About IPL
What IPL does
The Institute of Public Law (IPL) at the University
of New Mexico School of Law engages in research, analysis, teaching,
training,
writing and publishing to support the development of informed public
policy and law. Founded in 1969 as the public service arm of the law
school,
the Institute provides assistance to federal, state and local government
and undertakes special projects through foundation grants. It forms
an
important link between New Mexico's only law school, government bodies,
and the community at large.
Over time, the Institute has organized itself informally
into centers and programs, which you can link to from the menu above.
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| Former director Paul Nathanson, on behalf of IPL, receives
a Special Achievement Award for traffic safety at the 2002 Traffic Safety Summit. |
A tradition of public service
The Institute has a long history of contributing to the University's tradition of government
and community service. A number of themes run through its work, including a commitment to assisting
public officers in governing effectively, an interest in communicating public law and policy
to diverse groups and individuals, and a commitment to an informed and involved citizenry.
IPL often uses an interdisciplinary approach, working closely with other
University departments, government staff, community groups and the private
sector. The Institute includes lawyers, scientists, educators, writers,
newsletter designers, and conference planners. Projects vary greatly, ranging
from legal research and rule drafting to handbooks and conferences to town
meetings and teen-produced television programs on community issues.
Where new things happen
The Institute of Public Law prides itself on being an incubator for new
approaches to public law and policy issues and offers a supportive setting
for new programs. The Institute's centers for health law and ethics, wildlife
law, and judicial education each began as an idea and became funded, established
centers.
A recent example of the Institute's interest in innovative
approaches has been a collaboration between the Institute and a local
television station. The result was NEWS 101, a youth video network based
in New Mexico high schools that produces news segments written by and
for teens. These youth covered issues ranging from teen pregnancy to drunk
driving. The program has garnered numerous regional and national awards,
including a national Iris for production, an NEA award for the Advancement
of Learning through Broadcasting, the NBACA Innovator of the Year Award,
a regional Emmy and others.
Initiatives currently in the development stage at the
Institute include a project to integrate the arts with society, and another
to study technology transfer and the law.
How IPL is funded
The Institute is largely self-supporting. Although it receives an annual
allocation from the University, grants from foundations and revenues
from
contracts with government entities are the main source of its budget.
The New Mexico Supreme Court, the State Environment Department, the
Corporation
Commission, the Highway and Transportation Department, the City of Albuquerque
and the County of Los Alamos are among the state and local entities
to
which the Institute has provided services.
On the national level, the Institute has worked with
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, the State Justice
Institute, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and other
federal agencies. The Institute has received grants from Geraldine
R. Dodge, W.K. Kellogg, Villers, Ittleson and other private foundations.
Paul Biderman , Director
Institute of Public Law, UNM School of Law
1117 Stanford NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131
Phone: (505)277-8789 Fax: (505)277-7064
IPL welcomes inquiries about past projects and possibilities
for future projects. Please contact us at 277-5006.
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