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 UNM School of Law in 1978, clerked for US District Judge Edwin L. Mechem and taught law for a year at the University of Indiana. Beginning in 1981, he practiced civil rights law and represented hundreds of individuals in federal and state courts. Phil also was class counsel in landmark class actions on behalf of inmates in jails and prisons, (Duran and McClendon), and persons with disabilities (Jackson). He tried cases all over New Mexico and litigated many appeals in New Mexico and federal appellate courts. For more than 20 years he taught classes and mentored many young lawyers in trial practice, federal law issues, and billing practices and attorneys’ fees; and he also lectured regularly at continuing legal education seminars in several areas, including trial practice, civil rights and mediation.