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The University of New Mexico School of Law

MSC11-6070, 1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
Phone: 505.277.2146; Fax: 505.277.9958
E-mail: admissions@law.unm.edu; Website: lawschool.unm.edu

Introduction

Located in Albuquerque, the School of Law is known for its small classes, easy student-faculty interaction, and programs in clinical law, natural resources law, and Indian law. The excellent student-to-faculty ratio, one of the best in the country, facilitates a sense of community in the educational experience. It also allows the school to offer more courses with smaller enrollments. The school is a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) and is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). The University of New Mexico is the state's flagship institution, with approximately 33,000 students on its main and branch campuses.

Curriculum

The Juris Doctor (JD) program offers a full-time day curriculum. Students normally complete the required 86 hours of law credit for the JD degree in three academic years (six semesters). A limited number of entering students may be admitted to the Flexible Time Program, which allows students to take fewer credit hours per semester and graduate in five academic years. All students must take the standard first-year curriculum, including basic courses in torts, contracts, civil procedure, property, criminal law, and constitutional law. Emphasis is also placed on the skills of advocacy: legal writing, oral argument, litigation, counseling, and negotiation. First-year classes range in size from approximately 18 to 58 students. After completion of the first-year curriculum, courses are elective except for Ethics and a clinical program. Typically, one half of the electives have fewer than 15 students. Every student must complete the advanced writing requirement.

Special Programs

Clinical Law. UNM's program in Clinical Law is regarded as one of the finest practical lawyering programs in the country and includes the Law Practice Clinic, the Business and Tax Clinic, the Community Lawyering Clinic, and the Southwest Indian Law Clinic. Students may participate in the extern placement program and elect assignment to a judge's office, the public defender's office, federal and state administrative offices, and private practitioners. The school also offers an innovative course in Criminal Law in Practice, in which students receive hands-on experience in either prosecution or defense of criminal cases at both the misdemeanor and felony levels. Unlike most other law schools, UNM requires six credit hours of clinical work for graduation. In 1970, the New Mexico Supreme Court adopted a rule permitting students to practice before state courts.

Indian Law. UNM has long been a leader in Indian law and has developed one of the most comprehensive programs in the country. The school offers students the Southwest Indian Law Clinic, the Tribal Law Journal, the Indian Law Certificate (ILC), scholarly research, guest lectures, seminars, and social activities. An ILC student completes the JD while enrolling in 21 hours of required and elective Indian law courses.

Natural Resources Law. UNM is widely known for its strength in the areas of natural resources and environmental law and offers a number of electives in these subjects.

Students who want to gain a more comprehensive understanding of resource problems may participate in the Natural Resources Certificate Program, which may include work on the Natural Resources Journal, an internationally recognized quarterly.

Business Law. UNM's Economic Development Program gives students the training they need to become well-prepared business lawyers. An enhanced curriculum includes the Business and Tax Clinic, which offers services to small businesses, start-ups, nonprofit organizations, and economic development programs. Students learn how to advise entrepreneurs on a wide range of business issues.

International Law. The school has developed a variety of programs and courses that provide opportunities for students interested in international law. Students may expand their experience through coursework at the law school and through the study-abroad and exchange programs.

Dual-Degree Programs

Three established dual JD and master's degree programs are offered: the JD and MPA in Public Administration, the JD and MBA, and the JD and MA in Latin American Studies. Students can also earn the JD degree and an MA, MS, or PhD in other academic fields. Students must satisfy the admission and academic requirements of both the School of Law and the graduate school.

Facilities

The School of Law, a state-of-the-art facility, is located on the northern edge of the UNM campus. The building is wireless and laptop friendly. The School of Law includes classroom and seminar rooms, all faculty offices, student organization and publication offices, a computer lab, the Clinical Program, and the law library. The School of Law is also home to the American Indian Law Center, Inc., the Utton Transboundary Resources Center, and the Institute of Public Law. Adjacent to the School of Law is the Albuquerque branch of the New Mexico Court of Appeals.

