The South Texas College of Law was founded by the Houston YMCA, who established the school to provide working professionals the chance to earn a law degree through classes planned around their work schedules. Today, the school remains committed to flexibility to accommodate its nontraditional students. Full-time students can schedule evening classes as well as day classes, and the traditional slate of core classes is required for participants of both the full- and part-time program. STCL offers students academic support systems to help with the work burden, including study groups with honors 3L students.

Academically, STCL emphasizes practical skills over theory. In 2008, STCL became the first law school to accumulate 100 national titles in trial advocacy competitions. STCL is part of the Consortium for Innovative Legal Education, a group of three other independent law schools that collaborates to provide students with study abroad opportunities, among other programs.

After graduation, new JDs mostly go into private practice in Houston, but there are other alumni concentrations throughout the state. As a standalone law school with not affiliated parent university, STCL does not have on-campus housing or a rowdy undergraduate population. The plus side is that the downtown campus provides easy access to Houston nightlife, where most student social life is centered.