University of New Mexico School of Law

Last updated
University of New Mexico
School of Law
University of New Mexico School of Law.png
Established1947
School type Public
Dean Camille Carey [1]
Location Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Enrollment347 [2]
Faculty34 [3] (full time)
USNWR ranking94th (tie) (2024) [4]
Bar pass rate92% [5]
Website lawschool.unm.edu
ABA profile UNM School of Law profile
Bratton Hall University of New Mexico School of Law, Albuquerque NM.jpg
Bratton Hall

The University of New Mexico School of Law (UNM Law or New Mexico Law) is the law school of the University of New Mexico, a public research university in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. Founded in 1947, it is the only law school in the state. [6]

Contents

With approximately 300 students and 32 faculty, UNM Law has a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, among the best in the nation. [7] An average of 100 students are enrolled annually, with an acceptance rate of 44 percent. [8] The Juris Doctor (J.D.) program is a full-time day program requiring completion of 86 credit hours in three years. The school also offers dual degree J.D./Masters programs in Accounting, Latin American Studies, Business Administration, or Public Administration; a Master of Studies in Law (MSL); and certificates in Indian law and natural resources law. [7] UNM Law maintains five full-time legal clinics and is unique in requiring the completion of a clinical course to graduate. [9]

UNM Law has one of the highest student diversity indexes of any U.S. law school, with Hispanics as the largest minority group. [10] The school was among the first to prioritize the enrollment of indigenous people and is recognized as the top law school for Native Americans, [11] as well as the second-best law school for Hispanics. [12] The Princeton Review ranked UNM Law sixth in providing the greatest resources for minority students. [13]

UNM School of Law is ranked 91st by U.S. News & World Report and tied for eighth in clinical training; it is particularly noted for its environmental law program. National Jurist ranked UNM Law among the top 30 "best value" law schools, based on criteria such as average indebtedness after graduation, student employment rates, and tuition costs. [14] According to New Mexico's official ABA-required disclosures, 85.7% of the Class of 2021 obtained full-time, long-term, J.D.-required employment ten months after graduation. [15]

Academics

In addition to standard doctrinal courses in subjects such as contracts and torts, UNM Law is known for its programs in clinical education, Indian law, and natural resources and environmental law. The in-house Clinical Law Program has been consistently recognized as among the best in the country; though clinical education is optional at most law schools, participation in the clinic is required of all UNM law students. [16] The Indian Law Program includes a specialized program of study leading to a certificate in Indian Law, the Southwest Indian Law Clinic, and the faculty-edited Tribal Law Journal. The Natural Resources and Environmental Law Program includes a specialized program of study leading to a certificate in the field and the student-edited Natural Resources Journal.

UNM School of Law has a unique relationship with New Mexico's government. Under the terms of the state constitution, the dean of the law school is responsible for chairing the state's judicial selection process, including the Judicial Compensation Commission and serving on other boards, committees and commissions. [17] Moreover, the School of Law has the primary responsibility for all judicial education within the state.

Exchange and study abroad programs

Study abroad opportunities are available with special UNM exchange programs in Mexico, Canada, and Tasmania. The law school also has an exchange program with the University of New Hampshire School of Law, which allows UNM students to study patent and intellectual property law at that school. [18]

Admissions

Applications are reviewed by five-member admissions committee that makes the final decision on acceptance into the next fall's entering class. The committee is composed of three full-time faculty members, the assistant dean for admissions, and one third-year law student elected by the student body. The committee begins reviewing files near the end of the fall semester; but often a final decision is not made until late April. The committee considers quantifiable factors (LSAT and grade point average) and nonquantifiable factors (letters of recommendation, personal statement, and extracurricular activities) in making decisions; substantial preference is given to New Mexico residents. The committee also recognizes that special pre-law programs for minority and disadvantaged applicants provide valuable information about an applicant's ability to succeed in law school, and participation in such programs is taken into account. [19]

Centers and institutes

Publications

Competitions and moot courts

Students may participate in the following competitions and moot courts at the law school:

Campus

In 1971, the law school moved into its current building, designed by the architect Antoine Predock while he was working for George Wright & Associates. [21] In 2002, the law school opened the Fred Hart wing, designed by architect Edward Mazria. [22] [23] The New Mexico Court of Appeals is located on campus, next door to the School of Law. The Court of Appeals and the School of Law have a symbiotic relationship with the judges using the law school's library and the students using the Court of Appeal's formal courtroom. Indeed, the Court of Appeals was designed for this use, with classrooms for law students adjacent to the formal courtroom. [24]

The Native American Community Academy, a charter school, previously had grades 11-12 attend classes at UNM Middle School. All school buses went to Wilson Middle School's campus, with grade 11-12 students transported to/from Wilson to the UNM Law building. [25] In 2013 all grades moved to Building 232 of the former Albuquerque Indian School, [26] the Employees' New Dormitory and Club.

