Academics

Honors, Awards and Prizes

Order of the Coif

A chapter of the Order of the Coif was established at the School in 1971. This prestigious national organization honors the top ten percent of each year's graduating class.

Awards and Prizes

The faculty recognizes outstanding academic achievement and significant contributions to the Law School community through these awards.

  • ABA/BNA Award — recognizes excellence in the study of intellectual property law
  • The Honorable Pete Domenici Award — recognizes excellence in environmental law
  • Atkinson & Kelsey Award — recognizes excellence in family law
  • Honors in Clinical Law — recognizes outstanding performance in the clinical program
  • Margaret Keiper Dailey Award — given in recognition of awareness of social problems, concern for people in trouble, and professional dedication to equal justice for all
  • Dean's Awards — honors students for outstanding contributions to the Law School community
  • Faculty Award — recognizes outstanding contributions to the Law School community
  • American Bankruptcy Institute Medal — for excellence in bankruptcy studies
  • Freedman, Boyd, Daniels, Hollander, Goldberg & Ives Prize — recognizes excellence in criminal law
  • The Frederick M. Hart Prize — honors students who have shown excellence in commercial law
  • Health Law Scholar Award — presented to a third-year student who has demonstrated interest and proficiency in health law
  • Award for Excellence in international and comparative law
  • Don G. McCormick Endowed Writing Prize — established by Margo J. McCormick in memory of her father for recognition of excellent legal writing
  • Julia Raymond McCulloch Memorial Award — presented to a student who has shown outstanding scholarship and a demonstrated interest in the field of constitutional law
  • A.H. McLeod Prize — presented to a third-year student who has demonstrated interest and skill in advocacy
  • Sheehan, Sheehan, and Stelzner Award — pursuit of excellence award
  • Irwin Stern Moise Award in Legal and Judicial Ethics — recognizes a third-year student deemed most deserving on the basis of demonstrated scholarship, interest, and activity in the fields of legal and judicial ethics
  • Hugh B. Muir Award — in honor of Professor Muir, this award recognizes an outstanding third-year student who has excelled in tax law
  • National Association of Women Lawyers' Award — presented to a third-year student for academic achievement, interest, and contribution to the advancement of women in society
  • Robert C. Poole Merit Award — established by the law firm of Poole, Kelly & Ramo, in honor of the firm's founder, to be awarded to the first-year law student with the highest grade point average
  • The Rodey Merit Scholarship — established by the law firm of Rodey, Dickason, Sloan, Akin & Robb, P.A. to be awarded to a first-year student who has demonstrated the potential to make an outstanding contribution to the study of law
  • Lewis R. Sutin Award — in honor of Judge Sutin, formerly of the New Mexico Court of Appeals, this award is presented to an outstanding student in either trial or appellate advocacy
  • Tort Scholar Award — presented to a third-year student who has demonstrated interest and proficiency in tort law.
  • The Jerrold L. Walden Memorial Award — established as a memorial to Professor Walden, this award recognizes a student who has evidenced the qualities of heart that distinguished Professor Walden
  • Wall Street Journal Award — recognizes students for excellence in corporation and business law
  • Albert E. Utton Natural Resources Law Award
  • West Group Award in Domestic Relations — recognizes excellence in domestic relations
  • Lexis Awards — acknowledges outstanding contributions to scholarship by members of the third-year class
  • UNM Law Library Award — honors a third-year student who has excelled academically and demonstrated outstanding contributions to the law school community.
  • The Mary Beth & W. Richard West, Jr. Award for Excellence in Indian Law — established by W. Richard & Mary Beth West, this prize is for a third-year Native American student who has shown excellence in and commitment to the area of Indian law
  • Judge Oliver Seth Award — recognizes a student for excellence in alternative dispute resolution
  • Judge Oliver Seth Award in Ethics