Campus-U of H

*click here for more information on how to arrange a NACLE student exchange with the University of Houston Law Center

Overview / Intro to School

Why You Should Think About Spending a Semester as a NACLE Exchange Student at The University of Houston Law Center
The University of Houston Law Center provides an outstanding environment for studying international and comparative law, and for learning about the U.S. legal system. (See www.law.uh.edu) Located near the center of the fourth largest city in the United States, the University of Houston reflects the diversity and dynamism of Houston. (See www.uh.edu) We are a large law school by U.S. standards, with approximately 1,000 students pursuing the J.D. degree, and another 150 lawyers pursuing the LL.M. degree. (The LLM program attracts 20 – 25 foreign lawyers to us each year, from countries around the world.)

Specialties / Programs

We provide a broad curriculum with many areas of excellence, but subject areas in which we are most highly recognized nationally (and internationally) include the following:

• IP LAW – On the strength of our Institute for Intellectual Property and Information Law, the Law Center has been ranked among the leading centers for the study of intellectual property law in the United States, with leading experts in patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret and information law. Check out the program at http://www.law.uh.edu/ipil/.
• HEALTH LAW – Houston is home to the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest medical complex, comprising dozens of hospitals, research institutes and related organizations. Our Health Law and Policy Institute is one of the most highly ranked programs of its kind in the United States, and takes full advantage of interdisciplinary engagements with the talented professionals of the Texas Medical Center. Our health law faculty has gained national recognition for studies ranging from bioethics to regulation of the health industry. Learn more at http://www.law.uh.edu/healthlaw/homepage.html.
• INTERNATIONAL LAW – Each year, the Law Center offers a wide range of courses on topics of international and comparative law, taught by professors who have earned with impressive international reputations. In addition to our full-time faculty, we take advantage of Houston’s importance as a sophisticated international legal market to engage many international lawyers from law practice who offer courses as adjunct professors. The Law Center attracts many foreign lawyers each year to its Master of Laws Program, enriching the classroom experience by adding other cultures and ideas to our own. You can find out more at http://www.law.uh.edu/llm/international.html.
• AND MUCH MORE – The above are just some of the outstanding programs at the University of Houston Law Center. If your interest is criminal law, you might want to connect with our Criminal Justice Institute, or with the student activists in the Innocence Network. If you are interested in dispute settlement, you will find that the Blakely Advocacy Institute and the A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center offer numerous courses and activities to explore. Our Center for Consumer Law operates The Peoples’ Law School, which educates consumers and lobbies on behalf of fair business practices. You can learn more about these and other programs, including student organizations, at http://www.law.uh.edu/programs/

Location - Houston

What’s So Great About Houston, Texas?
“I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could.” The bumper sticker seen on cars around Texas reflects a state pride that is easily mocked, but not entirely misplaced. Texas is a state with a lot of personality – click below for just a few examples:

Cadillac Ranch
http://www.orangeshow.org/artcar.html
Texas is an important state, both politically and economically, and Texas lawyers are often seen in leadership positions nationally. Houston is a young and dynamic city, with a large and sophisticated international population and cultural activities that reflect its cosmopolitan nature.

Here are a few links that will give you a taste of Houston:

http://www.visithoustontexas.com/visitors
http://www.houston.org/whyHouston/usefulLinks.asp
http://www.houston.com

HOW TO APPLY

Information For UH Students Wishing to do an Exchange to Another School

After completion of their first full year of law studies (thirty semester units), UHLC students interested in taking courses at one of the Consortium institutions may request permission from the Associate Dean for Student Affairs to take up to 15 semester hours of credit at another law school. Required courses (i.e., all first year courses, Professional Responsibility and the senior writing requirement) must be taken in residence at the University of Houston Law Center. A student must be in good standing in order to visit one of the Consortium institutions.

*IN ADDITION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON APPLICATION, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON STUDENTS MUST FOLLOW THE APPLICATION PROCEDURES IN PLACE FOR EACH NACLE MEMBER INSTITUTION.
Check each member's specific information page for this information.

Course descriptions and a law center petition must be submitted for approval by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs in advance of the semester in question. A student must earn a minimum of a “C” in a course at a visiting institution in order to receive credit toward the Law Center’s degree. Pass/Fail courses, clinics, internships or independent study may not be taken for credit. Grades earned at another institution will not be calculated into the student’s Law Center cumulative grade point average.

Students will be required to fill out an “Individual Study Abroad” application with the American Bar Association and submit this form along with a $50.00 application fee to the ABA. Forms are downloadable at www.abanet.org/ THIS FORM MUST BE SUBMITTED 45 DAYS BEFORE STUDY BEGINS. ONCE YOU HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED TO ONE OF THE CANADIAN OR MEXICAN UNIVERSITIES AN ADVISER WILL WORK WITH YOU TO SELECT COURSES SO THE FORM CAN BE COMPLETED BEFORE STUDY ABROAD COMMENCES.

