New Mexico Center For Language Access

Fall classes start in August!

New Mexico Justice System Interpreter Resource Partnership

JEC Scholarships for
New Mexico Municipal Court Employees

The New Mexico Judicial Education Center logo

The Judicial Education Center is providing funding for a limited number of scholarships for current bilingual employees of the New Mexico Judiciary who are accepted into the Justice System Language Access Specialist* Certificate Program at NMCLA. As a result of this training, court employees will have a strong ethical and professional foundation that will enable them to use their bilingual abilities to enhance language access within their court.

Who is eligible?

Current employees of the New Mexico Judiciary in good standing, who are bilingual and approved for admission to the Language Access Specialist* Track of NMCLA according to NMCLA's standard screening criteria.

What is the application process?

  1. Complete NMCLA certificate program application and essay.
  2. Complete NMCLA interview and be approved for admission.
  3. Upon approval for admission, complete and submit JEC's scholarship application.
  4. Awardees will be notified upon JEC's decision.

What are the obligations of the scholarship recipient?

If you are awarded a JEC Language Access Specialist* Scholarship, you will be asked to sign an agreement and commit to the following:

  1. Willingness to use your bilingual skills to enhance language access in your court.
  2. Agreement to repay the scholarship in full, if you do not successfully complete the NMCLA Language Access Specialist* Certification Program.
  3. Agreement to remain employed in the New Mexico municipal courts for a period of one year following completion of the Certificate Program.

How will the scholarship awards be determined?

Criteria for making scholarship awards will include, but not be limited to:

  1. Language access needs in the court or service area where the applicant is employed.
  2. Recommendation of chief clerk, court administrator, or judge.

How will the funds be paid?

Funds will be transferred from JEC upon notification of the scholarship award to the University of New Mexico when the scholarship awardee registers for NMCLA classes. Funds will not be provided directly to the recipient.

Awardees may pay the remaining $500 + 30 (registration fee) upfront or as follows:

 Introductory Course
  Introduction to NMCLA and Online Learning  
 Registration code: 4900020, section FZ1 		 US$ 200 + US$ 30 (registration fee) 
 Core Courses
 Ethics and Best Practices  
 Registration code: 4900021, section RZ1 		 US$ 100 + US$ 30 (registration fee) 
 NMCLA Fundamentals of Translation and Interpreting  
 Registration code: 4900019, section RZ1 		 US$ 100 + US$ 30 (registration fee) 
 Specialization Course
 Justice System Interpreting
(Language Access Specialist* Programs)  
 Registration code: 4900023, section RZ1 		 US$ 100 + US$ 30 (registration fee) 

Please not that JEC Scholarship awardees cannot register online. To register, please call Wendy Brunty: 505-925-9542

Download application form

* previously called Bilingual Communication

NMCLA partners: New Mexico Judiciary - Administrative Office of the Courts, UNM Hospitals, NM Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons, UNM Los Alamos, NM State University - Dona Ana Community College, CNM