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Committee on Women and the Legal Profession

About the Committee on Women and the Legal Profession

The Committee on Women and the Legal Profession seeks to address issues adversely affecting female lawyers and judges and promotes systemic changes and opportunities to advance the role of women in the legal profession.

In 1991, the New Mexico Board of Bar Commissioners appointed a Women and the Legal Profession standing committee to evaluate and implement the recommendations of the Task Force on Women and the Legal Profession that had recently conducted a study. The study concluded that, while the law had made significant gains toward eliminating gender bias, bias still existed in the administration of the law and in the treatment of women as professionals.  

Since its inception, the Committee on Women and the Legal Profession has worked to address issues affecting female lawyers and judges and to monitor the substantive issues faced by New Mexican women served by the legal system. In addition to various educational and networking events, the Committee has drafted and helped pass gender-neutral legislation; created a #LawMom speaking series; organized a clothing closet to benefit UNM School of Law students; held numerous golf clinics and golf networking events for women; hosted financial literacy seminars; published the Ask Pat column in the New Mexico State Bar Bulletin; updated, printed, and distributed domestic violence assistance cards statewide; and hosted various CLEs on issues effecting women in the legal profession. 

Contact Member Services for More Information on the Committee

Initiatives Ask Pat Articles 2019 Diversity Study Recap                                                  

Allison H. Block-Chavez

Chair
 

Upcoming Events

Justice Pamela B. Minzner Outstanding Advocacy for Women Award

The State Bar of New Mexico’s Committee on Women and the Legal Profession (CWLP) is seeking nominations for the JUSTICE PAMELA B. MINZNER OUTSTANDING ADVOCACY FOR WOMEN AWARD. The CWLP awards this honor to New Mexico attorneys who have distinguished themselves during the prior year(s) by providing legal assistance to women who are underrepresented or underserved, or by advocating for causes that will ultimately benefit and/or further the rights of women. If you know of a New Mexico licensed attorney, of any gender, who embodies the spirit of Pamela B. Minzner Outstanding Advocacy for Women Award in the past year(s), please nominate this individual for this Award. Our 2020 Awardee is Elizabeth “Liz” Garcia based upon her leadership at the Second Judicial District Court through the global pandemic. She was instrumental in developing policies to allow court staff to care for their families while working remotely or in a flexible manner, ensuring the safety of those that came to the court, keeping the court doors open for those in need – especially victims of domestic violence, and mentoring law students – remotely, yet effectively – to whom she was a welcome beacon of stability and wisdom in the pandemic chaos. In 2023 due to a pandemic delay, the CWLP will award two recipients: one for work in 2021 and one for work in 2022. The award(s) will be presented at a Spring celebration in May 2023. Nominations are due by 5 p.m. MST on March 15, 2023. Nominations include a short description of the work and its impact on the rights of women; additional letters of support describing the person’s work and impact may be attached from multiple nominators. Additional letters should include: nominator name, contact info, years in practice, a description of their relationship with nominee, and a brief statement of how the nominee demonstrated service as an advocate for women and any examples to illustrate the nominee’s work.

Submit Your Nomination Here


Past Events

The CWLP held a member retreat on November 5, 2022 to explore goals and strategies to move our work forward. Read the resulting report by clicking on the button below.

Read the Report


The Committee has identified the following potential priorities:

  • Annual Justice Pamela B. Minzner Outstanding Advocacy for Women Award;
  • #Law Moms chats, support groups, services for lawyers with children;
  • Annual CLE with a focus on women in the legal profession;
  • Promotion of Family Friendly policies in New Mexico law firms;
  • Gender Equity Handbook for Courts and Pamphlet for pro se;
  • Professional Clothing Closet for law students and attorneys in need;
  • Other projects, initiatives and partnerships as suggested by members!

*Please share any barriers for attending on the RSVP such as childcare, transportation, etc. so that the Committee can take action to alleviate these in support of your participation.

Learn More About the Committee's Initiatives