EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A long-discussed effort to bring a law school to the Borderland is gaining new traction following a major financial commitment, one that UTEP leaders say could move the proposal closer to reality and help address a critical shortage of attorneys in the region.
Right now, El Paso has no law school, and local students who want to pursue a law degree must leave the area, with the nearest programs located in Albuquerque, New Mexico or Lubbock, Texas.
“There are only three cities in America as large as El Paso that don’t have a law school,” UTEP President Heather Wilson said, noting the university’s goal is to change that.
In 2023, the Texas Legislature ordered a feasibility study to determine whether a law school would be viable in Far West Texas. The study found there is a shortage of attorneys in the region and projected that a UTEP law school could eventually support about 100 students per entering class.
“The feasibility study showed that it’s across the board, but there are particular areas in international, public and private international law and also fluently bilingual attorneys where there’s a shortage in all of Texas,” Wilson said.
Following that report, House Bill 3475 was filed earlier this year by state Rep. Vince Perez, D-El Paso. The bill asked the state for $20 million over 10 years to establish a public law school in El Paso County.
“It passed through the House. It didn’t get a hearing on the Senate side, but nonetheless, the fact that we were able to get it to the House is a big step,” Perez said.
This week, the Paul L. Foster Family Foundation committed a $5 million matching grant, meaning local donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar to help UTEP launch the program.
UTEP leaders say the financial boost is designed to show community support, something they need before making another push to lawmakers. If enough local support is secured, university officials say they plan to make a formal request to the Texas Legislature during the 2027 session.
For local prosecutors, the need for more legal talent is evident.
“For the past four years, the district attorney’s office has really suffered from a staffing shortage. We’ve recruited over 20 lawyers, but they’ve all come from other offices,” said El Paso County District Attorney James Montoya.
Wilson says if all approvals are granted and the process continues on schedule, students could be walking into their first law classes at UTEP as early as Fall 2029.
Read: Read More