New Mexico Legal Aid

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New Mexico Legal Aid New Mexico Legal Aid provides high-quality advocacy and legal representation to eligible and low­-income individuals.

New Mexico Legal Aid is the largest provider in New Mexico of free legal assistance in a variety of practice areas including:
-Family Law
-Consumer Issues
-Eligibility for Public Benefits
-Housing Issues

In addition to these practice areas, New Mexico Legal Aid currently works on twelve special projects including:
-A Statewide Domestic Violence HelpLine
-Foreclosure Legal Defense, a.k.a Keep Your Home New Mexico
-Land and Water Rights
-Language Access
-Legal Services for Victims of Violence
-Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic
-Migrant Farmworker/ Low-Wage Workers Advocacy
-Native American Program
-Partnering for Native American Health
-Rural Advocacy
-Special Immigration Juvenile Status
-Veterans Justice

When you're recovering from a disaster, the legal problem may be only one of the problems you're trying to solve.That's ...
10/22/2026

When you're recovering from a disaster, the legal problem may be only one of the problems you're trying to solve.

That's something Community Justice Worker May Maestas understands.

Working within New Mexico Legal Aid's Disaster Practice Area, May works alongside NMLA attorneys to help low-income individuals + disaster-affected residents navigate basic civil legal issues.

But her work often begins somewhere much simpler:

Listening.

When someone reaches out feeling overwhelmed, May helps them talk through what's happening, identify the issues they're facing + begin figuring out what comes next.

And when someone needs help beyond what NMLA can provide, she can help connect them with other community resources while continuing to support them as they navigate their civil legal concerns.

It's exactly the kind of role Community Justice Workers were created to fill: bringing trusted, practical support closer to the people who need it.

And there's one thing May wishes more New Mexicans knew:

You don't have to wait until a problem becomes overwhelming to ask for help.

Knowing your basic rights—and knowing that there are people you can turn to—can help you feel more prepared when something unexpected happens.

We're grateful to May for being one of those people.

📣Join us at the Rio Rancho Legal Fair at the 13th Judicial District Court! 📅Friday, October 23, 2026🕛12:00pm - 4:00pm📍15...
10/22/2026

📣Join us at the Rio Rancho Legal Fair at the 13th Judicial District Court!
📅Friday, October 23, 2026
🕛12:00pm - 4:00pm
📍1500 Idalia Rd, Building A, Bernalillo, NM 87004

“Your case has been referred to mediation.”If you've never been through the legal system before, those words can bring u...
10/21/2026

“Your case has been referred to mediation.”

If you've never been through the legal system before, those words can bring up a lot of questions.

So, what exactly is mediation?

Think of it as a guided conversation.

A neutral person called a mediator helps the people involved in a dispute talk through what's happening, clarify the issues + explore whether there's a solution they can agree on.

The important part?

The mediator isn't the judge.

They don't decide who's right or wrong.

They don't take sides.

And they don't force anyone to accept a particular solution.

Instead, mediation gives the people involved an opportunity to participate in creating their own agreement.

And while a court may require people to attend mediation in some cases, being required to participate isn't the same as being required to settle.

If an agreement isn't reached, the legal matter may continue through the court process.

Legal processes can feel a lot less intimidating when you understand what's actually happening.

Save this post in case you—or someone you know—ever encounters mediation as part of a legal dispute.

This post provides general legal information and is not legal advice. Mediation procedures and your legal options can depend on the type of case and individual circumstances.

A legal problem doesn't check your bank account before it happens.A landlord dispute.A benefits denial.A family trying t...
10/20/2026

A legal problem doesn't check your bank account before it happens.

A landlord dispute.

A benefits denial.

A family trying to navigate custody.

A worker facing an employment issue.

A veteran trying to protect their rights.

These aren't problems reserved for people who can afford an attorney.

Nearly half a million New Mexicans live below the poverty line. And when paying for legal help competes with paying for housing, groceries, medicine or utilities, too many people can be left trying to navigate complicated legal problems on their own.

That's why civil legal aid matters.

New Mexico Legal Aid works with eligible New Mexicans across the state to help people understand their rights, navigate civil legal problems + access legal assistance when they might otherwise go without it.

Because your income shouldn't determine whether you understand your rights.

And it shouldn't determine whether you have a voice when those rights are at stake.

Think someone in your community could use legal help? Share this post with them.

To learn more about eligibility or apply for assistance, visit New Mexico Legal Aid or call 1-833-LGL-HELP (1-833-545-4357).

Your landlord said they'd fix it. You called again. And again. But months later, the problem is still there.Now what?One...
10/14/2026

Your landlord said they'd fix it. You called again. And again. But months later, the problem is still there.

Now what?

One of the most useful things you can do when you're dealing with a housing issue is document what's happening.

📸 Take photos + videos.
✍️ Make repair requests in writing.
📱 Save texts, emails + other communication.
🧾 Keep your lease, notices, receipts + payment records.
📁 Put everything together somewhere you can find it.

Why?

Because weeks or months later, it can be difficult to remember exactly when something happened, what was said or how long a problem has been going on.

Your paper trail can help tell that story.

And you don't have to wait until you're standing in a courtroom to start keeping records. Documentation can be useful from the moment a housing problem begins.

If you're dealing with a landlord-tenant dispute or facing eviction, New Mexico Legal Aid may be able to help.

Call 1-833-LGL-HELP (1-833-545-4357) or visit https://pulse.ly/jyzagjyaoo to learn more.

Save this post. You may be glad you have it later.

This post provides general legal information and is not legal advice. Your rights and the steps you should take depend on your individual circumstances.

