The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is one step closer to opening its own law school, following the release of a new feasibility study commissioned by state lawmakers. The study, unveiled this month, outlines a cost of $20 million over the next decade to establish and sustain a law school that would serve the West Texas region.
El Paso, Texas’ largest city without a law school, has long been at the center of discussions about the need for legal education in the area. With no law schools within a 250-mile radius, El Paso residents and local officials have expressed concern about the growing shortage of legal professionals in the region.
According to the feasibility study, there is a clear demand for legal services in West Texas, and a new law school could play a key role in addressing this gap. UTEP President Heather Wilson emphasized the study’s finding that, with adequate financial backing, a new law school would be sustainable in the long term. “This study shows that there is a clear need for legal education in West Texas, and with the right support, we can build a law school that will serve the region for generations,” Wilson said during a recent meeting with the El Paso Bar Association.
The feasibility study suggests that the law school could open as early as 2030, with an eventual goal of graduating 100 students annually. Financial sustainability could be reached by 2037, but the project would require significant initial investment, including a new building with an estimated cost of $66 million to $110 million.
The next steps involve securing funding for the law school, with the study outlining potential sources of financing, including private donations, endowments, and state support. The idea has garnered broad local support, with El Paso civic and business leaders recognizing the potential economic and social benefits of a law school in the region.
“There is a pressing need for legal professionals who are familiar with the unique challenges of West Texas, including border issues, immigration law, and local community needs,” Wilson added. “A law school at UTEP would not only provide career opportunities for local students, but it would also help strengthen the legal infrastructure in the region.”
The study also points to the strategic location of El Paso, which sits along the U.S.-Mexico border. This provides the law school with a unique opportunity to attract students from Mexico who may be interested in pursuing legal careers that span both nations. However, the feasibility study also highlights the importance of ensuring that the number of graduates aligns with the local job market to avoid oversaturation.
“While the need for legal services in the region is clear, the new law school must focus on bar passage rates and affordability to ensure that it is accessible to students who are likely to remain in the area after graduation,” the study advises. “The goal is not only to educate future lawyers, but to ensure that they can succeed in passing the bar exam and find meaningful employment in the West Texas legal market.”
The UTEP law school proposal comes at a time when law schools across the U.S. are facing significant challenges. Over the past decade, more law schools have closed than opened, and public law schools are especially rare. The most recent public law school to open was the University of North Texas Dallas College of Law in 2014, while several private law schools have opened in recent years, such as Jacksonville University College of Law and High Point University Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law.
However, the feasibility of opening new law schools is often fraught with challenges, as evidenced by the closure of Indiana Tech University’s law school in 2016 due to low enrollment and financial losses. Despite these challenges, UTEP’s study finds that with careful planning, the new law school could provide a much-needed resource to West Texas while also contributing to the region’s economic growth.
The UTEP administration plans to continue engaging with stakeholders, including local government officials, legal professionals, and community members, to explore the next steps in making the law school a reality. As the project moves forward, UTEP will focus on securing the necessary funding, finalizing the curriculum, and ensuring that the law school is positioned to meet both local and national legal needs.
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