SCD Digest

VOL. 3 | NOVEMBER 2020

THE SCD DIGEST SECTIONS, COMMITTEES, AND D IVISIONS

New Podcast Series SBNM is Hear!

Podcasts have the unique ability to blend technology and media and they can be produced anywhere with an internet connection and phone! Now through the podcast, we can always say that the SBNM is Hear in your community!

OVERVIEW: Sections: Pg. 2-6 Committees: Pg. 7-11 Divisions: Pg. 12-16

DID YOU KNOW? The State Bar will be switching to a new database and a new website! We are excited to provide an updated platform to enhance your member experience.

There might even be some new bells and whistles for individual and group use! More information on this virtual transition will be provided soon!

SECTIONS - SIGN UP YEAR ROUND! Animal Law Mission: Advance interest of animals through legal system.

Did you know: Advocating for animals creates a just world for us all.

You do not need to practice animal law to join the section, you can just be a lover/advocate of animals!

Member Perks: Legal education courses, community programs, and animal law talks.

2020 Accomplishment(s): CLEs and New Mexico Lawyer article.

Appellate Practice Mission: Provide members with information and dialogue around appellate law.

Did you know: Appellate practitioners help to fashion the law across the state.

Member Perks: Legal education, brown bag lunches and moot court.

2020 Accomplishment(s): Brown bags, CLE's, & candidate forum.

Bankruptcy Law Mission: Providing knowledge and community for bankruptcy lawyers statewide.

Did you know: Strengthening the bonds between bankruptcy and insolvency professionals.

Member Perks: Legal education, brown bags and annual golf tournament.

2020 Accomplishment(s): CLE presentation and brown bags.

Business Law Mission: Aid lawyers in corporate, business and banking law. Provide services and resources to firms in the state.

Did you know: A rapidly changing area of law! Think LegalZoom or RocketLawyer.

Member Perks: Annual awards, legal education and practice news subscriptions.

2020 Accomplishment(s): CLE presentation and bylaw revision.

SECTIONS - SIGN UP YEAR ROUND! Cannabis Law Mission: Recognize and consider cannabis legal issues in New Mexico. Coordinate with legal, business and community members who educate about cannabis.

Did you know: Only one of six cannabis sections in the country!

Member Perks: Legal education courses, dispensary partnerships, and legislative participation.

2020 Accomplishment(s): CLE presentation and legislation tracking.

Children's Law Mission: To promote the legal interests of children and youth by improving the legal system and the administration of justice.

Did you know: Our practice includes abuse/neglect and juvenile delinquency, but also immigration and education law!

Member Perks: Legal education courses, Noon Knowledge presentations and Art Contest.

2020 Accomplishment(s): Noon Knowledge presentations and CLE.

Elder Law Mission: Preserving and enhancing elder law. Serving the legal and elder community at large.

Did you know: We help clients of all ages by helping and advocating for the elderly.

Member Perks: Legal education, brown bags and National Health Car Decisions Day. 2020 Accomplishment(s): Bylaw revisions and CLE presentation.

Employment and Labor Law Mission: Provide members with education and interaction in the field of employment law.

Did you know: Employment law impacts all businesses no matter what the size, structure or mission.

Member Perks: Legal education, community outreach, listserv, publications and student resume review and scholarships.

2020 Accomplishment(s): We survived and live to conquer 2021!

SECTIONS - SIGN UP YEAR ROUND! Family Law

Mission: Training and networking to further competency and collegiality.

An area of that law encompasses divorce, custody, child support and more Did you know: Opposing counsel is not your enemy.

Member Perks: Legal education courses, court brown bags, listserv and settlement week.

2020 Accomplishment(s): Re-established listserv and CLE presentations.

Health Law Mission: Serving to empower New Mexico Health Law attorneys to stay advanced and connected.

Did you know: Health law is often misconstrued as only medical malpractice, it’s so much more!

Member Perks: Legal education, student resume review and scholarships.

2020 Accomplishment(s): New bylaws, Health Law Symposium

Immigration Law Mission: Foster relationships between practitioners and the communities we serve.

Did you know: We help all of our communities through access to their legal rights.

Member Perks: Legal education, student scholarship review, workshops and mentorship.

2020 Accomplishment(s): Student scholarships and CLE presentations.

Indian Law Mission: Educate lawyers about intersectionality of Indian Law. Native or non-native, federal or tribal counsel. We are everyone.

