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“Equal justice under the law is a right, not a privilege. As such, in our democracy, everyone with a non-criminal legal problem who needs help accessing the civil justice system should have help.”
“It is important to eliminate barriers to the civil justice system that deny justice and keep people in poverty, such as racial inequities.”
About Civil Legal Aid – and why it matters
Civil legal service providers are nonprofits and organizations that help people navigate the legal system on civil matters. In criminal cases, everyone is entitled to an attorney, but not in civil cases, in which legal representation is not a right. This is a great injustice in our society, which leads to many people suffering serious consequences:
“People who can’t afford a lawyer in civil legal cases, or who can’t access legal resources, are losing their homes, losing their children, suffering from lack of benefits, suffering financial hardship because of large medical bills, even becoming homeless – due to a lack of legal representation in civil cases.”
– New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice Shannon Bacon
The challenges many New Mexicans face can be addressed through the legal system. With access to justice, families remain secure in their homes, women gain safety from physical and economic abuse, seniors receive life-saving benefits, veterans transition successfully to civilian life, and children access critical healthcare services. However, systemic inequities lead to barriers to access, denying justice for many New Mexicans.
- Less than 20% of New Mexicans who need these services are getting them.
Civil Legal Aid Helps People and Solves Problems
Free civil (non-criminal) legal services help people who are on the low-end of the income ladder who are facing life-changing problems such as homelessness, custody disputes, fraud, termination of benefits, and domestic violence. Often issues are interrelated and one unresolved problem leads to another.
tenants facing wrongful eviction;
homeowners facing foreclosure due to fraudulent schemes;
women who are victims of domestic violence;
veterans and military families struggling in civilian life;
consumers bankrupted by predatory lenders;
workers cheated out of wages or denied lawful benefits;
children who need a stable home or special education;
elderly whose economic security or health care is in jeopardy;
disabled people denied opportunities;
immigrants who work the lowest-wage jobs without benefits or contracts;
communities devastated by natural disasters…
Legal aid helps resolve problems, keep them from multiplying, and ultimately, promote family and economic stability. Legal aid helps people secure safe housing, access health services, food, income and personal safety, and safeguard their civil rights.
Civil Legal Help for New Mexicans
In a state where half a million residents live below the poverty line – about 1 in 5 people in New Mexico – and where many residents live in extremely rural areas, which brings additional challenges to accessing legal services – New Mexico’s legal aid organizations provide essential, free civil legal services to low-income people who otherwise could not afford to hire an attorney.
Civil legal services providers help low-income New Mexicans meet basic human needs such as health, safety, education, housing, child custody and financial stability.
| Agency | Description | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico Legal Aid | Helps low income families secure and maintain public benefits, affordable housing, safety for domestic violence victims and their children, and protection from consumer fraud. Services include a statewide legal helpline, outreach, education and pro se clinics | 1-866-416-1922 www.newmexicolegalaid.org |
| New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty | Systemic advocacy and related legal services to improve living conditions, increase opportunities, and protect the rights of low income New Mexicans. The Center provides advocacy, education and litigation across a broad range of issues including healthcare, public benefits, housing, fair lending, workers’ rights and public education. | 505-255-2840 www.nmpovertylaw.org |
| Pegasus Legal Services for Children | Services to at-risk children and youth including guardianship, homelessness, education, and teen parents. | 505-244-1101 www.pegasuslaw.org |
| Disability Rights NM | Individual and systemic advocacy for persons with disabilities to resolve disability rights and problems; advocacy and training to promote, protect and expand the rights of persons with disabilities. | 505-256-3100 www.drnm.org |
| United South Broadway Fair Lending Center | Direct legal representation and educational workshops for homeowners at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure. Consumer education and advocacy on fair housing and fair lending issues. | 505-764-8867 www.unitedsouthbroadway.org |
| Catholic Charities Center for Immigration and Citizenship Legal Assistance | Low cost immigration legal services, including family-based petitions, DACA and citizenship | 505-724-4600 www.ccasfnm.org |
| Catholic Charities Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survivor Immigration Services | Free representation for immigrant victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child sexual abuse in the Albuquerque Metro area. | 505-724-4649 www.ccasfnm.org |
| Catholic Charities of Southern New Mexico | Full service bilingual provider of immigration legal services including asylum cases, defense of deportation, family based petitions, DACA and citizenship. NMILC charges modest fees for legal services and many clients qualify for pro-bono assistance. Provides services in 10 southern counties. | 575-527-0500 |
| NM Immigrant Law Center | Legal assistance to asylum seekers, unaccompanied minors, and low-income immigrants facing separation due to deportation. | www.nmilc.org |
| DNA People’s Legal Services | Serves low income individuals across the Navajo, Hopi, and Jicarilla Apache Nations and in parts of New Mexico, Northern Arizona, and Southern Utah. Office locations serving New Mexico: Farmington and Window Rock. | 1-833-362-1102 www.dnalegalservices.org online application: https:/ /dnalegalservices.org/get-legal-help/ |
| Native American Disability Law Center | Advocates for legal rights of Native Americans with Disabilities. Serving the Four Corners | 1-800-862-7271 www.nativedisabilitylaw.org |
| Senior Citizens’ Law Office | Civil legal services, including direct representation, systemic advocacy, outreach and education, for persons aged 60 and older in Bernalillo County, and persons aged 60 and older with income restrictions in Torrance, Valencia and Sandoval Counties. | 505-265-2300 www.sclonm.org |
| Legal Resources for the Elderly Program | LREP is a free legal helpline for New Mexico residents aged 55 and older. LREP has no income restrictions and offers assistance in most civil legal matters. If a problem cannot be resolved through the helpline, referrals to private attorneys may be provided. | 505-797-6005 and 1-800-876-6657 |
| Enlace Communitario | Provides civil legal services to victims of domestic violence in Central NM, including: legal representation for domestic matters and orders of protection; and outreach and education. All individuals in need of domestic violence services are welcome, however because of the dire need for bilingual services, Latino immigrants are prioritized. | 505-243-8972 www.enlacenm.org |
| Southwest Women’s Law Center | Supports women and girls in New Mexico through legislative advocacy, pro bono engagement, legal research and reporting and coalition building. | 505-244-0502 www.swwomenslaw.org |
| KWH Law Center | From its offices located in Albuquerque, KWH Law Center for Social Justice and Change uses legal assistance, advocacy, administrative and other remedies to protect and support the legal rights of women, children, and families with children. | 505-205-0868 www.kwhlawcenter.org |
Additional Resources
- Law Help New Mexico
- New Mexico Legal Aid
- If you are representing yourself: https://self-help.nmcourts.gov/self-help-guide/
- ABA Free Legal Answers
- The Justice Gap
How to Support Civil Legal Help For Everyone
- Talk to your legislators and let them know how important access to justice is for all New Mexicans.
- Encourage attorneys to learn more about Pro Bono opportunities in NM
- Thank a civil legal service attorney for their commitment
- Volunteer your time and talent at any of the provider organizations.
- Donate directly to a legal aid organization of your choice or HERE