Pro bono work doesn't just happen.Behind every legal fair, TeleClinic + volunteer opportunity is a team working to bring...
10/13/2026

Pro bono work doesn't just happen.

Behind every legal fair, TeleClinic + volunteer opportunity is a team working to bring the right people together.

New Mexico Legal Aid's Volunteer Attorney Program staff help connect attorneys who want to serve with New Mexicans who need legal assistance.

That means coordinating legal fairs and teleclinics across the state.

Building relationships with volunteer attorneys.

Connecting eligible clients with pro bono legal help.

Providing training + resources that help attorneys step into the work prepared.

And handling countless details behind the scenes so that when a volunteer attorney says, “I can help,” there's a meaningful way for them to do it.

It's work the public may rarely see—but it's part of what makes pro bono service possible.

And during a month when we're celebrating the attorneys who generously give their time, we also want to recognize the people who help turn that generosity into action.

To our Volunteer Attorney Program team: thank you for building the connections that help make access to justice possible across New Mexico.

Asking for an accommodation isn't asking for special treatment.It's asking for equal access.The Americans with Disabilit...
10/08/2026

Asking for an accommodation isn't asking for special treatment.

It's asking for equal access.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with disabilities from discrimination in many areas of everyday life—including employment, government services, businesses open to the public + transportation.

Depending on the situation, an accommodation or modification might look like:

Making a space physically accessible
Providing a sign language interpreter
Providing information in an accessible format
Making technology or communication accessible
Adjusting certain workplace schedules or procedures
Changing a workspace to reduce barriers related to a disability

And here's something many people don't realize: you don't necessarily need to use legal language to ask for an accommodation.

For example, in the workplace, you can tell your employer that you need a change or adjustment because of a disability. What happens next—and what accommodations are considered reasonable—depends on the individual circumstances.

If you have questions about your disability rights, you don't have to navigate them alone.

Our community partners at Disability Rights New Mexico help New Mexicans understand their disability rights, advocate for access to services + address disability-related discrimination and other rights violations.

Because accessibility isn't a favor. It's a right.

Learn more about disability rights and available resources through Disability Rights New Mexico.

This post provides general legal information and is not legal advice. ADA protections and accommodation requirements depend on the circumstances.

Where can I go?What happens with my children?Can I stay in my home?How do I get a protection order?Who can help me make ...
10/07/2026

Where can I go?

What happens with my children?

Can I stay in my home?

How do I get a protection order?

Who can help me make a safety plan?

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we want New Mexicans to know that support exists, and you don't have to navigate every piece of it alone.

New Mexico Legal Aid can provide legal information and assistance to survivors on issues including protection orders, housing, divorce, custody, child support, benefits + more.

And our community partners at the The New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence help connect survivors with domestic violence programs and resources throughout the state, including advocacy, safety planning, housing resources + local services.

You don't have to know exactly what kind of help you need before you ask for it.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, support is available:

📞 New Mexico Legal Aid Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault & Stalking Legal HelpLine: 1-877-974-3400, Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5 PM

📍 The New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence can help you find survivor services and resources in communities across New Mexico.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

There is no single "right" way to ask for help. Start where you are.

When you're facing a problem, sometimes the hardest question is the first one: Where do I even start?That's where a Comm...
10/06/2026

When you're facing a problem, sometimes the hardest question is the first one: Where do I even start?

That's where a Community Justice Worker can help.

Community Justice Workers—or CJWs—work alongside New Mexico Legal Aid attorneys to help people navigate basic civil legal issues.

But what does that actually look like?

It starts with listening.

A CJW can help someone talk through what's happening, identify the issues they're facing + begin figuring out what the next steps might be.

And because a legal problem rarely exists in isolation, that support can extend beyond the legal issue itself. When possible, CJWs can also help connect people with other community resources that may be able to address an immediate need.

They're advocates.

They're navigators.

And perhaps most importantly, they're another trusted person you can turn to when a problem has become difficult to navigate alone.

You don't have to understand the legal system—or even know exactly what kind of help you need—before you ask for help.

Sometimes, you just need somewhere to start.

How much time should someone have before losing their home?For some New Mexico renters facing eviction, the legal proces...
10/02/2026

How much time should someone have before losing their home?

For some New Mexico renters facing eviction, the legal process can move extraordinarily fast.

In a recent KUNM report examining challenges within New Mexico's rental housing system, New Mexico Legal Aid Managing Attorneys Bryce Dorato + Cassie Fleming shared what they're seeing through their work with tenants across the state.

Bryce spoke about how the speed of the eviction process can make it difficult for tenants to exercise their rights, prepare a defense or address problems with their housing.

He's timed some eviction hearings at as little as 37 seconds.

Cassie discussed another challenge: fees.

NMLA attorneys have encountered tenants charged excessive late fees, fees for preparing or posting eviction notices, unexplained charges + even costs for conditions that didn't exist in the rental property.

These aren't abstract housing policy questions.

They're issues that can determine whether someone can afford to remain in their home, challenge an inaccurate charge or meaningfully participate in a legal proceeding that could result in eviction.

Housing rights matter. And so does having enough time, information + legal support to exercise them.

Thank you to KUNM's Daniel Montaño for bringing attention to the experiences of New Mexico renters—and to Bryce, Cassie + the advocates across our state working to make the civil legal system more accessible.

Read or listen to the full KUNM Radio story to learn more: https://pulse.ly/wfm9zbklxe

Address

505 Marquette Avenue NW
Albuquerque, NM
87102

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 12pm
1pm - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 12pm
1pm - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 12pm
1pm - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 12pm
1pm - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 12pm
1pm - 5pm

Telephone

+18664161922

Website

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