Welcome to The University of New Mexico School of Law admissions site. We provide you with everything you need to know to apply to our J.D. program.
We hope you will explore our site to learn what's different about our law school. Start with UNM Law in Brief to get a snapshot of us.
A five-member Admissions Committee reviews all applications and makes final decisions on acceptance for admission into the next fall’s entering class. The Committee is comprised 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; however, in many instances, a final decision is not made until late April. The Admissions Committee considers quantifiable factors (LSAT and grade point average) and non-quantifiable factors (letters of recommendation, personal statement, and extracurricular activities) in making decisions. A 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.
Applicants will receive email notification when their applications have been received and again when they are complete and ready for review. Applicants will receive decision letters by mail.
Interviews are not part of the School of Law’s admissions process. Any information that an applicant wishes the Committee to consider when making the admission decision should be included in the personal statement.
Seat Deposits – Accepted applicants are required to submit two seat deposits to hold their seats in the class. The first deposit, in the amount of $200, is due by April 15 or within two weeks of the date of the acceptance letter, whichever is later. The second deposit, in the amount of $200, is due by June 15. The seat deposits are non-refundable but are applied toward tuition when the student enrolls.
Official Transcripts – The School of Law must receive an official transcript showing proof of the undergraduate degree directly from the degree-granting institution prior to matriculation. All acceptance offers are conditioned upon receipt of official transcripts.
Requests for Deferment – The law school does not have a guaranteed deferment policy. Deferments are made on a case-by-case basis. Individuals must submit a letter to the Assistant Dean for Admissions requesting a deferment and should include an explanation for the request. Due to the small class sizes and large applicant volume, deferments are granted only in exceptional cases.
Admission to the Bar – Students are responsible for compliance with any registration requirements of the state in which they intend to practice and for securing information about the character and fitness requirements for admission to the bar in that state. Students should be aware that certain states require law students to register with their state boards upon entering law school.
Application Review – We are more than willing to review your application and discuss it with you. Please email the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid, Jeffery Dubinski-Neessen, at to request an appointment. Application review is not available until applicants have received their final admission decisions for the academic year.
The waiting list is not ranked. There is no definitive way to determine your likelihood of admission from the waiting list. When an admitted applicant decides to go elsewhere, a seat in the entering class becomes available. At that time, the Admissions Committee reviews the waitlisted candidates again and determines who will be offered admission. Final decisions may occur throughout July, in order to give the students enough time to settle here and prepare for law school in mid-August.
UNM School of Law
1117 Stanford NE MSC11 6070, 1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
© The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, (505) 277-0111
New Mexico's Flagship University