El Paso law firm gives $5 million to help start UTEP law school

Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro, P.C. donated $5 million to UTEP to support creation of a law school, matching a $5 million challenge grant from the Paul L. Foster Family Foundation and bringing total raised to $10 million.

An El Paso law firm has donated $5 million to the University of Texas at El Paso to support creation of a law school. The gift from Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro, P.C. was announced April 8 at a ceremony attended by UTEP President Heather Wilson and partners from the firm. The donation matches a prior $5 million challenge grant from the Paul L. Foster Family Foundation, bringing the total raised so far to $10 million. A Texas Legislature–commissioned feasibility study completed in 2024 found a UTEP law school would address regional needs for legal services and could become self-supporting after a start-up period. Key facts: - Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro, P.C. announced a $5 million gift on April 8. - The gift matches a $5 million challenge grant from the Paul L. Foster Family Foundation, bringing funds raised to $10 million. - UTEP President Heather Wilson said start-up years are costly and that early operation may not be self-sustaining. - A 2024 feasibility study found a law school at UTEP would fill a regional gap and could support itself after about 10 years. - UTEP plans to seek approval from the University of Texas System Board of Regents and the Texas Legislature, potentially submitting a formal request in the 2027 legislative session. Summary: The two gifts bring UTEP about halfway toward the estimated roughly $20 million in start-up costs over a ten-year period, not including a dedicated building. University leaders say continued community and legal-sector support will be needed to complete funding. UTEP intends to pursue system and legislative approvals as it works to advance the proposal.