Indian Law Section Scholarship Opportunities

The Indian Law Section is working hard to support and promote future Indian law lawyers, and it is proud to host two scholarships. Please see information below about the Karl E. Johnson Memorial Scholarship and the Bar Preparation Scholarship.

Karl E. Johnson passed away on June 3, 2019. In life, Karl was dedicated to representing Indian tribes throughout the country. During his nearly 40-years of practice, Karl also sacrificed his personal time to mentor future and junior Indian-law attorneys as an award-winning law professor, a trusted confidant, and a friend. Karl began his career with DNA – People’s Legal Services on the Navajo Indian Reservation and later became a professor at the University of New Mexico School of Law before opening his own general civil practice. Karl ended his career as Of Counsel at Indian law firm Barnhouse Keegan Solimon & West LLP, formerly Johnson Barnhouse & Keegan LLP, where he was managing partner from 2003 to 2017. The Karl E. Johnson Indian Law Scholarship continues Karl’s lifelong work benefitting the field of Indian law.

The Indian Law Section of the State Bar of New Mexico is proud to announce the fourth annual Karl E. Johnson Indian Law Scholarship in honor of Section member Karl E. Johnson. The scholarship is open to 2L and 3L students currently enrolled at the UNM School of Law with demonstrated interest in practicing Indian law.

Karl E. Johnson was dedicated to representing Indian tribes throughout the country. During his nearly 40-years of practice, Karl also sacrificed his personal time to mentor future and junior Indian-law attorneys as an award-winning law professor, a trusted confidant, and a friend. Karl began his career with DNA – People’s Legal Services on the Navajo Indian Reservation and later became a professor at the University of New Mexico School of Law before opening his own general civil practice. Karl ended his career as of counsel at Indian law firm Barnhouse Keegan Solimon & West LLP, formerly Johnson Barnhouse & Keegan LLP, where he was managing partner from 2003 to 2017. Karl passed away in 2019. The Karl E. Johnson Indian Law Scholarship continues Karl’s lifelong work benefitting the field of Indian law.

Students will need to submit the following for their application: (The deadline for 2023 applications is: October 27, 2023)

1. A brief personal statement that addresses the following criteria (no more than three single-spaced pages):

• Interest and academic background in Indian Law;
• Involvement in Indian communities and/or issues, including student and community organizations, and civic, charitable, legal or social justice endeavors;
• Academic achievement; and
• Financial need.

2. Unofficial law school transcript.

3. Optional: No more than two letters of recommendation supporting the applicant’s interest as an Indian Law practitioner or advocate.

Submit Your Application Here

Questions? Please contact Member Services at the State Bar of New Mexico at memberservices@sbnm.org. 

The Indian Law Section is working hard to support and promote Indian law lawyers, and one of its most successful initiatives is the Bar Preparation Scholarship Fund. The cost of preparing for and taking the bar exam poses one of the biggest hurdles graduating law students face each year. New graduates, most of whom are already burdened by sizeable debt from student loans, face a potential price tag of almost $3,000 - a $500 application fee and between $1,800 and $2,400 for bar preparation courses - to take the next step in their legal careers. Faculty and graduates consistently identify alleviating this financial strain as one of the key factors in passing the bar. In an effort to lift this burden, the ILS established a fund for the purpose of awarding bar preparation scholarships to third-year law students who want to practice Indian law in New Mexico.

DONATE

The Section hopes to raise $10,000 in recurring pledges to fund multiple scholarships up to that amount - a substantial step in meeting the needs of law  students intending to practice Indian Law in New Mexico.

The size and number of scholarships the Section can award will be based upon the generosity of the people in this state who want to see a growing and active Indian bar in our state.

Donors can make a donation online here, or by making a check out to the New Mexico  State Bar Foundation and writing “ILS Bar Prep Scholarship” on the memo line. The New Mexico State Bar Foundation is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization.  Donors may receive a tax deduction for charitable contributions as provided by law.  

Mail checks to:
State Bar of New Mexico
Attention: Indian Law Section
PO Box 92860
Albuquerque, NM 87199-2860

Donate Online

The Indian Law Secion thanks our previous donors for their support: 

Amber Griffiths

Bette Fleishman

Diandra Benally

Eva Seidelman

Felisha Adams

G. Valencia-Weber

Jane Rocha de Gandara

Lyman Paul

Margaret Branch

Modrall Sperling

Robert Silva

Roderick Kennedy

Terese Richmond

Wolf Glasser