The Woody and Gayle Hunt Family Foundation has promised a $5 million matching grant for a proposed law school at the University of Texas at El Paso. The university announced the grant Wednesday at a morning ceremony on the fourth-floor terrace of Texas Western Hall.
The Paul L. Foster Family Foundation announced a $5 million matching grant in October 2025. The El Paso law firm Tawney, Acosta and Chaparro committed $5 million in April. Those two commitments put the project halfway to its $20 million startup goal. Several law firms, including Farah Law, Flores Mendez Law, ScottHulse Attorneys at Law and Dallas-based Kastl Law, have made donations that the Hunt grant will match.
Woody L. Hunt, chairman of the Hunt Family Foundation, said El Paso has unique legal needs and that a UTEP law school would help prepare the next generation of legal professionals to serve the Borderland. "We are proud to support this effort and encourage individuals, businesses, and organizations to join us," Hunt said in a statement. The university plans to present its law school concept to the Texas Legislature in 2027.