H.R. No. 258
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The online juris doctor program at St. Mary's
University School of Law in San Antonio has earned the distinction
of being the first fully online law degree program that has been
accredited by the American Bar Association; and
WHEREAS, St. Mary's University School of Law dates back to
1927, when the San Antonio School of Law was founded by the local
bar association as a part-time institution that met at night;
shortly thereafter, St. Mary's offered to make it into a university
law school with full-time faculty and a stronger curriculum, and in
1934, the law school acquired its current name and its Catholic and
Marianist mission; and
WHEREAS, In summer 2020, an ad hoc committee made up of
full-time tenured, tenure-track, and clinical faculty was formed at
the direction of Dean Patricia Roberts to explore the viability of
an online program, and on January 15, 2021, the school applied for
acquiescence from the ABA to change its part-time residential
program to a completely distance education program consisting of
synchronous and asynchronous online instruction; and
WHEREAS, In an effort to make a legal education more
accessible, particularly for those who are typically
underrepresented, the St. Mary's online juris doctor program was
designated as a part-time program so that students could attend law
school without having to forfeit their employment; they will have
access to the same opportunities and resources as full-time
students, without the costs usually associated with relocation and
long commutes; the fall 2022 online cohort consists of 27 inaugural
students who were matriculated from a lengthy list of 797
applicants, and together they represent 9 different states and 20
undergraduate universities; St. Mary's benefits from the
leadership of its president, Tom Mengler, and its provost and
executive vice president for academic affairs, Jason Pierce, and
the law school is led by Dean Roberts and associate deans Ramona
Lampley, Colin Marks, and Zoe Niesel; and
WHEREAS, For nine decades, St. Mary's University School of
Law has diligently prepared generations of attorneys with the
highest standards of skill, knowledge, and professionalism, and its
online juris doctor program is a testament to its ongoing
commitment to excellence and innovation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby commend the online juris doctor program at
St. Mary's University School of Law and extend to all those
associated with the program sincere best wishes for continued
success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the law school as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Martinez
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 258 was adopted by the House on March
8, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 0, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House