Employment

According to New Mexico's official ABA-required disclosures, 85.7% of the Class of 2021 obtained full-time, long-term, J.D.-required employment ten months after graduation. [15] A slight majority of graduates (52%) were employed in law firms, followed by 16% in government and 10% in the public interest. [15]

Notable alumni

Notable faculty

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yale Law School</span> Law school in New Haven, Connecticut, US

Yale Law School (YLS) is the law school of Yale University, a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. It was established in 1824. The 2020–21 acceptance rate was 4%, the lowest of any law school in the United States. Its yield rate of 87% is also consistently the highest of any law school in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loyola Law School</span> Law school of Loyola Marymount University

Loyola Law School is the law school of Loyola Marymount University, a private Catholic university in Los Angeles, California. Loyola was established in 1920.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law</span> Law school in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.

Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law is the law school of Indiana University Indianapolis, a public research university in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has been based in Lawrence W. Inlow Hall in Indianapolis since 2001. IU McKinney is one of two law schools operated by Indiana University, the other being the Indiana University Maurer School of Law in Bloomington. Although both law schools are part of Indiana University, each law school is wholly independent of the other.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law</span> Law school of Yeshiva University in New York

The Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law is the law school of Yeshiva University in New York City. Founded in 1976 and now located on Fifth Avenue near Union Square in Lower Manhattan, the school is named for Supreme Court Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo. Cardozo graduated its first class in 1979. An LL.M. program was established in 1998. Cardozo is nondenominational and has a secular curriculum, in contrast to some of Yeshiva University's undergraduate programs. Around 320 students begin the J.D. program per year, of whom about 57% are women. In addition, there are about 60–70 LL.M. students each year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of San Diego School of Law</span> Private law school in San Diego, California

The University of San Diego School of Law is the law school of the University of San Diego, a private Roman Catholic research university in San Diego, California. Founded in 1954, the law school has held ABA approval since 1961. It joined the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) in 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quinnipiac University School of Law</span> Law school in Connecticut, U.S.

Quinnipiac University School of Law is the law school of Quinnipiac University located in North Haven, Connecticut. Quinnipiac Law is the newest law school in Connecticut, having received full accreditation from the American Bar Association (ABA) in 1992. It is a member of the Association of American Law Schools, and is currently ranked tied at 143rd by U.S. News & World Report.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Washington University Law School</span> Law school in Washington, D.C., US

The George Washington University Law School is the law school of George Washington University, in Washington, D.C. Established in 1865, GW Law is the oldest law school in the national capital. GW Law has 275 elective courses in business and finance law, environmental law, government procurement law, intellectual property law, international comparative law, litigation and dispute resolution, and national security and U.S. foreign relations law.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law</span> American law school in Memphis (1962-)

The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law is an American Bar Association accredited law school and is the only law school in Memphis, Tennessee. The school has been associated with the University of Memphis since the law school's formation in 1962. The school was named in honor of former University president Cecil C. Humphreys. It is also referred to as U of M Law, Memphis Law, or Memphis Law School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Miami School of Law</span> Law school in Coral Gables, Florida, US

The University of Miami School of Law is the law school of the University of Miami, a private research university in Coral Gables, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lewis & Clark Law School</span> Private law school in Portland, Oregon

The Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College, is an American Bar Association-approved private law school in Portland, Oregon.

Suellyn Scarnecchia is a clinical law professor at the University of Michigan. She previously served as the general counsel and vice president at the University of Michigan from 2008 to 2012. From 2003 to 2008 she was the dean of the University of New Mexico School of Law, the first woman to fill that position.

The Anderson School of Management (Anderson) is the business school of the University of New Mexico (UNM). Anderson was the first professional school of management established in the state of New Mexico. Anderson's current alumni base is over 24,000 graduates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emory University School of Law</span> Private law school in Atlanta, Georgia, US

Emory University School of Law is the law school of Emory University, a private research university in Atlanta, Georgia. It was founded in 1916 and was the first law school in Georgia to be granted membership in the American Association of Law Schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University</span> Law school of Duquesne University

The Thomas R. Kline School of Law is the law school of Duquesne University, a private Catholic university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is approved by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Dean April M. Barton joined the school in 2019 as its 13th dean.

Widener University Delaware Law School is a private law school in Wilmington, Delaware. It is one of two separate ABA-accredited law schools of Widener University. Widener University Law School was founded in 1971 as the Delaware Law School and became affiliated with Widener in 1975. In 1989, it was known as Widener University School of Law when it was combined with the campus in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In 2015, the two campuses separated, with the Harrisburg one renamed to Widener University Commonwealth Law School.

