Rule 1-094.Clinical education; university of New Mexico school of law
Last amended January 1, 1995 · Last verified June 26, 2026
In one sentenceRule 1-094 authorizes a clinical program at the University of New Mexico School of Law, letting eligible students appear in court under a supervising attorney.
A.Purpose. To permit a clinical program for the university of New Mexico school of law.
B.Procedure. Any law student admitted to the clinical program at the university of New Mexico school of law shall be authorized under the control and direction of the dean of the law school to advise persons and to negotiate and to appear before the courts and administrative agencies of this state, in civil and criminal matters, under the active supervision of a member of the state bar of New Mexico designated by the dean of the law school. Such supervision shall include assignment of all matters, review and examination of all documents and signing of all pleadings prepared by the student. The supervising lawyer need not be present while a student is advising a client or negotiating, but shall be present during court appearances. Each student in the program may appear in a given court with the written approval of the judge presiding over the case and shall file in the court a copy of the order granting approval. The order approving the practice by such student shall be substantially in the form approved by the Supreme Court. The law school shall report annually to the Supreme Court.
C.Eligible students. Any full-time student in good standing in the university of New Mexico school of law who has received a passing grade in law school courses aggregating thirty (30) or more semester hours (or their equivalent), but who has not graduated, shall be eligible to participate in a clinical program if the student meets the academic and moral standards established by the dean of the school.
End
Rule History
[As amended, effective May 1, 1986; January 1, 1995.]
Plain-English Summary
This rule enables UNM’s law clinic. A student admitted to the clinical program may, under the law school dean’s direction, advise clients, negotiate, and appear before New Mexico courts and agencies in civil and criminal matters, under the active supervision of a State Bar member designated by the dean. Supervision includes assigning matters, reviewing documents, and signing pleadings; the supervising lawyer need not attend client advice or negotiation but must be present for court appearances. A student appears in a given court only with the judge’s written approval, and eligibility requires a full-time student in good standing with at least thirty completed semester hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a law student appear in court under this rule?
Yes. An eligible UNM law student in the clinical program may appear in court under the active supervision of a designated State Bar member and with the presiding judge’s written approval.
Source & verification. Rule text and Committee commentary reproduced verbatim from the
New Mexico Rules of Civil Procedure for the District Courts (Rule 1-094 NMRA), published by the New Mexico Compilation Commission (NMOneSource).
Promulgated by the Supreme Court of New Mexico. The plain-English summary is original and draws on the official annotations. Last verified June 26, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as:clinical educationlaw student practiceUNM law clinicstudent practice