A New Law School for Dallas and North Texas.
A plan for providing affordable and accessible public legal education to an underserved population in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and partnering with Dallas to revitalize the historic Main Street area.

Proposed timeline

  • Spring 2009: Tuition Revenue Bonds Facility financing approved in conjunction with city commitment
  • Spring 2009: Recruit founding dean
  • Summer 2009: Initiate feasibility study with the T.H.E.C.B.
  • Fall 2009: Begin building renovation, Complete ABA accreditation planning
  • Fall 2009/Spring 2010: Recruit faculty for fall 2010 entering class
  • Spring 2010: Enroll first students for fall 2010
  • Fall 2010: Complete renovation of the Universities Center at Dallas
  • Fall 2010: Complete installation of furniture and equipment
  • Fall 2010: Begin classes at UNT College of Law

Why another law school?

  • DFW is the largest metropolitan area in the country without a public law school.
  • Law firms are under pressure from clients to better diversify; can't find enough minority law graduates.
  • SMU - 3,000 applications for 180 day positions and 600 applications for 95 night positions for first-year class (was 2,300 in 2002 and 1,582 in 2001).
  • Opportunities for students in Dallas/Fort Worth to attend law school have declined relative to growth in population.
  • Area students forced to assume high debt or leave town to go to law school.
  • DFW has more people than Houston but Houston has twice as many law class positions.
  • As a judge, it was impossible for UNT College of Law Co-Chair of the Founders Board Jay Patterson to find enough minority lawyers to appoint as guardians ad litem, mediators and receivers.
  • 2000 census showed over 60% minority population in Dallas County while ony 9% of the over 12,000 lawyers in Dallas County are from a minority.

Get involved!

To find out about how you and/or your firm can support the public UNT College of Law, contact:

Jay Patterson, Co-Chair of the Founders Board
Proposed UNT College of Law
9854 Estate Lane
Dallas, Texas 75238-1963
(214) 533-6433
(214) 343-8303 fax
jayjanp@earthlink.net