Sept. 16, 2025 - The University of Houston Law Center’s entering J.D. class has the highest academic credentials in the Law Center’s history. The overall median LSAT is 163 and the median undergraduate GPA is 3.79, the strongest in more than four decades. The J.D. class is comprised of 219 full-time and 30 part-time students.
In addition to the J.D. students, UH Law welcomed 44 new LL.M. students, including 35 from abroad and nine from the U.S. The cohort represents 18 countries, with Mexico leading outside the U.S. at six students, followed by Pakistan with four.
The incoming LL.M. class arrived with impressive resumes and global experience. Among them are teachers, professors, and English translators; executives in the petrochemical industry; a dermatologist; multiple Ph.D. holders; a Fulbright Scholar; and two students who have each published more than a dozen articles.
“This extraordinary group of students joins the Law Center at a significant moment for our institution, as we continue to strengthen our academic profile and broaden our impact in the legal profession,” said UH Law Center Dean Leonard M. Baynes.
Even so, first-years say the transition into law school came with some nerves as students navigated new class schedules and topics.
Austin Trevino, a 1L, said the heavy workload is a reminder of the commitment ahead. “It’s a big change. But I think in these past few days, I’ve realized that if you put in the work, you will understand it,” he said. “Since it’s only our first semester, we have around five more after this, I just want to establish my routines and study habits. This semester I just want to see what works for me.”
Alex Hickok, also a 1L, is hitting the ground running. “I’m feeling pretty good! I feel like I’m grasping the material pretty well, it’s just time-consuming,” he said.
Over 20% of the Class of 2028 are first-generation undergraduate and law school students, and 83.5% are first-generation law students overall. The incoming transfer class includes 25 students, an increase from 19 in 2024, along with one visiting student.
For returning students, the start of the semester carries a different weight. Laura Stoicoviciu, a 3L, said the final year feels “weird,” but also exciting.
“It’s good, I like all my classes and it’s good to see everyone’s face again,” she said. While Stoicoviciu is taking bar prep classes, she’s also diving into new opportunities, like participating in UHLC’s Entertainment Clinic with classmate Jillian Luna. “So, there’s a lot of cool events we’re going to do throughout the semester and… extracurriculars. I’m excited to do everything that I wanted to do in law school that I haven’t done yet. I’m thinking about doing mock trial, maybe. Better late than never!”
