EL PASO, Texas — A long-discussed initiative to establish a law school in the Borderland region is gaining momentum after a significant financial commitment was made. UTEP leaders believe this could bring the proposal closer to reality and help address a critical shortage of attorneys in the area.
Currently, El Paso does not have a law school, which means local students who wish to pursue a law degree must leave the area. The nearest programs are 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,” said UTEP President Heather Wilson, emphasizing the university’s goal to change this situation.
In 2023, the Texas Legislature mandated a feasibility study to assess whether a law school would be viable in Far West Texas. The study revealed 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 explained.
Following the report, House Bill 3475 was introduced earlier this year by state Rep. Vince Perez, D-El Paso. The bill requested $20 million over 10 years to create a public law school in El Paso County.
Texas House passes bill to move ahead with law school for El Paso
“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 pledged a $5 million matching grant, meaning that local donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar to assist UTEP in launching the program.
UTEP leaders say the financial boost is intended to demonstrate community support, which they need before making another push to lawmakers. If sufficient local support is secured, university officials plan to submit 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 mentioned that if all approvals are granted and the process continues on schedule, students could begin their first law classes at UTEP as early as Fall 2029.
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