Reading Assignments for First Class Meetings

These reading assignments should be completed before the first meeting of your classes.

 Back to Top

Sign up for Community Service

All first-year students are required to complete six hours of community service during their first year of law school. To help you get a good start on that requirement and to allow you another opportunity to meet your classmates in an informal setting, we have arranged with a few local agencies to allow students to volunteer on Friday, August 16th, 1:00 - 4:00 or 1:30 - 4:30. Please sign up to secure your spot.

 Back to Top

Submit an Official Transcript

Per ABA guidelines, the UNM School of Law must have an official transcript from your undergraduate degree-granting institution showing proof of your bachelor's degree in order for you to matriculate in the fall.

The deadline to have your official transcript on file with UNM School of Law Admissions is July 1, 2013.

Please note: The official transcript you submitted in your law school application is NOT an official transcript for UNM records since it was processed through LSAC. Also, accepted applicants with undergraduate degrees from UNM are NOT exempted. 

Official transcripts need to be mailed to:

UNM School of Law
Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
MSC11 6070
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131

 Back to Top

Attend First-Year Orientation

Orientation will be held August 14, 15 and 16. Orientation is mandatory for all incoming first-year students.

As part of orientation you will be attending your first law school class. Any questions you have about orientation-related matters can be directed to Bonnie Stepleton, Assistant Dean for Student Services, or Nancy Huffstutler, Coordinator of Career and Student Services.

The schedule for the 2013 Orientation program can be found here. There are a few minor details still to be finalized but this will give you the important information you need for planning your schedule for these days. Please remember that Orientation is mandatory. If for any reason you will have to miss part of the program please notify Nancy Huffstutler or Bonnie Stepleton immediately.

 Back to Top

Create a UNM Net ID

All UNM students must have a NET ID. A NET ID is used with a password to access on-line library materials, buy a parking permit, and access My UNM, the UNM computer and network services portal. Please note: Once you are admitted to the UNM School of Law, it can take several weeks for your information to be completely entered in the UNM system. We recommend you wait at least three weeks after receiving your admission notification before creating your Net ID.

From My UNM you have access to a wide range of academic and student services including:

• Register and review class schedules
• Print unofficial transcripts
• Apply and review your financial aid; set up payment plans
• Set up direct deposit for financial aid and scholarship refunds
• Review and pay on your student account
• Review and update contact information such as address, phone, e-mail, emergency contact

Link to https://netid.unm.edu/  to create your Net ID; however, before creating your NetID please be aware that:

• Net IDs must have a minimum of three (3) characters and no more than eight (8)
• All characters must be lowercase
• First character must be a letter
• Subsequent characters can be letters or numbers; no special characters are allowed
• Can be all or part of your name, or any word or phrase you choose

 Back to Top

Get a UNM Identification Card “Lobo Card”

All UNM students need to have a Lobo Card, the official UNM identification card. The Lobo Card functions as a photo ID and grants you access to UNM's facilities and services such as Johnson Gym and the Health Center, and allows you to check out books and materials from the libraries.

You can get your Lobo Card at the Lobo Card Office, located on main campus in the Student Union Building (SUB) Plaza Level Suite 1077. The Lobo Card office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Have your UNM ID number and picture ID with you. Your UNM ID number is accessible through your Lobo Web account.

Please Note: We recommend you wait to get a lobo card until after the spring semester. Generally, the Lobo Card office does not start to process 2013/14 academic cards until the current academic year is complete.

 Back to Top

Laptop Requirement

UNM School of Law requires all entering students to own a portable (notebook or laptop) computer. The law school does not require a particular laptop brand but has determined a minimum hardware configuration. See the Required Laptop Program for laptop specifications. Including the cost of your laptop in your cost of attendance budget for 2013-2014 can increase your budget, allowing you to borrow the funds to finance it. Up to $2,000 can be added to your cost of attendance budget for 2013-2014. The $2,000 may include:

• The computer purchase
• Software needed to support the computer (i.e. Microsoft Office, Anti Virus software, etc.)
• Sales tax
• Warranty for the computer
• Necessary hardware (i.e. printer, etc.)

You can not include the following in the cost of attendance budget:

• Entertainment software
• Classes for computer use

You will need to submit a receipt for your purchase.
The receipt:

• Can not have someone else's name on it
• Can only add the paid amount to your cost of attendance
• Has to have the date of purchase
• Has to be an itemized description of purchase
• Has to have the name of company the computer was purchased from

If you would like to have the purchase of your laptop added to your cost of attendance,   please contact Carol Cravens, financial aid officer, prior to making your purchase. Including the cost of your laptop in your cost of attendance budget for 2013-2014 will increase your budget, allowing you to borrow the funds to finance it. Laptops financed through financial aid may not be purchased prior to August 1 if they are to be included in your cost of attendance.

 Back to Top

Have Your Photo Taken

Your photo will be taken prior to orientation by our Media Center staff. The photo is used by the law school community to help us get to learn your names quickly and is not available to the general public. More information, including specific dates and times to take your photo will be added to this site during the summer.

 Back to Top

Read the School of Law Bulletin and Handbook Policies

It is long, but the School of Law Bulletin and Handbook Policies 2012-2013 goes over all of our policies and processes, and provides detailed information about the law school including information on admissions and academics.

 Back to Top

Understand the Character and Fitness Evaluation

Admitted applicants who intend to practice law should be aware that admission to the bar in all states involves character, fitness and other qualifications. Applicants are   encouraged to determine what those requirements are in the state(s) in which they intend to practice by consulting the website of the National Conference of Bar Examiners at http://www.ncbex.org.

 Back to Top