The State Bar of New Mexico (SBNM) is the
integrated (mandatory)
bar association
A bar association is a professional association of lawyers as generally organized in countries following the Anglo-American types of jurisprudence. of the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...
of
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States. It is one of the Mountain States of the southern Rocky Mountains, sharing the Four Corners region with Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. It also ...
.
History
The State Bar of New Mexico first met on January 19, 1886, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, as a voluntary professional organization. There were 29 original members, and William A. Vincent was the first president.
In 1925, state statute caused the State Bar to operate as an agency of the
New Mexico Supreme Court
The New Mexico Supreme Court () is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is established and its powers defined by Article VI of the New Mexico Constitution. It is primarily an appellate court which reviews civil and criminal ...
.
In 1978, the State Bar of New Mexico (State Bar) was incorporated under the laws of the State of New Mexico.
Structure
The SBNM is governed by a Board of Bar Commissioners, consisting of 19 members elected by district and one from each of the Senior Lawyer, Young Lawyer, and Paralegal Divisions.
SBNM enforces the rule that New Mexico lawyers must complete 12 credits of
Continuing Legal Education
Continuing legal education (CLE), also known as mandatory or minimum continuing legal education (MCLE) or, in some jurisdictions outside the United States, as continuing professional development, consists of professional education for attorneys ...
each year.
SBNM publishes the weekly ''New Mexico Bar Bulletin''
and the quarterly ''New Mexico Lawyer''.
In 1995, SBNM's
Paralegal
A paralegal, also known as a legal assistant or paralegal specialist, is a legal professional who performs tasks that require knowledge of legal concepts but not the full expertise of a lawyer with an admission to practice law. The market for p ...
Division was established to serve the needs of New Mexico legal assistants.
References
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States. It is one of the Mountain States of the southern Rocky Mountains, sharing the Four Corners region with Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. It also ...
Government of New Mexico
1886 establishments in New Mexico Territory
Organizations established in 1886
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