Why University of New Mexico?
The University of New Mexico School of Law is distinguished by its pioneering and mandatory clinical law program, strong focus on Indian law and natural resources, and a notably low student-to-faculty ratio.
University of New Mexico is a moderately selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 47.0%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.56 GPA and 156 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.12–3.82 GPA and 152–160 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 99 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, University of New Mexico admitted 1 transfer student into the 2L class. 1 1L transferred out.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #117
- Median GPA
- 3.56
- 25th–75th: 3.12–3.82
- Median LSAT
- 156
- 25th–75th: 152–160
- Acceptance rate
- 47.0%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 99
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 1
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students University of New Mexico admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
- Median
- —
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
1 1L transferred out of University of New Mexico in the same cycle — context for how portable University of New Mexico's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.
Top employment markets
- 1New Mexico
- 2Arizona
- 3Colorado
Where the most recent graduating class concentrated employment, per the school's ABA 509 employment summary. Use this as a signal of where the alumni network and OCI recruiting pipeline are strongest.
Signature clinics
Clinical programs that define University of New Mexico's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why University of New Mexico" essay where they align with your interests.
- Community Lawyering ClinicStudents represent clients in various civil matters, often focusing on issues affecting underserved communities.
- Child and Family Justice ClinicStudents advocate for children and families in legal proceedings and policy work.
- Economic Justice ClinicStudents provide legal services to small businesses, startups, and non-profit organizations.
- Natural Resources and Environmental Law ClinicStudents work on cases and policy issues related to environmental protection and natural resource management.
- Southwest Indian Law ClinicStudents represent tribal governments and individual Native American clients in a range of legal issues.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- New Mexico Law Review— General legal scholarship
- Natural Resources Journal— International, interdisciplinary forum on natural and environmental resources
- Tribal Law Journal— Promoting indigenous self-determination by discussing the internal law of indigenous nations
Faculty highlights
Well-known faculty grouped by primary specialty. If a professor's scholarship aligns with your interests, name them in your essay and reference a specific paper or course.
- Reed BensonAdministrative Law, Environmental Law
- Nathalie MartinBankruptcy Law, Consumer & Commercial Law
- Sonia Gipson RankinArtificial Intelligence, Constitutional Law
- Vinay HarpalaniConstitutional Law, Civil Rights
- Serge MartinezClinical Legal Education, Business Law
- Barbara CreelCivil Rights, Criminal Law
- Matthew MurrellTechnology Law, Intellectual Property Law, Artificial Intelligence
- Paul SpruhanFederal Indian Law, Tribal Law
- Natalie WintersCriminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Evidence Law
- Camille CareyClinical Legal Education
What makes University of New Mexico distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·All J.D. students are required to complete a six-credit-hour clinical course, a unique aspect among U.S. law schools.
- ·The school maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio, reported as 5.1-to-1 or 6-to-1, fostering close interaction with faculty.
- ·Offers dual J.D./Master's degrees in fields such as Accounting, Latin American Studies, Business Administration, and Public Administration.
- ·Features a unique 'Lab' course in the first-year curriculum, providing hands-on introduction to legal skills and professional identity development.
- ·Home to the American Indian Law Center, Inc., the oldest existing Indian-controlled and operated legal and public policy organization in the country.
Using this for your "Why University of New Mexico" essay
Strong "Why X Law School" essays are concrete and specific to the school — not interchangeable templates. Use these facts to anchor your essay, then layer on what you've found from the school's own faculty pages, clinical program descriptions, and journal listings.
Important note: admissions committees actively reject AI-written personal statements and "Why X" essays. Use this page as research material to write your own essay — never as a template to copy. Authentic, specific, personally-grounded reasoning is the only thing that wins these essays.
Frequently asked about University of New Mexico
What is the median GPA and LSAT at University of New Mexico?▾
University of New Mexico's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.56 and a median LSAT of 156. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.12–3.82 GPA and 152–160 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is University of New Mexico's acceptance rate?▾
University of New Mexico's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 47.0%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does University of New Mexico offer?▾
University of New Mexico's notable clinical programs include: Community Lawyering Clinic, Child and Family Justice Clinic, Economic Justice Clinic, Natural Resources and Environmental Law Clinic, Southwest Indian Law Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does University of New Mexico publish?▾
University of New Mexico's notable student-edited journals include: New Mexico Law Review, Natural Resources Journal, Tribal Law Journal.
Where do University of New Mexico graduates work?▾
University of New Mexico graduates concentrate employment in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does University of New Mexico admit?▾
University of New Mexico admitted 1 transfer student into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle.
Schools similar to University of New Mexico
Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.
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