall. This calendar allows faith mission. By the third year in the nationally students to take time off from class to pursue clerkships, recognized Practice Court Program, all students are externships, or other programs throughout the year. learning to balance the intensities of a demanding It also allows you to graduate in 27 months, in contrast legal practice. While students find the Practice Court to the 36-month programs most schools offer. experience strenuous, after graduation they look back Finally, students learn, research, and study in one of with appreciation and understanding that the challenges the most beautiful and technologically advanced law prepared them to enter the profession better able to buildings in the nation. On the banks of the Brazos serve their clients and society. River, the Sheila & Walter Umphrey Law Center is Every year, our students achieve one of the equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, an impressive highest bar passage rates in the country and enjoy an research library, student study areas, and wireless excellent career placement rate. Law firms, courts, and connectivity throughout the campus. government agencies recognize that graduates of Baylor Baylor Law will provide you the tools and knowledge Law are equipped with the problem-solving techniques you need to become a top-notch lawyer. But don’t just and practical, hands-on lawyering skills necessary for trust our words: we invite you to visit Baylor Law School success in the workplace. to talk with students and faculty to see for yourself When you graduate from Baylor Law what we’re about. Until you can make it here in person, School, you will leave confident and ready to check us out online at law.baylor.edu, talk with our serve your clients from day one. admissions staff at254.710.2529 , follow us on Twitter@ Students who are interested in BaylorLawSchool, or visit us on Facebook at Baylor augmenting their legal education with University School of Law for an inside look. specialization in a particular field Brad Toben — Dean and M.C. & Mattie Caston Professor of Law will find plentiful opportunities. G O L A T A C dmissions A Why Baylor Law? L oo W SCH La R O YL A B Small by Choice Intimate Classroom Experience Despite the volume of applications we receive each year—more than 4,700 submissions—we make the choice to enroll only 60 students in the spring quarter, 30 in the summer, and 70 in the fall. By capping enrollment for entering students at 160 highly qualified, diverse students, we ensure an outstanding experience for each individual and preserve the broader class dynamic. Because we keep the classes intimate, students are afforded opportunities that are not available to them at larger, less personal law schools. One-on-One Faculty Mentoring At Baylor, our primary interest is teaching students law. Our curriculum includes such programs as Practice Court, which requires the attention and input of several faculty members for each student, and our Capstone programs, which provide intense, one-on-one guided studies with senior faculty. Even in the smallest details—like putting conference areas in all faculty offices and the open-door policy of all faculty—we are committed from beginning to end to provide a personal, individualized experience. 2 “We’re turning out leaders here— whether you’re going into trial work, Congress, transactional work, business. We’re not interested in turning out paper pushers. We’re interested in turning out people who make a difference. We’ll teach you how to persuade, how to take a stand.” — Professor Jim Wren Making a Difference, Together Alumni Connections after Law School Our smaller class size allows students to build a close-knit comaraderie with peers, an important factor for success during and after law school. Graduation earns you a place among a very respected, loyal group of Baylor lawyers. The relationships Kirk Watson you form here will create connections that last a lifetime. Austin, TX Baylor University Lawyers Who Lead Baylor Law School Private Practice We are not at all interested in becoming a turnstile institution. Instead, we produce quality, Mayor of Austin, Texas well-trained attorneys who will impact the legal profession and the world around them. Texas State Senator You’ll find graduates of Baylor Law immersed in their local communities and the legal During his tenure as mayor, Austin was named the best community at large. Because we are a small institution, Baylor alumni comprise only city and best place for business seven percent of the State Bar of Texas. However, this seven percent stands at the by both Fortune and Forbes. Recently named “Rookie of the forefront of leadership, serving as presidents, boards of directors, executives, senators, Year” by Texas Monthly for his work in the Texas Legislature, mayors, and governors. Baylor lawyers invest themselves in issues that matter, contributing Kirk Watson has been making his mark on Texas law since their time, money, leadership, and expertise to everything from behind-the-scenes pro bono he graduated first in his class from Baylor Law School. work to high-profile roles in politics, the public sector, and professional organizations. 3 G O L A T A C dmissions A L oo W SCH La R O YL A B Tom Featherston “This guy is Mr. Probate of Texas,” explains student Carson Runge. “He knows trusts and estates like the back of his hand.” The State Bar of Texas agrees. They awarded Professor Featherston the Distinguished Probate Lawyer Lifetime Achievement Award last year in recognition of his numerous contributions to the law, such as his work re-codifying the Texas Probate Code, the most comprehensive change in the statutory law affecting decedents’ estates in more than 50 years. He is perhaps best known for his numerous contributions to the legislative process on complex statutory issues and the advanced CLE lectures he gives nationwide each year. 4 Why Baylor Law? We Practice What We Teach Members of the Baylor faculty are accomplished scholars and practitioners, most with significant experience in full-time practice before joining the faculty. While the primary commitment of Baylor professors is to teach, train, and mentor our students, we recognize the importance of maintaining a close connection to the profession and the practice of law. Faculty members are recognized by the practicing bar as experts in their relative fields, and many serve as mentors to lawyers and as expert witnesses in cases and legislative proceedings. The synergistic effect produces a group of people with scholarly expertise, as well as the perspective and wisdom of seasoned lawyers. The Baylor faculty see the job of training you to become the most competent, effective lawyer you can be as their personal duty and professional responsibility to you, to your future clients, and to society as a whole. In turn, they will set the bar high and work with you to achieve no less than your very best on every case, negotiation, brief, or transaction. Brian Serr Laura Hernández Professor Serr has argued cases in both the United States Professor Hernández—who teaches Remedies, Entertainment Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for Law, and Insurance Law—spent more than ten years in private the Fifth Circuit. He recently won a decade-long civil rights practice with national law firms handling complex litigation case that established important precedents in the area of matters before joining Baylor Law. Fluent in motion practice municipal liability for the improper hiring and/or inadequate and trying cases to verdict, she represented entertainment training of police officers. He has three times been asked and clients like Walt Disney in disputes over syndication and royalty has written amicus curiae briefs on behalf of the Conference of agreements and handled the defense of major insurers such as Chief Justices in U.S.

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