Foster Foundation Creates $5 Million Matching Commitment for UTEP Law School
EL PASO, Texas (Oct. 23, 2025) — The Paul L. Foster Family Foundation has established a $5 million dollar-for-dollar matching grant to support the establishment of a new law school in El Paso. UTEP President Heather Wilson announced the funding at a meeting of the El Paso Bar Association today, encouraging the legal community to join Foster in his support for a law school to serve the region.
“The feasibility study we conducted showed that legal education is needed in our region and that there is demand for it,” said Wilson. “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.”
A Texas legislature-commissioned feasibility study found that establishing a law school at UTEP could fill a gap in the region’s and state’s need for legal services. The study also found that, properly managed and supported, a law school would support itself after a start-up period of 10 years. The cost to start up the law school is about $20 million over that ten-year period, plus the cost of a law school building.
Based on the study, UTEP’s law school would be projected to achieve financial sustainability by the eleventh year. Due to limited campus space and accreditation requirements, a new building would be required to house classrooms, faculty offices, simulated courtrooms, a law library and other facilities. The projected capital cost for the building is between $60 million and $110 million including design, permits, furniture and technology.
“Good lawyers can enable business, solve problems, and help people,” said Paul L. Foster, founder and CEO of Franklin Mountain investments and Chairman of the Paul L. Foster Family Foundation. “Now is the time to move forward with this idea and, if the legal community and other donors are ready to step up, we are willing to match their contributions up to our matching commitment.”
UTEP is currently working with local leaders to secure philanthropic and business commitments from the El Paso community to start a law school. The gift announced today represents major progress in securing the resources needed.
“This dollar-for-dollar matching gift offers the opportunity to amplify the impact of giving and will motivate additional donors to join in supporting this important and exciting initiative,” said Gary Edens, Ed.D., interim vice president for institutional advancement.
With sufficient support from the community, UTEP will engage in conversations with The University of Texas System Board of Regents and Texas Legislature to secure needed approval and additional capital support, potentially submitting a formal request to start a law school during the 2027 legislative session.
Once established, the law school at UTEP would admit 100 students a year in a 3-year JD program. Dr. Wilson noted the feasibility study showed demand for lawyers in the region from the full spectrum of legal specialties -- tax, torts, corporate, administrative, labor, immigration, natural resources and criminal law. “There is a shortage of bilingual lawyers in Texas and a UTEP law school would likely also have a strength in public and private international law specifically related to the US and Mexico,” she said.
Last Updated on October 23, 2025 at 12:00 AM | Originally published October 23, 2025
By MC Staff UTEP Marketing and Communications
