AUSTIN — The University of Texas at Austin has agreed to pay a Los Angeles-based law firm nearly $1 million to defend its admission standards, which consider race and ethnicity.
A contract between the university and Latham & Watkins LLP says the firm will receive a flat $977,000 fee and up to $10,000 for expenses representing UT before the U.S. Supreme Court.
The case stems from a 2008 lawsuit filed by two white, female students denied admission then.
Abigail Fisher and Rachel Michalewicz alleged the university violated their constitutional right to equal protection.
About two-thirds of UT freshmen are admitted based on high school class rank.
The American-Statesman reports (http://bit.ly/IdNOno ) that it obtained a copy of UT's contract with the law firm from the state attorney general's office, which approved the agreement.
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