Did you know: If you practice in New Mexico you need to know Indian Law! Member Perks: Awards and scholarships, legal education, student mentorship and social events.

2020 Accomplishment(s): Newsletter, scholarships and CLEs.

SECTIONS - SIGN UP YEAR ROUND! Intellectual Property Law Mission: Foster New Mexico's entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and innovation. We help incentivize creativity and innovation.

Did you know: Our fields covers fine arts to high technology. We are dedicated to support New Mexico’s business ecosystem.

Member Perks: Pro Bono IP Fair, publications, legal education courses and mentorship.

2020 Accomplishment(s): Pro Bono Virtual IP Fair and CLEs

NREEL Law Mission: Provide information around issues affecting natural resources, energy and the environment. Share ideas, research and knowledge with our vast community.

Did you know: We’re the largest section of the State Bar with a diverse set of practice areas!

Member Perks: Legal education, mentorship, and publications.

2020 Accomplishment(s): Bylaws, attorney award and CLEs.

Prosecutors

Mission: Collaborate with prosecutors through the state. Prosecutors sharing experience and knowledge. We provide background expertise to government officials in New Mexico on matters related to the subject areas of the section.

Did you know: We are not happy until you are happy.

Member Perks: Legal education, annual awards and publication.

2020 Accomplishment(s): Attorney awards and issue of N.M. Lawyer.

Public Law Mission: Connect attorneys with interest in public law and government. A community increasing connections and collaborations.

Did you know: Public law is the backbone of civil society.

Member Perks: Law school outreach, legal education, social events and publication.

2020 Accomplishment(s): Brown bags, CLE, scholarship and bylaws.

SECTIONS - SIGN UP YEAR ROUND! Real Property, Trust and Estate Mission: The consideration of all matters of legal interest relating to the various subjects covered by real property and trust and estate law.

Did you know: The section is further broken down into two to best serve members: the Real Property Division and Trust & Estate Division.

Member Perks: Legal education, brown bag presentations, section member social events (Ghost Ranch) and website information.

2020 Accomplishment(s): Rescheduled Ghost Ranch and CLEs.

Solo and Small Firm Mission: Provide support and resources to solo and small firm practitioners.

Did you know: At least 70% of New Mexico attorneys are solo or in small firms.

Member Perks: Legal education, lunch presentation series, listserv, roundtables, and resource development.

2020 Accomplishment(s): CLEs, roundtables, and lunch speaker series!

Tax Law Mission: To expand tax legal knowledge. Enhance tax awareness of the State Bar and public.

Did you know: Tax law has a direct impact on every single person in our community.

Member Perks: Legal education, scholarships and community connections.

2020 Accomplishment(s): Student scholarships and CLE presentation.

Trial Practice Mission: To improve the trial advocacy skills of the trial lawyers.

Did you know: We're the masters of watching, listening and responding.

Member Perks: Legal education, Mock Trial sponsorship, website content and publication.

2020 Accomplishment(s): Website updates with trial database and CLE presentation.

COMMITTEE NEWS - SIGN UP YEAR ROUND! Did you know that Committees are free to join? Our Committees do wonderful work for our community at large. Learn about them and join one any time!

C O M M I T T E E D I V E R S I T Y L E G A L

2 0 2 0

- Match 46 recent grads/attorneys for their Bar Prep Program - Placed 25 students with 18 different firms/businesses/organization for the Arturo Jaramillo Program - Completed the 2019 Diversity survey - Placed 6 students with the Judicial Clerkship Program - Co-Chairs received the Bar President's Award

D I S P U T E

M E T H O D S

I N

T H E

P R O F E S S I O N

The Committee on Diversity in the Legal Profession (CDLP) had an initial purpose to produce a decennial report on the status of minority attorneys in New Mexico. This purpose has expanded to more frequent reports, including a 5-year interim report. Now, CDLP’s focus has expanded to include other initiatives. For instance, CDLP houses the Arturo Jaramillo Summer Clerkship program. This clerkship program is designed to give law students, particularly those who have overcome hardships, opportunities to clerk in the leading legal settings in the state. CDLP also coordinates a bar exam coaching program, which provides coaches for diverse applicants to aid in their bar exam preparations. Next, CDLP, along with the Young Lawyers Division and the New Mexico Supreme Court, administers a judicial clerkship program for diverse applicants. Lastly, CDLP organizes an annual diversity symposium, and it provides cultural competency/implicit bias CLEs for the Bridge the Gap mentorship program.

