Institute of Public Law

Regulatory Programs and Training Center

The Institute of Public Law (IPL) provides services and expertise in administrative rulemaking, civics education and policy development through its Regulatory Programs and Training Center.

Rulemaking

IPL supports state and local government agencies by researching and drafting statutes and administrative rules. With input from our clients, we also produce legal memoranda and reports, practice manuals, and other legal documents needed to support this environment.

While we have developed expertise in the subject matter areas listed below through long-standing contractual relationships with certain government agencies, our experience and personnel enables us to apply our skills and knowledge to new issues.

For over 20 years, IPL has drafted new rules, revised existing rules, and completed recompilations of entire sets of rules for various state agencies. We not only provide research and drafting expertise, we also participate in the entire rulemaking process from issuing notices of rulemaking proceedings, to conducting and reporting on public hearings, to advising and drafting potential changes, to preparing and publishing the final products. Clients have included the New Mexico Department of Transportation, Environment Department, Secretary of State, Taxation and Revenue Department, Public Utility Commission, and the New Mexico Supreme Court.

Civics Education

Training students in citizenship skills is essential to our society. In partnership with local, state, federal and private organizations, the Institute of Public Law has produced an award-winning program, Wild Friends, as well as NM WOW (Working on Wildlife), dedicated to helping students in grades 4-12 learn about law by facilitating youth participation in the democratic process. The compelling issue of wildlife conservation has motivated students to define and research problems they care about, learn how laws are made, draft real legislation, meet lawmakers and other public officials, attend legislative sessions to support their issues, write letters, testify before legislative committees, and speak at press conferences and public meetings. In addition, students have created original artwork, dances, operas, plays, poetry, television news programs, documentaries, and videos to convey their concerns to the public and officials.

Policy Development

IPL, in partnership with Arizona State University, serves as the Western Region for the Network for Public Health Law, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation project. The project, a national network providing technical assistance, training, and other activities, provides assistance to such entities as tribes seeking information about how the law can be used to protect public health, along with trainings and public health law seminars.

Note: The Center for Wildlife Law, founded in 1990 with a vision of enhancing education, information, and analysis regarding wildlife law and policy, closed its doors on July 31, 2011 after 21 years at the UNM School of Law’s Institute of Public Law.  Please direct any questions to Susan George at IPL (sgeorge2@unm.edu; (505) 277-5089).