PRESS RELEASE: State pays law school tuition in exchange for rural public service�

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Auriella Ortiz

Auriella.Ortiz@hed.nm.gov

(505) 467-9605

May 15, 2026

State pays law school tuition in exchange for rural public service

SANTA FE – New Mexico is expanding legal resources for some of the state’s most underserved communities, placing trained attorneys in acequias, land grant-merced communities and colonias across New Mexico.

The Community Governance Attorney Program , housed within the New Mexico Higher Education Department, supports up to two eligible third-year UNM School of Law students each year. Recipients receive financial support for tuition, fees and a living stipend during their final year of law school.

After completing the program, the school will cover half of each attorney’s salary for their first two years of public service, in exchange for a commitment to practice law in rural and traditionally underserved New Mexico communities.

“By supporting the state’s future attorneys in public service, we are building much-needed legal capacity in communities while keeping skilled workers in New Mexico.” said Higher Education Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez. “This program is critical for strengthening access to legal counsel to underserved communities across New Mexico.”

Areas of legal need include public accountability, land use, administrative law and community engagement.

The program was established in 2019.

Learn more at hed.nm.gov about the department financial aid programs.

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The New Mexico Higher Education Department was established in 2005 and oversees the state’s public and tribal colleges, universities and special schools. It also oversees adult education and literacy programs statewide, manages state-funded financial aid programs and capital projects for higher education institutions, provides college readiness services via the GEAR UP program, and grants state authorization to private college operating within New Mexico. For more information, visit hed.nm.gov or follow us on Facebook , Instagram and LinkedIn at @NMHigherEd. To learn more about tuition-free college via New Mexico’s Opportunity and Lottery scholarships, visit reachhighernm.com .