H I G H L I G H T S

A L T E R N A T I V E

O N

O F

R E S O L U T I O N

( A D R )

The ADR Committee helps to expand the use of alternative methods for the resolution of conflict. The committee is composed of mediators and attorneys who further support the community by expanding practical access to such methods of dispute resolution.

2020 brought a new chair, Mateo Page of NM AOC, and new outreach for the ADR Committee. They'll close out the year with two CLE courses, brown bag presentations, podcast and social hours.

COMMITTEE NEWS - SIGN UP YEAR ROUND! Did you know that Committees are free to join? Our Committees do wonderful work for our community at large. Learn about them and join one any time!

C O M M I T T E E W O M E N L E G A L

A N D

O N T H E

P R O F E S S I O N

The Committee on Women and the Legal Profession (CWLP) 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. Since its inception, the CWLP 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.

E T H I C H S

2 0 2 0

H I G H L I G H T S

- Relaunched the #LawMom series - Completed the 2019 Diversity Survey - Revamped the Domestic Violence Cards to be placed in Courthouses and non-profits around the state next year - Ongoing updates for the Gender Equality Handbook - December CLE presentation with the Young Lawyers Division

A D V I S O R Y

C O M M I T T E E

The Ethics Advisory Committee responds to specific requests for ethics advisory opinions from members of the State Bar. The EAC reviews formal opinions issued by the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility. If you need personal assistance regarding your question, you may also contact the Ethics Hotline at 1-800-3268155.

Join the Committee on Dec. 15 from 1 - 3 p.m. for their CLE presentation, "2020 Mock Meeting of the Ethics Advisory Board", worth 2.0 EP credits.

COMMITTEE NEWS - SIGN UP YEAR ROUND! Did you know that Committees are free to join? Our Committees do wonderful work for our community at large. Learn about them and join one any time!

L E G A L

S E R V I C E S

A N D

P R O G R A M S C O M M I T T E E

2 0 2 0

H I G H L I G H T S

- Continued the "Breaking Good Video Contest" for high school students. Awards to be given in 2021.

- Produced and recorded two "SBNM is Hear" podcast episodes with New Mexico Legal Aid about the impacts of COVID-19 - Produced and recorded informational videos on debt collection (available in Spanish) - Provided stipends for the Equal Access to Justice Conference

L A W Y E R S L I A B I L I T Y

The Legal Services and Programs Committee (LSAP) aims to facilitate cooperation and coordination of the legal services provided by various segments of the State Bar and increases public access to the civil justice system. The LSAP Committee hosts the annual "Breaking Good" Video Contest. The Breaking Good Video Contest provides students an opportunity to share their creative and artistic talents while learning about non-profit civil legal service providers in their community. It as wonderful program that teachers and students alike look forward to each year. The LSAP Committee also provides limited financial assistance for Bar members who attend the annual Equal Access to Justice Conference.

The LSAP Committee also shares resources with its members. The ATJ Commission and Disability Rights of New Mexico recently compiled an extensive list of legal service providers in the state.

P R O F E S S I O N A L ( L P L I C )

The work of the Lawyers Professional Liability and Insurance Committee includes: Review of Mandatory Disclosure Rule 16-104(C) Analyze insurance reporting data Monitor action on insurance disclosure Improve the dissemination of information regarding insurance related issues, especially for newly admitted lawyers

COMMITTEE NEWS - SIGN UP YEAR ROUND! Did you know that Committees are free to join? Our Committees do wonderful work for our community at large. Learn about them and join one any time!

N E W

M E X I C O

M E D I C A L

R E V I E W

C O M M I T T E E

The New Mexico Medical Review Commission was created by Section 41-5-14 of the New Mexico Medical Malpractice Act and was enacted in 1976.

The Medical Malpractice Act mandates the screening of all applications of alleged medical malpractice against a qualified medical provider by the Medical Review Commission. The Act provides for three panel members from the medical profession and three panel members from the State Bar to review each application.

You do not have to have a medical background to participate in this committee!

If you are interested in participating or learning more about the program, please contact Member Services at memberservices@nmbar.org.