Regent University School of Law is the law school of Regent University, a private Christian university in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It was founded in 1986 and accredited by the American Bar Association in 1996.

The Peking University School of Transnational Law is located in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. The school started in the fall of 2008 as a part of the Shenzhen Graduate School of Peking University. It is the first law school to offer a traditional western-style Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree alongside a Chinese-style Juris Master (J.M.) degree. The program is four years and graduates will receive both the Chinese Juris Master's degree and, not accredited by the ABA, a J.D. degree. STL also offers a 3-year J.D. degree in English and a 1-2-year LL.M. degree. The school's tagline is "China's most innovative law school in China's most innovative city. The School is run by bringing in emeritus professors from American and running little short taster courses. There is substantive content of depth and no deep learning. It has not PhD program and seems to be just selling a lightweight degree with lots of teachers flowen in that have no published leading journals or books but are mainly old Americans on holiday."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Blewett III School of Law</span> Law school in Missoula, Montana, United States

The Alexander Blewett III School of Law is a law school at the University of Montana in Missoula. It was established in 1911 and remains Montana's only law school.

The University of Detroit Mercy School of Law is the law school of the University of Detroit Mercy and is located in Downtown Detroit, Michigan across from the Renaissance Center. Founded in 1912, Detroit Mercy Law is a private Roman Catholic law school and has been ABA-accredited since 1933. The Law School has an annual enrollment of 612 students including 223 Nonresident Aliens, and currently has 67 faculty members.

The North Carolina Central University School of Law is the law school associated with North Carolina Central University. The school is fully accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and the North Carolina State Bar Council, and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS). According to NC Central's official 2018 ABA-required disclosures, 37.9% of the Class of 2018 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment nine months after graduation.

References

  1. "Carey Named Dean of UNM School of Law". news.unm.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  2. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-12-29. Retrieved 2008-07-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. UNM Law website
  4. https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/university-of-new-mexico-main-campus-03100.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[ bare URL ]
  5. "ABA Data for first time takers in New Mexico, Winter 06 and Summer 07" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-12-29. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
  6. "ABA-Approved Law Schools". www.americanbar.org. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  7. 1 2 "University of New Mexico Law School Overview". www.usnews.com.
  8. "University of New Mexico - School of Law - The Princeton Review Law School Rankings & Reviews". www.princetonreview.com. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  9. "Clinical Program :: School of Law | The University of New Mexico". lawschool.unm.edu. Retrieved 2022-12-17.
  10. "USNews: America's Best Graduate Schools 2008: Law". Archived from the original on 2009-03-09. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  11. "preLaw magazine - Winter 2022". mydigitalpublication.com. pp. 26–27. Retrieved 2022-12-17.
  12. "preLaw magazine Winter 2022". mydigitalpublication.com. pp. 26–27. Retrieved 2022-12-17.
  13. "Greatest Resources for Minority Students | The Princeton Review". www.princetonreview.com. Retrieved 2022-12-17.
  14. "Best Value Law Schools | the National Jurist". www.nationaljurist.com. 16 October 2009. Retrieved 2015-06-10.
  15. 1 2 3 "Employment Statistics :: School of Law | The University of New Mexico". lawschool.unm.edu. Retrieved 2022-12-17.
  16. About the Clinical Program - Clinical Law Programs | UNM School of Law
  17. N.M. Const., art. VI, § 35
  18. "UNM School of Law | Academics | Exchange Programs | Franklin Pierce Intellectual Property Exchange". Archived from the original on 2008-05-18. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
  19. About Admissions - Admissions | UNM School of Law
  20. "UNM School of Law | Curriculum | Competitions | Course Descriptions". Archived from the original on 2008-07-05. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
  21. "UNM School of Law | About UNM Law School | History | A Historical Perspective". Archived from the original on 2008-05-18. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
  22. "UNM School of Law | About UNM Law School | History | Milestones". Archived from the original on 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
  23. Unm Law School Earns Merit Award For Building Addition
  24. Harbert, Nancy (October 1, 2011). "Moot Courtroom Turned into Classroom". UNM Law 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  25. Yodice, James (2013-02-20). "Academy blends native culture, city life". Albuquerque Journal . Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  26. Tassy, Elaine (2013-08-25). "Native American charter school finds home on Indian School campus". Albuquerque Journal . Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  27. "Chickasaw Nation Ambassador Charles W. Blackwell – a Man of Vision". KXII . 2013-01-04. Archived from the original on 2013-01-08. Retrieved 2013-01-20.

35°05′37″N106°37′07″W / 35.0935°N 106.6185°W / 35.0935; -106.6185