Miscellaneous Graduation Information
- Graduation with Honors Effective Spring 1998, graduation with honors is determined according to the following GPA divisions:
- Highest Honors: a cumulative final GPA of at least 4.05;
- High Honors: a cumulative final GPA of 3.85 through 4.04; and,
- Honors: a cumulative final GPA of 3.35 through 3.84.
- Policy of No Ranking – It is the policy of the Law School not to rank its students on the basis of academic standing. The only exception to this policy is the top 10% computed for eligibility for Order of the Coif, but individual students are not ranked.
- Order of the Coif is computed once each year and includes the graduates from the August, December, and May graduating classes, e.g., Aug. 2008, Dec. 2008, and May 2009. The three classes are combined and the top 10% are eligible to be invited to join Coif. Computations are done after all grades for the three classes are received, typically in September. The list of names is submitted to the faculty sponsor who will then notify the students.
- Diplomas are mailed by The University Registrar's Office, not the Law School. Changes of address or name should be reported to the Registrar's Office at telephone number (512) 475-7619. Diplomas will not be released to students with bars on their records at the time of graduation. Note that the diploma will state the official graduation date of the semester in which all requirements for the degree are completed and the student is certified by the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs as being eligible for graduation. Diplomas cannot be backdated to the last semester of actual attendance in law school.
- Transcripts ordered on-line or through the Student Affairs office are unofficial. They cannot be ordered by phone or fax. The Student Affairs Office must have a written request signed by the student. Transcript orders by mail must include name, signature, UTEID, last date of attendance, and a check for $2.50 payable to The University of Texas at Austin.
Official transcripts must be ordered from the Registrar's Office, The University of Texas, Main Building 1, Austin TX 78712. You may refer to the Registrar's website or call (512) 475-7689 for more options. Transcripts, official or unofficial, will not be released to students or graduates with bars.
- Texas State Bar – Applications to take the Texas Bar Examination are available in the Student Affairs Office and on-line. Deadline information is posted on the video monitor screens and on the Bar bulletin board outside the Student Affairs Office. Students within four hours of completing their JD or dual degrees are eligible to take the Texas Bar. The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs must certify eligibility to take the bar examination.
- Other State Bars – Check in the Student Affairs Office for requirements, addresses, and other information. Or, check the website of the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
