Summer Law School Preparation Academy opens with Texas professionals

Mayor Julian Castro Speaking

Mayor Julian Castro addresses students in the UTSA Summer Law School Preparation Academy.
>> View a compilation of news videos on the academy from KSAT-TV, KABB-TV and KENS-TV (6/1/2010)

Share this Story

(June 2, 2010)--The UTSA Institute for Law and Public Affairs Summer Law School Preparation Academy (SLSPA) celebrated its ninth annual opening day ceremony this week at the UTSA Downtown Campus. This year's class of 125 students is the largest since the academy was established in September 2001.

SLSPA provides a rigorous academically intensive 12-credit-hour training course over a three-month period led by faculty from UTSA and the University of Texas at Austin School of Law.

The ceremony featured presentations and panel discussions by local dignitaries, legal professionals, faculty members and former academy participants currently pursuing legal studies or practicing law.

Speakers included Mayor Julian Castro, state Senator Jeff Wentworth, state Representative Ruth Jones McClendon, U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez, U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia, 407th District Court Judge Karen Pozza, 150th District Court Judge Janet Littlejohn, City of San Antonio Attorney Michael Bernard, UT Austin School of Law Dean Lawrence Sager, UTSA President Ricardo Romo and other professionals.

"We are not producing more lawyers. We are assuring that our students secure their rightful share of the attorneys that are being produced nationally," said Richard Gambitta, director of the UTSA Institute for Law and Public Affairs. "We are demonstrating that enhanced higher education translates into results."

Over the last nine years, SLSPA has helped students gain acceptance to more than 140 law schools across the nation including Harvard University, University of California at Berkeley, University of Chicago, Columbia University, New York University, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, Georgetown University, Cornell University, University of Virginia, University of Texas at Austin and all other law schools in Texas.

"The skills and knowledge I received at the institute allowed me to excel in my first year of law school at the University of California at Berkeley," said Gretchen Harting , attorney for McKool Smith PC. "I was stunned by how far my knowledge exceeded others with undergraduate degrees from prestigious schools like Brown, Princeton, Stanford and Harvard."

The UTSA Institute for Law and Public Affairs enhances pre-law educational opportunities and increases the number of Texas students who gain admission to and excel in high-quality law schools. The institute also executes the UTSA Legislative Scholars program, which provides $10,000 to students selected to be legislative assistants during the Texas House of Representatives legislative session.

 

 

Events



Spotlight

UTSA Bold Promise CTA

UTSA’s Mission

The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

UTSA’s Vision

To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.

UTSA’s Core Values

We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.

UTSA’S Destinations

UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.