New MSL Student Checklist

If you applied to the MSL program before completion of your degree (undergraduate, graduate, or professional), you must submit a final copy of your transcript with proof that your degree was granted no later than August 1.

Official transcripts must be sent through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service. Transcripts sent directly to the UNM School of Law will not be accepted.

Failure to complete this requirement may impact your ability to register for the Fall semester.

All students must register a NetID and password in order to access UNM’s online services.

In order to register your NetID, you must have your Banner ID number. The Office of Admissions will provide this number, along with instructions for setting up your NetID and password, via email, typically within two (2) weeks after you receive an offer of admission. If you have not received this information within that time frame, please first check your spam filter. If you are still unable to locate the email, please contact us at admissions@law.unm.edu for assistance.

After registering your NetID, you must email the School of Law Registrar at lsregistrar@law.unm.edu. This email must come from your unm.edu email address. The subject line should read “New Student NetID” and the body of the email should include your legal first and last name.

If you receive any form of outside financial assistance (including, but not limited to, scholarships, fellowships, grants, military tuition benefits, or employer tuition remission benefits), you must notify the School of Law at finanicalaid@law.unm.edu to discuss how this may impact your financial aid eligibility.

For federal financial aid (student loans and work study), please make sure you have submitted a FAFSA for the upcoming academic year. Use school code 002663 to make this form available to the University of New Mexico. The UNM School of Law classifies all students as independent for purposes of determining your Student Aid Index (SAI). You do not need to submit parental income, even if you will receive financial support from a parent or legal guardian during law school. Students who are married must submit spousal income information.

Once your FAFSA has processed, you can view and accept any awards online through LoboWeb (navigate to the Financial Aid Tab, select Financial Aid Menu, and select Overall Status of Your Financial Aid).

  • If no aid offers exist, contact financialaid@law.unm.edu to determine the issue.
  • If aid offers are available, you may accept or decline the awards in full through the portal. You are not required to accept the entirety of your offer. If you would like to accept a reduced portion of your aid offer, please contact financialaid@law.unm.edu for assistance.
    • Once you accept aid offers, make sure to complete all Eligibility Requirements (in LoboWeb, select the Financial Aid Tab, and select Eligibility Requirements). Failure to complete all requirements will prevent your aid from disbursing.
      • Complete Loan Entrance Counseling. This is a one-time requirement.
      • Complete a Master Promissory Note for the Direct Unsubsidized loan type. Use school code G02663 to make these forms available to the University of New Mexico. This is a one-time requirement.

If you are awarded work study, you may seek employment in an eligible position through the UNMJobs website. For more information on work study employment, please visit the Student Employment Office website. If you were awarded work study, but wish to decline this offer for any reason, you may increase your student loan offers to compensate. Please contact financialaid@law.unm.edu for assistance.

Renée Ferrell, Director of Admissions & Financial Aid, serves as the Financial Aid Officer for the School of Law. If you have any questions regarding financial aid and scholarships, you can email Director Ferrell at financialaid@law.unm.edu, or schedule a financial aid counseling appointment.

You will be required to register for Introduction to U.S. Law and Procedure (4 credits). Part-time students may register for a maximum of 8 credit hours. Full-time students must register for a minimum of 9 credits and a maximum of 17 credits. The full schedule of classes, as well as course descriptions, are available online.

Instructions for registration will be emailed to you no later than the first week of August.

Renée Ferrell also serves as the Director of the Master of Studies in Law Program. If you have any questions about coursework, you can email Director Ferrell at msl@law.unm.edu, or schedule an MSL student meeting.

Required textbooks for Introduction to U.S. Law and Procedure will be emailed to you when available. Required textbooks for all fall courses will be available no later than the first week in August.

Students may purchase textbooks through UNM Bookstores (either the Main Bookstore, located on Central Avenue, or the Medical/Legal Bookstore, located in the Domenici Center on Stanford Drive). Students who wish to purchase textbooks through the UNM Bookstore may charge their purchase to their Bursar account. Please note there is a $1,000 spending limit. If your account is paid in full (not including a balance charged for the upcoming semester), you may be able to request an increase, as your textbooks may exceed this limit.

You are not required to purchase textbooks through the UNM Bookstore; however, if you choose to purchase your books from another source, please ensure you purchase the correct edition of each book and that your purchase includes access to any online content. While an old edition will be less expensive, it will not include all necessary content assigned for your courses.

A limited number of L passes are available for returning and incoming JD and MSL students.

Parking permit sales typically begin in early August. Returning students will have approximately one week to purchase L permits before sales open to incoming students. In some years, there are more incoming students than remaining L permits. In the event that there are more incoming students than available L permits, the School of Law will make L passes available to incoming students via a randomized lottery.

Students who do not purchase an L pass within the advertised sale dates, or who are not selected for an L pass via the randomized lottery, will have the option to join a waitlist for L permits. These students will also have the option to purchase a pass for another lot (typically G or Q lots).

The Office of Admissions will send more detailed instructions for purchasing parking permits via email no later than the first week in August.

For more information about parking permits and pricing, please visit the Parking & Transportation Services website.

All students are required to own a laptop computer. Laptop requirements are available through School of Law IT Services.

Students who wish to purchase a laptop through UNM Bookstores may charge their purchase to their Bursar account. Please note there is a $1,000 spending limit. If your account is paid in full (not including a balance charged for the upcoming semester), you may be able to request an increase.

The cost of a laptop may be added to your financial aid Cost of Attendance. To qualify, the laptop must be purchased after August 1. To request an adjustment to your Cost of Attendance, email financialaid@law.unm.edu. Your email must include a receipt with (1) the name of the vendor from which the computer was purchased, (2) the date of purchase, (3) your name (the purchase cannot be made in someone else’s name), (4) an itemized description of the purchase, and (5) the total purchase price.

If you are entitled to accommodations for physical, psychological, or learning disability, you must formally request accommodations through the Accessibility Resource Center (ARC). More information about types of accommodations and the request process is available on the ARC website. It is a student’s responsibility to request an accommodation each academic year.

Bonnie Stepleton, Director of Student and Career Services, serves as the School of Law liaison to the Accessibility Resource Center. Please contact Director Stepleton at stepleton@law.unm.edu with any questions.

All students must obtain a LoboCard, the official UNM identification card, prior to orientation. You may have your photo taken at the LoboCard Office or submit an approved photo online. Full instructions for obtaining your LoboCard are available through the LoboCard Office website.

A LoboCard is required to access certain facilities within the School of Law, including, but not limited to, the Law Library and the Fitness Center.

All new students must have a professional headshot taken prior to orientation.

Headshots are taken in the School of Law Media Services Office. Headshots are typically taken in late July and early August. You will not need an appointment. Courtroom attire is required. The Office of Admissions will send more detailed instructions via email no later than the first week in August.

If you do not live locally, and are unable to have your picture taken during the provided dates, should plan to have their photo taken on the first day of orientation.

Students are responsible for knowing and following all policies of the UNM School of Law. These policies are outlined in our MSL Bulletin and Handbook of Policies.

Orientation takes place August 12-14, 2026.

MSL students are required to attend a one-hour MSL Orientation session. This session has historically been held on the second day of Orientation in the late afternoon. The Office of Admissions will provide the exact date and time for this session in the first week of August.

While much of the Orientation program will be geared towards JD students, MSL students are permitted to attend the full program. The first (2) days of orientation will be full days (approximately 8 am to 5 pm), and the final day will be a half day (approximately 8 am to Noon). The Office of Admissions will email a full schedule of events in the first week of August.