H I S T O R I C A L

2 0 2 0

H I G H L I G H T

- Recruited 73 new volunteers Volunteers are always welcome! Panelists do not need any prior experience with medicine or medical malpractice claims and both active and inactive attorney members of the State Bar can serve as panelists. Serving on panels may count towards the pro bono requirements of Rule 16-601.

C O M M I T T E E E

The Historical Committee holds an annual presentation that is free to all members of the State Bar. While not all presentations are law related, the topics range from educational to entertaining.

Previous presentations have included Thomas E. Chรกvez, a historian with a PhD from the University of New Mexico. Although we could not meet in person this year, the Historical Committee wrote an article on Spain's role in the independent of the United States.

Check out the "Spain and the Independence of the United States" article in the Oct. 28 issue of the Bar Bulletin!

COMMITTEE NEWS - SIGN UP YEAR ROUND! Did you know that Committees are free to join? Our Committees do wonderful work for our community at large. Learn about them and join one any time!

W E L L - B E I N G

C O M M I T T E E

L E A D E R S H I P

- Chair: Carla Martinez, Second Judicial District Attorney's Office and incoming State Bar President - Co-Chair: Pamela Moore, NMJLAP Director and Co-Chair

in er th O ch Ea g n lpi r He Ba d: e e f N s o e ing Tim om c In elp H ps s ou ey Gr rn o tt f A t o r ho Co

C O M M I T T E E

The Well-Being Committee was established in 2020 by the State Bar of New Mexico's Board of Bar Commissioners. The Well-Being Committee is a standing committee of key stakeholders that encompass different areas of the legal community and cover state-wide location. All members have a well-being focus and concern with respect to the NM legal community. It is this committee's goal to examine and create initiatives centered around wellness. This includes mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health and substance use struggles within the New Mexico legal community. The WellBeing Committee will continue to follow the steps laid out in the National Task Force on Lawyer WellBeing. Visit their website to read about the National Taskforce, resources for law students and learn about the 80 tips for lawyer thriving.

The Committee on Diversity organized a monetary award to recent law school graduates who faced a delayed Bar exam on top of a world pandemic. Thank you to the following groups and individuals who contributed. 16 students were award $695 to aid in their delayed transition between school and employment!

Family Law Section – Children’s Law Section – Solo and Small Firm Section – Employment and Labor Law Section – Young Lawyers Division – Appellate Practice Section – Legal Services and Providers Committee – Committee on Women and the Legal Profession – Public Law Section – Senior Lawyers Division – JAlbright Law LLC – Committee on Diversity in the Legal Profession

DIVISION NEWS SENIOR LAWYERS DIVISION 2020 Highlights

Milestone Recognition Awards

Oral History Project

Although we could not celebrate in person,

The Division was honored to have had the

attorneys and judges who achieved 25 and

opportunity to record Raymond (Ray)

50 years of practice were recognized

Hamilton's oral history before his passing.

through the Bar Bulletin. The anniversary of

Between co-founding the New Mexico

their significant length of service is a

Black Lawyers Association, mentoring

special occasion for our legal community

diverse law students, serving on various

and a testament to their careers, clients,

Boards and more, Hamilton was influential

legal community and the State Bar.

in our legal community and his legacy will

Congratulations again!

live on for years to come.

THE DIVISION UPHOLDS THE HONOR OF THE PROFESSION OF LAW AND APPLIES THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF THE SENIORS TO THE PROMOTION OF THE PUBLIC GOOD.

Attorney Memorial Scholarship

In Memoriam Recognition

To honor and in memory of passed New

Along with the scholarship presentation,

Mexico attorneys, the Senior Lawyers

the Division holds a ceremony to recognize

Division has established an Attorney

those in our community who we have lost

Memorial Scholarship for third-year UNM

in the past year. Although precautions

School of Law students. Four students were

around COVID-19 changed our plans for

selected based on their academic

this year, the Division hosted a virtual

performance, career plan and essay. This

ceremony. If you were unable to attend,

year's essay topic that the students

the video will be available on the SLD

responded to was "What is the importance

website and the names will be published

of an independent judiciary?".

in a 2021 article of the Bar Bulletin.