LL.M. students may visit a Consortium member law school and receive up to 6 credits towards their LL.M. Degree.

UHLC Students MUST submit a copy of their application to UH as well as to school at which they are studying. 

Information for Students Wishing to do an Exchange at the University of Houston

Find out more about the University of Houston Law Center.

A student interested in applying for visiting status at the University of Houston under the NACLE must be enrolled in a degree granting program at one of the Consortium member institutions, and have completed at least one full year of law study. FOREIGN STUDENTS MUST BE IN EITHER THEIR LAST YEAR OR NEXT-TO-LAST YEAR FOR THEIR FIRST DEGREE IN LAW.

Master of Laws and Doctoral Law students are also eligible.

To apply as a visiting student at UHLC, students should submit the following materials:

1. Completed Application Form (downloadable at www.law.uh.edu/LLM/masters.pdf)
2. Current Official Transcript (reflecting all law school grades)
3. Letter of Approval from home school attesting to good standing and stating that courses taken at University of Houston will count toward your degree and permission to participate in a NACLE exchange.
4. Personal statement of reasons for visit

$50.00 Application fee will be waived for NACLE applicants

Students at law schools outside the U.S. should send the following additional application materials:

1. Translation of transcript
2. TOEFL score of 600 or higher for students whose native language is not English
3. Letter of Financial Backing (downloadable at the bottom of this page)(Required to issue an I-20)
4. Statement of Understanding (downloadable at the bottom of this page)
5. A check for $75.00 for issuance of the I-20 Form, which is necessary for
6. Visa application, payable to the University of Houston
7. Copy of current passport and additional passport size photograph – no longer listed as a requirement

5. All international exchange students are encouraged to participate in an international orientation. The University charges a mandatory fee of $115.00 which includes the international orientation as well as an international student service fee. These fees are automatically generated upon the filing of the admission application and all necessary documents to secure the permission to matriculate at the University of Houston. Any change in these fees is subject to the discretion of the Board of Regents. 

All application materials should be submitted to: 

NACLE Coordinator
Coordinator of International Programs
University of Houston Law Center
100 Law Center
Houston, Texas 77204-6060
(713)743-2126

APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY MAY 1ST FOR THOSE STUDENTS INTERESTED IN VISITING IN THE FALL SEMESTER, WHICH RUNS FROM LATE AUGUST TO EARLY DECEMBER. STUDENTS INTERESTED IN VISITING IN THE SPRING SEMESTER (MID-JANUARY THROUGH EARLY MAY) MUST SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION MATERIALS BY OCTOBER 15TH.

NOTE

HEALTH INSURANCE is automatic upon registration for ALL international students. The charge is $420. To have this charge removed, student must show proof of insurance.

It is strongly recommended that applications for the NACLE exchange be submitted as early as possible due to the lengthy process for obtaining student visas.

In general, financial aid must be arranged through the students’ home school, however, a small number of stipends will be made available.

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION - THE GOOD NEIGHBOR SCHOLARSHIP

What does it do?

Provides a tuition exemption only for certain students at participating public institutions of higher education in the State of Texas.

Who can apply?

The candidate must be on a United States Immigration Service Approved and current student visa (Usually f-1 or J-1.)

The candidate must have been born in and be a current resident of an independent nation in the American Hemisphere other than Cuba and the United States

The candidate must intend to return to the eligible country upon completion of his/her program of study.

The candidate must be admitted unconditionally at an eligible public institution, and maintain satisfactory academic progress.

How does one apply?

The candidate contacts the International Student Office or Financial Aid Office at a participating public institution.

Ms. Anita Gaines, Director of International Students, (713) 743-5071, againes@uh.edu

Ms. Laura Neal, UH Law Center Financial Advisor: finaid@www.law.uh.edu

The candidate must meet the application deadlines and procedures and be recommended by the participating public institution.

Selection Criteria

Priority recommendations from the Program Officer which are mostly based on program rules and academic considerations are the main criteria used in the award process.

Deadlines

Deadline to receive recommendations from the schools at the Coordinating Board is 5:00PM February 15. Cancellations due by no later than October 15.

Awards

Awards would be for the following academic year.

Housing

The University of Houston Office of Residential Life and Housing is available to assist law students who wish to live on campus, www.uh.edu/admin/housing or toll free 1-800-247-7184 or 713-743-6000.

Ms. Lupe Trevino, Coordinator for Student Housing (713) 743-6002.

Downloadable Resources/Links

http://www.law.uh.edu/nacle/Application.html

Application for UHLC students wishing to visit another NACLE member school.

http://www.law.uh.edu/nacle/masters.pdf
Application for Non-UH Students wishing to do an exchange with the University of Houston

http://www.law.uh.edu/LLM
Letter of Financial Backing for Non-UH students wishing to do an exchange with the University of Houston

* Nacle students from mexican and canadian law schools are eligible to apply for this scholarship.