Texas Tech University School of Law
The Texas Tech University School of Law is an ABA-accredited law school located on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. The school offers three academic centers, ten dual-degree programs, a nationally recognized legal writing program, and a competitive advocacy program that has earned 45 national and international championships.[4] Additionally, third-year law students may participate in one of the school's eight clinical programs, which allow students to gain real-world experience while providing free legal representation to low-income individuals.[5] The school focuses on forming practical lawyers who are ready to practice law upon graduation. The student population is approximately 60.4% male and 39.6% female.[6]
Texas Tech University School of Law | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Established | 1967 |
School type | Public law school |
Dean | Jack Wade Nowlin |
Location | Lubbock, Texas, U.S. 33.578787°N 101.886703°W |
Enrollment | 440[1] |
Faculty | 72 |
USNWR ranking | 71st (2024)[2] |
Bar pass rate | 87.12%[3] |
Website | www |

Academics & Programs
Texas Tech School of Law offers a standard Juris Doctor degree program, as well as ten dual-degree programs spanning areas of business, science and engineering, sports management, and government and public administration.[7] Students may pursue academic concentrations in Business Law, Criminal Law and Innocence, and Law and Science.[8] The school is also home to an awarded Advocacy Program and growing Energy Law Program.[9][10]
The School of Law houses eight clinical programs in which students may participate:[5]
- Capital Punishment Clinic
- Caprock Regional Public Defender Office
- Civil Practice Clinic
- Criminal Defense Clinic
- Family Law and Housing Clinic
- Tax Clinic
- Innocence Clinic
- Advanced Alternative Dispute Resolution Clinic
The School of Law also hosts three academic centers:[11]
- Center for Biodefense, Law, and Public Policy
- Center for Military Law and Policy
- Center for Water Law and Policy
Bar exam performance
In 2000, Texas Tech University School of Law had a 100% bar passage rate for first-time exam takers for the February 2000 Bar Examination.[12] The school's bar passage rate for first-timers taking the July 2017 exam was 87.12%, placing Texas Tech School of Law in the top three law schools in Texas for 2017 bar passage rates.[13]
Employment
According to Texas Tech's 2016 ABA-required disclosures, 85.79% of the class of 2016 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment 10 months after graduation.[14]
Costs

The total cost of attendance (indicating the cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses) at Texas Tech for the 2017-2018 academic year is $39,175 for Texas residents and $50,515 for nonresident students.[15] The Law School Transparency estimated 100% debt-financed cost of attendance for three years is $139,550 for Texas residents.[16]
Notable people
Alumni
- Jeff Wentworth '71: Sitting member of the Texas State Senate for the 25th District. Previously, member of the Texas House of Representatives.[17]
- Phil Johnson '75: Sitting member of the Texas Supreme Court and former chief justice of the 7th Court of Appeals.[18]
- Robert Junell '76: Serves as a judge for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.[19]
- John Smithee '76: Member, Texas House of Representatives for District 86.[20]
- Karen Tandy '77: first female head of the Drug Enforcement Administration
- Walter Huffman '77: Judge Advocate General for the United States Army from 1997 until 2001; dean for the law school 2002 until 2009, . Presently, Huff Professor of law at Texas Tech.[21]
- Robert L. Duncan '81, former politician and fourth Chancellor of the Texas Tech University System (from 2014-2018).
- Kem Thompson Frost '83, former Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals for the Fourteenth District of Texas.
- Matthew D. Orwig '84: U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas and served until 2007.
- Mark Lanier '84: In 2008, Mark and his wife Becky financed a $6 million 34,000-square-foot (3,200 m2) addition to the law school,[22]
- Timothy Perrin '87: former president of Lubbock Christian University
- Joseph Heflin '93: Served in the Texas House of Representatives for District 85 from 2007 to 2011.[23]
- Andrew Murr Law school year missing: Former county attorney and county judge of Kimble County; member of the Texas House of Representatives for District 53, elected in 2015[24]
- Dustin Burrows '04: member of the Texas House of Representatives from Lubbock District 83, elected 2014
Faculty
References
- "Standard 509 Information Report - 2017" (PDF). www.abarequireddisclosures.org/. American Bar Association Required Disclosures. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
- "Texas Tech University - Best Law Schools". US News. 15 August 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
- "July 2017 Examination Statistics". State of Texas. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
- "About Texas Tech School of Law | School of Law | TTU". www.depts.ttu.edu. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
- "Clinical Programs | Programs | School of Law | TTU". www.depts.ttu.edu. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
- "Law School Numbers". Retrieved 12 February 2018.
- "Dual Degree Programs | Academics | School of Law | TTU". www.depts.ttu.edu. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
- "Certificates and Concentrations | Academics | School of Law | TTU". www.depts.ttu.edu. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
- "Advocacy Competition | Programs | School of Law | TTU". www.depts.ttu.edu. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
- "Energy Law Program | Programs | School of Law | TTU". www.depts.ttu.edu. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
- "Programs and Centers | School of Law | TTU". www.depts.ttu.edu. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
- "Law Grads Best In Texas On Bar Exam". Texas Tech University System. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
- "July 2017 Examination Statistics". Retrieved 12 February 2018.
- "Employment Statistics".
- "Tuition and Expenses".
- "Texas Tech University Profile". Retrieved 7 August 2023.
- "Jeff Wentworth". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
- "Phil Johnson". The Supreme Court of Texas. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
- "Robert A. Junell". Federal Judicial Center. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
- "John T. Smithee". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
- "Walter B. Huffman". Notable Names Data Base. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
- Lanier Professional Development Center
- "Joe Heflin". kcbd.com. 20 October 2006.
- "Andrew Murr". andrewmurr.org. Archived from the original on December 7, 2014. Retrieved December 5, 2014.