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« TLS Profiles - TLS Programs - TLS Stats - Rankings University of New Mexico School of Law
Admissions & Tuition It is, generally speaking, not remarkably difficult to gain admission to University of New Mexico Law School. The median GPAs and LSAT scores of matriculating students are 3.31 and 154, respectively. These numbers, especially with regard to GPA, are notably lower than the schools immediately surrounding University of New Mexico Law School in the USNews rankings. If an applicant has taken the LSAT multiple times, only the highest score will be used for admissions purposes. The law school requires a personal statement of 3-5 double-spaced pages, which is longer than the standard 2-pager requested by most law schools; this is because they place great importance on this facet of an applicant’s package. UNM Law’s website suggests that applicants use their personal statement as an opportunity to cover, among other topics, the specific reasons for their desire to study law in New Mexico. Given that the University of New Mexico School of Law is a regional school, conveying specific reasons why it is a good fit will likely go far in the admissions process. Only one letter of recommendation is required, as opposed to the standard two, however extras may be submitted for consideration. Additionally, there is a $50 application fee which can, as is the case of most law schools, be waived in cases of need. Teach For America Corps members and alumni are specifically encouraged to apply—their application fees will be automatically waived and they will be automatically considered for merit and need-based scholarships. Once admitted and enrolled, University of New Mexico Law School students face the always joyous task of paying for their legal education. For New Mexico residents, this is an easier task, as tuition and fees total a very reasonable $12,619 for the year. For out-of-state students, however, the total jumps to $28,235. Books and supplies add another $1,082 a year (on average) for all students, regardless of their state of residency. Even though it is possible for out-of-staters to gain NM residency after their first year, the price of out-of-state tuition balanced against UNM’s lack of a strong national reputation should give pause to some out-of-state applicants.
Upon completion of their educations at UNM Law, students tend to fair quite well on the bar, as the school boasts a 87.8% passage rate. However, once they’ve passed the bar, there comes the matter of finding employment. There are plenty of opportunities for work in government law and—uniquely—tribal law in the state of New Mexico, and many of these jobs fall to UNM grads. Additionally, students seeking to go into private practice in the New Mexico cities of Albuquerque, Santa Fe or Las Cruces (or into what limited private practice opportunities exist in the state’s many rural areas), should find themselves with several good options. Students seeking to work out-of-state need to use more caution, and those looking to leave the region (Southwestern states excluding California, as well as West Texas) entirely would likely be best-advised to pursue their legal educations elsewhere, closer to where they wish to practice. Academics As has been previously stated, University of New Mexico Law School is not generally recognized nationally as an academic powerhouse, being ranked squarely in the middle of USN&WR’s Second Tier. As is the case with many often-overlooked schools, however, UNM is home to some well-regarded specialty programs. Their Clinical Law Program is ranked 5th in the nation, and the school is considered very strong on issues of American Indian law. Finally, UNM Law is one of the 80 law schools with a chapter of the Order of the Coif. Quality of Life The key to life in New Mexico is an embrace of diversity. The panoply of peoples and cultures in the state, including the high Hispanic and Native American populations, make it like no other place in the United States. UNM Law itself has been rated as one of the most diverse law schools in the nation, especially in terms of the proportion of Hispanic students. Conclusion Offering very reasonable in-state tuition, some highly-regarded specialty programs, and unparalleled access to the Albuquerque legal market, University of New Mexico Law School is a great choice for those wishing to stay and practice law in the Land of Enchantment. Quick Reference U.S. News Ranking: 77 |
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The University of New Mexico School of Law in Albuquerque is ranked 68th by US News and World Review, placing in their Second Tier (schools ranked 50-100). It is unquestionably the finest law school in New Mexico—however this distinction is not without a trace of irony, because it is also the only law school in New Mexico. As such, it affords almost unparalleled access to law practice opportunities in Albuquerque—the 34th-largest city in the Untied States and a substantial legal market—and the rest of New Mexico. On the other hand, University of New Mexico Law School grads can have a more difficult time finding work outside of the state, as even neighboring mountain west states Arizona and Colorado are home to more highly regarded schools. 
Bar Passage & Employment Prospects