Law Library. The UNM Law Library is the largest legal research facility in New Mexico. The library offers a wide variety of electronic products, including more than 75 subscription databases. Its book and microform collection of 403,430 includes special collections in American Indian law, Mexican and Latin American law, land grant law, natural resources, and archival collections. The library's 32,443 square feet of space provides 303 seats, including 92 student carrels and 211 noncarrel seats, plus numerous areas for study, lounging, and browsing. Wireless Internet broadcasters; group study rooms equipped with audiovisual equipment; two student organization meeting rooms; photocopy, print, and scanning facilities; a microform reader/printer; the school's computer lab for student use; and a classroom for legal research instruction are found in the library. The library is also home to the Governor Bruce King Archives and Reading Room, which serves as a meeting space for special events.

Career Services. The school's smaller size allows for individualized attention in all aspects of career development and job-search methodology. Regular workshops are provided on résumé and cover letter writing, interviewing, and job-search strategies. In addition, the law school sponsors on-campus interviews, a mock interview program, and presentations on various practice opportunities.

Student Activities

Activities include the Natural Resources Journal, the New Mexico Law Review, the Tribal Law Journal, and several moot court and mock trial competitions. All law students are members of the University's Graduate/Professional Student Association and the Student Bar Association. Students may participate in one or more of the 30 law student organizations.

Admission and Financial Aid

Applicants must take the LSAT, register for the LSAC Credential Assembly Service, and have a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college before registration in the fall. A five-member committee reviews applications. Substantial weight is given to the applicant's personal statement, prior work experience, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and other information supplied by the applicant. Applications from New Mexico residents are given a preference. Students apply for financial aid by filing the FAFSA. Types of financial aid include loans, grants, and work-study programs. The school awards grants to students based on the Access Group's Need Access application.

Albuquerque

The Albuquerque metropolitan area has a population of approximately 750,000. Situated along the Rio Grande, the city is located at a high desert elevation of 5,000 to 7,000 feet and is surrounded by the Sandia Mountains.

From golf to skiing to hiking to fly-fishing, students have access to outdoor New Mexico. In addition, students have the opportunity to visit museums and art galleries and take in concerts and theater. The combination of multiple cultures reflected in food, music, art, architecture, and local customs heightens Albuquerque's appeal.

Applicant Profile

The University of New Mexico School of Law

This grid includes only applicants who earned 120–180 LSAT scores under standard administrations.

  GPA    
LSAT
Score		 3.75+
Apps		 3.75+
Adm		 3.50–
3.74 Apps		 3.50–
3.74 Adm		 3.25–
3.49 Apps		 3.25–
3.49 Adm		 3.00–
3.24 Apps		 3.00–
3.24 Adm		 2.75–
2.99 Apps		 2.75–
2.99 Adm		 2.50–
2.74 Apps		 2.50–
2.74 Adm		 2.25–
2.49 Apps		 2.25–
2.49 Adm		 2.00–
2.24 Apps		 2.00–
2.24 Adm		 Below 2.00
Apps		 Below 2.00
Adm		 No GPA
Apps		 No GPA
Adm		 Total
Apps		 Total
Adm
175–180 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
170–174 0 0 1 1 3 3 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 5
165–169 2 2 5 4 8 7 9 6 3 2 3 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 23
160–164 17 14 17 12 17 11 14 12 7 4 5 1 6 1 3 0 1 0 0 0 87 55
155–159 36 24 53 25 48 20 37 16 28 10 9 2 9 1 2 0 0 0 4 1 226 99
150–154 31 9 44 10 64 7 49 4 25 0 27 3 7 0 4 0 2 0 6 1 259 34
145–149 14 0 28 1 35 1 46 9 23 4 16 1 7 0 1 0 1 1 5 0 176 17
140–144 4 0 17 0 13 1 17 1 16 0 10 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 2 0 85 2
135–139 0 0 7 0 3 0 9 1 9 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 3 0 40 1
130–134 0 0 3 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 7 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 17 0
125–129 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 0
120–124 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 104 49 175 53 191 50 183 49 115 21 82 9 39 3 19 0 4 1 22 2 934 237

Apps = Number of Applicants
Adm = Number Admitted
Reflects 99% of the total applicant pool; highest LSAT data reported.