Funds by Category: School of Law

School of Law

Annual Fund for Law – Academic Programs

Beyond financial aid packages, most law students need additional support for academic success. Costs for experiential programs, tutors, prep programs, externships, fellowships, competitions, and more are met with gifts made to support these essential experiences.

Annual Fund for Law – Faculty Support

Your gift supports our faculty’s resources for teaching and scholarship, and helps us maintain our small, talented and collegial environment.

Annual Fund for Law – Scholarships

Meeting need-based financial aid requirements for students is our number one priority. Each year, this general fund helps over 300 students of all types to succeed in and to stay in law school. In many cases, these awards help us to compete for our own New Mexico residents — keeping them in New Mexico, where... Read more »

Annual Fund for Law – Unrestricted

These gifts honor the law school’s tradition of quickly and supportively responding to pressing and immediate needs. Most often, these are real needs that arise for our students that go beyond financial aid or the classroom. These needs cannot be met by using gifts, funds or grants whose use is narrowly restricted to a particular... Read more »

Arturo G. Ortega Memorial Scholarship

Recipients of the annual Law School scholarship must demonstrate academic achievement, have financial need, and demonstrate fluency in spoke and written Spanish coupled with a commitment to serving the legal needs of the Spanish-speaking community.

Brad and Jan Tepper Student Emergency Support Fund

Brad and Jan Tepper established this fund to provide financial assistance to students of School of Law, who are managing demanding academic requirements while struggling with debilitating financial circumstances. Potential reasons for awarding emergency funding include, but are not limited to: · Support for temporary housing, and/or other essential needs, due to displacement by fire... Read more »

Child & Family Justice Initiative (CFJI) Fund

The UNM School of Law embraces its responsibility as New Mexico’s Law School to serve New Mexico’s people and address important issues facing the state. The CFJI exists to pursue justice and racial equity for New Mexico’s most vulnerable children and families by creating and enhancing programs for pipelining to Law School, preparation in Law... Read more »

Daniels Diploma Endowment

The Daniels Diploma was created in 2012 in honor of Justice Charles W. Daniels, a UNM Law graduate and former professor. The Daniels Diploma is awarded to the Juris Doctorate candidate who, through scholarship, conduct, and character, indicates great potential upon and after graduation and is generally awarded to the person who graduates first in... Read more »

Hart Opportunity Scholarship

The Frederick M. & Joan M. Hart Opportunity Scholarship Fund is named for beloved former Dean and Professor Fred Hart and his wife, Joan, for their extensive and tireless support of the UNM School of Law. The award is established for students interested in the study of law and pursuit of a legal career who... Read more »

Judith Ceccoli Endowed Navajo Graduate Scholarship Fund

The Judith Ceccoli Endowed Navajo Graduate Scholarship Fund was created to support Navajo Students at UNM enrolled in the School of Medicine or the School of Law who have demonstrated a commitment to assist their community after graduation. Your gift will help support these students in their academic journeys and honor Judith’s legacy

Law Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship Fund

Endowed funds are invested and provide incremental spendable income each year and build resources for the future. If this two-pronged approach of supporting law students now and in the future means the most to you, please consider a gift to this endowed scholarship fund.

Law School Forum Refurbishment

This fund is to support the refurbishment of the Forum at the UNM School of Law, including renovation, physical updates, and furniture.

Law Student Emergency Relief Fund

The UNM School of Law has established a fund to provide emergency financial aid of up to $1,000 per eligible student. Law students to include graduating 3Ls may apply for emergency financial aid by submitting a written request to the Dean of the School of Law. The Dean will require the student to provide certain... Read more »

Lawrence E. Chacon Memorial Scholarship in Law

Lawrence (Lorenzo) E. Chacon practiced criminal defense law in Albuquerque for over 30 years. He began his practice as a public defender, recognizing those most in need of equal justice. Being born and raised in New Mexico’s Mora valley, shaped Lawrence’s understanding of land and water rights, as well as the need to protect culture... Read more »

McBryde Scholarship for Non-Traditional Students

The McBryde Scholarship for Non-Traditional Students was established in 2018 by UNM and UNMSOL alumnus Deian McBryde. The scholarship is awarded to a student who entered law school with 20 years or more prior experience in the workforce and/or in the home.

Mental Health Services Fund

The School of Law has been deeply affected by the loss of alumni and students to suicide in recent years. We feel it is essential to provide our students with self-care skills during their time in law school to take into practice with them. This fund will provide funding for students’ mental health services, including... Read more »

Native American Law Student Association (NALSA)

NALSA is an active UNM School of Law student organization known as the “Native American Law Students Association” (”NALSA”). We are comprised of Native and non-Native law students, both striving to attain a Juris Doctor (“J.D.”) Degree or a Master of Studies in Law (“MSL”). NALSA is a wonderful community. While promoting professional development in... Read more »

School of Law Alumni Fund

The School of Law Alumni Fund’s primary purpose is to fund the Law Alumni/ae Association’s full-tuition and need-based scholarships. The fund is also used to host the Annual Law Scholarships Classic and the Distinguished Achievement Awards Dinner; provide lunches to UNM Law graduates taking the NM Bar Exam; and for other Law Alumni/ae Association activities.... Read more »

School of Law Indian Law General Scholarship Fund

Provides funding restricted in use for student scholarships that allow us to recruit and retain Native American applicants, from New Mexico and around the country, and to support their legal education needs.

The Phil Davis Scholarship Fund in Civil Rights

The purpose of the Phil Davis Fund for Scholarship in Civil Rights, established after Phil Davis’ sudden death in January 2022, is to provide an annual award to a University Of New Mexico School of Law student with exemplary dedication to the furtherance of civil rights law in New Mexico. Phil Davis graduated from the... Read more »

The Sally and Ted Occhialino Semester in D.C. Scholarship Fund

The UNM School of Law Semester in D.C. is very popular and well-attended by our students and involves many UNM School of Law alumni/ae in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Up to 6 students each semester are assisted with cost of living, studying and working in and around D.C. with annual contributions from alumni and... Read more »