DIVISION NEWS PARALEGAL DIVISION 2020 Highlights

20 YEAR MILESTONE The Division’s Board of Directors recognized members who have been active in the Division for 20 years. To mark this milestone occasion, an extra commemoration coin was mailed to the following Division members: Clydene Baca, Kathy Campbell, Carolyn Cochran, Nettie Condit, Linda Flores, Julie Forsberg, Kay Homan, Suzette Johnson, Peggy Jones, Tina Kelbe, Marie Marino, Amanda Olsen, Bonita Ortiz, Dora Paz, Evonne Sanchez, Linda Schilling, Debi Shoemaker, Tomma Shumate, Ruby Silva, Donna Sowers, Kim Steele, Joni Sterrett, Debbie Tope, Marcia Treadwell, Paula Vasquez, and Carolyn Winton. The Division is thankful and acknowledges these members for their commitment and membership to the Division.

CLE Presentations Family Law CLE - May 30 CLE Chair, Linda Sanders, and Chair Elect, Angela Minefee, organized the Division’s CLE presntations.

The event was conducted virtually via Zoom. The following were the topics presented at this event: YLD’s Wills for Heroes The Division’s members volunteered for the Feb. 29 YLD’s Wills for Heroes event located at the Bernalillo County Fire Department to assist attorneys and first-responders with the completion of the firstresponders’ Last Will & Testaments, Powers of Attorney, and Advanced Health Care Directives. The event was a success and responders as well as attorneys expressed their deep appreciation for the Division’s participation with this event.

Cannabis and Child Custody, by Carlos Martinez, Esq. Kinship Guardianship, by Jensen Wallace, Esq. Parenting Plans, by Martha Kaser, Esq. Trial Preparation/Electronic Discovery - Sept. 26 The following were the topics presented at this event:

Witness Preparation, by Margaret Graham, Esq. Building a Trial Notebook the Paralegal Way, by Lalita Devarakonda, Esq. Trial Preparation Basics for Paralegals, by Lalita Devarakonda, Esq. Both events were well received and attended!

DIVISION NEWS

Young Lawyers Division "WHAT I WISH I KNEW" PODCAST EPISODES

NOTE FROM THE CHAIR "2020 has been a challenging year to say the least. The global Covid-19 pandemic has changed our lives, our work, and how we interact with our clients and our community.

The YLD continued its regular events and programs through new mediums. The YLD’s shift from in-person events to virtual events has allowed us to reach members in all four corners of the state and members outside of state. Even through these difficult times, the YLD continues to be committed to you and is here to support you as you develop as young lawyers.

It has been an honor to serve our New Mexico YLD and an honor to work with so many exceptional members of the State Bar." - Allison Block-Chavez, 2020 YLD Chair

The Young Lawyers Division created it's subseries of the podcast of "What I Wish I Knew".

The episodes are interviews previous YLD chairs who are now established in their practice. Past chairs share the experiences they had as a young lawyer and what insights they'd like to pass on to the new generation.

Check out the following episodes on your preferred platform: Ep. 2A - Enerstina Cruz Ep. 2B - Enerstina Cruz Ep. 3 - Thomas Garcia Ep. 4 - Aja Brooks

DIVISION NEWS

Young Lawyers Division WILLS FOR HEROES

MENTORSHIP BINGO Despite foreseeing virtual-only events, the mentorship program had surging registration and another record-breaking year: 52 mentors and 65 students! Roughly 65 people from the whole group participated in a Sept. 10 Virtual Kickoff Networking Bingo session via Zoom, with 35 of those turning in BINGO cards for "door" prize drawings of DoorDash gift cards.

With the assistance of At-Large Director Deian McBryde, the committee has also created a monthly email structure for the mentorship program. Each month we will send mentors a Check In activity for them to complete with their mentee(s); a Discussion topic; a Sidebar for mentors to improve their mentor experience and career development; and a Passport virtual hangout. Passport-event attendance will enter them into a drawing in June!

The YLD held a successful Wills for Heroes program on Feb. 29 at the Bernalillo County Fire department. We look forward to holding another Wills for Heroes event in spring of 2021. First responders are always very appreciative of volunteers spending their Saturday morning helping them to put their estate and legal affairs in order in the event that tragedy hits.

If you are interested in participating, volunteering requires only a Saturday morning and program coordinators are onsite to guide and support volunteers. Contact us to volunteer!

#FIT2PRACTICE 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. The Division hosted two virtual yoga sessions! Keep an eye out for more #fit2practice events with the WellBeing Committee!

Thank You! To every Section, Committee, and Division Board.

Throughout one of the most challenging years, your voluntary service to your colleagues and community at large has been nothing short of remarkable! It's been an honor to work with you all.

Member Services Department