Foster Family Foundation establishes $5 million matching grant to support establishment of law school at UTEP

Update (1:36 PM): The Paul L. Foster Family Foundation established a $5 million dollar-for-dollar matching grant to support the establishment of a law school at UTEP.

UTEP President Heather Wilson first announced the new grant during a meeting of the El Paso Bar Association today. Wilson encouraged the legal community to join the Foster family in supporting the plan for a new law school.

“This generous gift from Paul L. Foster and his family creates an opportunity for the legal community to join him and commit the resources to make a law school possible," Wilson said during the event.

A study conducted by UTEP last year found that the cost to start up the law school would be about $20 million over a ten-year period, in addition to the cost of constructing a building for the new school. The total projected capital cost is between $60 million and $110 million.

UTEP officials plan to secure approval and more funding from the University of Texas System Board of Regents and Texas Legislature during the 2027 legislative session.

UTEP says that the law school would admit 100 students a year. The school would offer a three-year JD program.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)-- Today, Heather Wilson, the President of UTEP, will update El Paso on the university's plan to establish a law school.

Wilson will present new information on the plan during a meeting of the El Paso Bar Association at noon today.

During a meeting of the El Paso Bar Association on November 15, 2024, Wilson announced a study concluded that a UTEP Law School is feasible.

“There will be a law school in El Paso someday," Wilson said at the time. "When there is, it should be at UTEP. The study shows there is a need for legal services in West Texas, and, with sufficient financial support to start it up, this study shows that it is sustainable for the long term."

The Texas legislature-commissioned feasibility study says that establishing a law school at UTEP could fill a gap in the region’s and in the state’s need for legal services. Additionally, the study found that if properly managed and supported, a law school would support itself after a start-up period of 10 years.

ABC-7 will provide complete coverage of the event in our evening newscasts.