Initiatives

Lunch with Judges is designed to allow YLD members to meet and interact with Federal and State judges in an informal setting, ask questions of the judge, and receive advice related to their career paths in the legal profession. Lunches are held through New Mexico. Click here to view recorded Lunch with Judges.

 

#fit2practice is more than just yoga and 5k runs. Our goal is to assist YLD members with promoting and maintaining good mental and physical and health, while identifying and managing dilemmas unique to new and youth lawyers the legal profession. Positive self-care is one of the most unselfish things lawyers can do. It allows for lawyers to be healthier, which means better representation of their clients and better interactions with colleagues and in their personal life. The YLD hosts educational programming and activities related to health and physical fitness, mental health, substance use, and student loan debt. The YLD Chair will appoint a committee member to serve as her designee to the BBC’s Wellness Committee and JLAP liaison.  Keep an eye out for events and click here for more information about the ABA YLD's #Fit2Practice initiative.

 

The Student Loan Debt Committee is a new YLD Committee for 2020 and is a #Fit2Practice program. Committee members will develop programs for young lawyers focused on education about student loans and debt repayment. Committee members will also review the New Mexico Public Service Law Loan Repayment Program and determine whether changes (legislative or regulatory) are needed in the program. This committee is a sub-set of the #Fit2Practice Committee. Click here to see the current resources the division has!

 

The YLD seeks to promote and showcase its unique and diverse members. Committee members will identify young lawyers to feature in the State Bar’s new quarterly newsletter focused on Sections, Committees, and Divisions of the State Bar. Committee members will develop questions to elicit information from featured young lawyers, then provide an article or interview questions and answers as copy to the State Bar for publication.

 

The YLD develops dynamic CLE experiences unique from traditional CLE courses. View the CLE Calendar in the Bar Bulletin to earn of any upcoming YLD affiliated CLE presentations. 

 

The YLD recognizes the importance of young lawyers to develop relationships within the legal community. The YLD hosts informal and formal networking opportunities throughout the state for young lawyers to interact with young lawyer peers and attorneys of all levels, experiences, and backgrounds. The YLD coordinates with State Bar sections, UNMSOL, and other professional organizations to put on events where attendees can meet and share ideas.

 

Each year, the Young Lawyers Division recruits volunteers to score applications, develop programming, and serve as mock jurors for the 6th & 7th grade residential Summer Law Camp, in collaboration with the NM Hispanic Bar Association, ENLACE, and the UNM College Prep Programs. Law Camp's mission is to motivate young students throughout the state to cultivate career goals and prepare them for college life.

Law Day Essay Contest
For 11th and 12th grade New Mexican students to create awareness of Law Day and legal issues. The topic deals with a relevant legal issue targeted to the students. The YLD organizes essay submissions and coordinates volunteers for scoring, including practicing lawyers, paralegals, and judges. Click here to learn more. 

Summer Fellowships
The YLD offers one or more summer fellowships to UNM law students to encourage the pursuit of public service or government sector work in NM.

 

The Division coordinates volunteer attorneys to provide professional and career developmental opportunities for students. These initiatives include application & interview skills (e.g. resume review panels & mock interviewing), professional developmental and networking (e.g. the mentorship program and speed networking events), and student wellness support (e.g. #Fit2Practice). Click here for more information.

 

Ask-a-Lawyer Call-in

In the spirit of Law Day, volunteer attorneys gather on the Saturday closest to May 1 in regions across New Mexico to answer brief calls from the public on a wide range of civil legal issues. The Ask-a-Lawyer Call-in Program yields approximately 300 calls each year. The spring event is scheduled for Saturday, April 29, 2023. Click here for more information.

Each September, to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution, the YLD and the SBNM partners with teachers and schools throughout the State of NM. The YLD helps provide Constitution booklets and recruit attorney volunteers to provide programming to 5th grade students. Click here for more information.

 

Wills for Heroes volunteer attorneys provide wills, advance healthcare directives and powers of attorney free of charge to New Mexico first-responders. Events are held approximately four times per year in various regions of the state. Click here for more information.

 

Volunteer attorneys staff clinics and provide legal information and advice, as well as refer clients to low income or pro bono legal service programs, at locations in Albuquerque, Las Cruces and Santa Fe. Click here for more information.

 

Volunteer attorneys provide brief legal advice on a variety of civil legal topics including family law, consumer rights, bankruptcy, landlord-tenant, foreclosure, and employment during free quarterly clinics. Clinics are held quarterly at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial in Albuquerque. Events may be organized in communities state-wide. Click here for more information.