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The University of New Mexico

NEWS RELEASE



Contact: Carolyn Gonzales 277-5920

cgonzal@unm.edu

Nov. 29, 2007

UNM Law School Ranked Among the Top 25 for Hispanics

The University of New Mexico School of Law is ranked among the top 25 law schools both for Hispanic enrollment and granting degrees to Hispanics, as reported in the December 3 issue of Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education.

UNM ranks 22 in Hispanic enrollment. Of UNM’s 344 law school students, 93, or 27 percent, are Hispanic. They are balanced by gender – 47 are male, 46 are female.

In graduating Hispanics, UNM’s law school ranks 24. Of the 117 students receiving their juris doctorate, 25, or 21 percent, are Hispanic. Again, at UNM the gender balance is virtually equal –13 males and 12 females received their degrees.

Suellyn Scarnecchia, dean of the UNM School of Law, said, “We take great pride in striving to reflect in our student body the population of our state and the clients our graduates will serve. The rich ethnic diversity of our students, faculty and staff creates one of the best learning environments among law schools nationally.”

St. Thomas University School of Law in Florida conferred the most law degrees to Hispanic students in 2006, while Florida International University had the greatest percentage of Hispanic law school graduates.

UT-Austin topped the list of law schools enrolling the most Hispanics, while Florida International University had the greatest percentage of Hispanics enrolled in law school. The state of Florida also has more schools on the list, with seven total.

According to the lists, nationally, Hispanic women outpace Hispanic men both in enrollment and degrees granted. Hispanic women outnumber Hispanic men in 15 of the 25 schools listed for total enrollment.

“The numbers for women are even higher for the top 25 schools with degrees granted, with Hispanic women outnumbering Hispanic men in 19 of the 25 schools,” the article reports.



The University of New Mexico is the state's largest university, serving more than 32,000 students. UNM is home to the state's only schools of law, medicine, pharmacy and architecture and operates New Mexico's only academic health center. UNM is noted for comprehensive undergraduate programs and research that benefits the state and the nation.

www.unm.edu