About UNT Dallas College of Law
UNT Dallas College of Law is Dallas’ public law school, offering affordable, practice-ready legal education that expands access to the profession. Located in downtown Dallas, the law school provides students with applied learning opportunities that prepare them for roles in law firms, corporate legal departments, courts, government agencies and other legal settings.
Our mission focuses on access, preparation, value, innovation and community. These principles guide the curriculum, student experience and partnerships across the region.
Our Mission
The mission of UNT Dallas College of Law is to advance access to legal education, prepare students for the responsibilities of the legal profession and contribute to the legal needs of Dallas and Texas.
The College of Law seeks to:
Access
Expand pathways to legal education for individuals who may not otherwise consider law school due to cost, geography or traditional barriers.
Preparation
Provide a curriculum centered on practical skills, legal analysis, writing, advocacy and experiential learning that supports readiness for the profession.
Value
Deliver a high-quality legal education at an affordable cost, offering strong return on investment and preparation for multiple areas of legal practice.
Innovation
Engage in continuous improvement of teaching, learning and professional formation, with attention to the evolving practice and business of law.
Community
Build partnerships with the legal community, employers and organizations across Dallas–Fort Worth to enhance student learning and regional engagement.
Our Beginnings
UNT Dallas College of Law was authorized by the Texas Legislature in 2009, which allocated $5 million from the State’s 2011–2012 budget to establish the school. In 2012, the UNT System appointed the College of Law’s Founding Dean, the Honorable Royal Furgeson, who began his role in June 2013 after retiring from the federal bench. The College of Law also appointed Professor Ellen S. Pryor as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Initially operating as a unit within the UNT System, the College of Law became a professional school of the University of North Texas at Dallas on September 1, 2015.
The College of Law was created to broaden access to legal education in a major metropolitan area and to prepare students for the responsibilities of the legal profession through applied learning. With support from the Dallas legal community and the UNT System, the school welcomed its inaugural class with a focus on affordability, preparation and practical training.
UNT Dallas College of Law received provisional accreditation from the American Bar Association (ABA) on June 3, 2017, and achieved full ABA approval in February 2022. Graduates are eligible to sit for bar examinations in most jurisdictions, including Texas.
Today, the College of Law continues to advance its mission as Dallas’ public law school by offering affordable, practice-ready legal education that supports access to the profession and meets the needs of the region.
Advocacy Program
Part of graduating excellent lawyers with practice-related competencies is graduating outstanding advocates. In order to accomplish this task, UNT Dallas College of Law has developed a curriculum steeped in advocacy—from its required advocacy and experiential courses to the ten skills segments that are woven into all second and third-year doctrinal courses.
These curricular requirements, however, are just the beginning. UNT Dallas College of Law offers a variety of extracurricular opportunities for its advocacy-hungry students to fine tune their skills, including:
- UNT Dallas College of Law Intramural Competitions
- The Annual First-Year Judge’s Gavel Motions Argument Competition
- The Annual Thompson & Knight Intramural Moot Court Competition
- UNT Dallas College of Law Intermural Moot Court Team
- UNT Dallas College of Law Intermural Mock Trial Team
- UNT Dallas College of Law & Texas A&M University School of Law Intermural ADR Competition
- The UNT Dallas College of Law Board of Advocates
Although our program is in its early years, we have already built a reputation as a school that produces outstanding advocates. Top local prosecutors together with partners from top national and local law firms coach our intramural teams and train our emerging lawyers.