Languages

• French
• Hebrew

Law Firm Overview

PUBLICATIONS

First place entry in national writing competition. $2,500 prize. Published nationally as "Constitutional Challenges to Punitive Damages", Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel Quarterly, Vol. 40, No.1, Fall 1989.

EDUCATION

University of New Mexico School of Law. Honors Student. Date of Graduation May, 1990. Member of New Mexico Bar, admitted October 1990.

University of Texas, Austin, School of Architecture and Planning, Community and Regional Planning Department. Election to Phi Kappa Phi national honorary society. M.S. 1987 Emphasis on running non-profit (governmental) organizations.

EXPERIENCE

October 1990 to present - I have been running my own business, a varied civil practice which has included contracts, bankruptcy, collections and other areas of civil law, including real estate, probate, corporation and llc formations.

For most of my years in practice, the emphasis has been on bankruptcy law, including primarily Chapter 13 and Chapter 7 bankruptcies for consumers and for small businesses. In recent years I have expanded to a general civil practice, with an emphasis on bankruptcy, commercial and civil law.

During graduate school, I clerked for a year with the Texas Legislature.

Prior to opening my own office, I was a law clerk for several prominent attorneys in town. My duties included research and writing on a variety of topics and I became extremely proficient at researching legal issues. Aiding me in learning the task of legal research was the vast number of articles I had to review to write my prize-winning paper. Among the attorneys I clerked for were:

January 1989 to October 1990 - Law Clerk, Law Offices of Travelers Insurance Co. (insurance defense, tort claims, contracts, personnel, civil rights, labor law).

Summer, 1988 to December, 1988 - Law Clerk, Carpenter and Goldberg (plaintiffs, personal injury, tort claims, civil rights, labor relations).

January 1988 to May 1988 - Law Clerk, Toulouse and Garcia (corporate, real estate, criminal and personal injury, labor and civil rights).

1986 - 1988 - While in graduate school, I worked for the state of Texas as a governmental planner and legislative aide. At that time, the state legislature was implementing a computerized database to track all recent legislation. My position involved information gathering and legislative analysis, and overseeing the input of data.

Prior to 1988 - Owned and operated my own natural food businesses. These were as follows: Madison Natural Foods, Beeple Bar Productions, and Natural Food Enterprises. MNF was the largest of the three operations, employing 20 people. I was one of five partners running the operation, primarily responsible for hiring, firing and employee relations, as well as marketing. Beeple Bar Products was my own business producing a high protein natural foods candy bar. Successful, sold out of business. Responsible for all phases of operation - procurement of supplies, marketing, management, production manager, etc. Natural Food Enterprises was the first Tofu and soy products enterprise in the midwest (non-asian). I had two partners. We produced a variety of soy products, including tofu, soy milk, tempeh, soy ice cream, barbecued tofu, and other natural food, including granola and bean sprouts. I was primarily the production and marketing manager.

SPECIAL SKILLS

Small business management, Familiarity with spreadsheets, databases, and general computer literacy, Internet Certification

HONORS

Winner, National Writing Competition; Phi Kappa Phi; National Honorary Society; W.E. Bondurant Law School Scholarship; Dean's List, Law School; Honor Roll, Law School; National Honor Society; National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalist.

Since graduation from law school, I have always sought to make legal services available to the public at affordable prices. That is why I call my practice "Affordable Law", As a disabled person, I have particular sympathy for the handicapped and disabled, and frequently give them big discounts. I also have reduced prices for active military, single parents, people with severe medical problems, and other types of people facing hardships. Most of the time, I will talk to a caller for free to see if I can help them. If I cannot, I will attempt to find a lawyer who can.

For nearly 20 years, I have assisted people with bankruptcies, divorces, child support, personal injuries, immigration, incorporation, LLC formation, wills, trusts, probate. Almost any kind of non-criminal matter. My prices are usually the lowest you can find. I frequently assist people in handling their own cases "pro se", acting as their own attorneys. I draft the legal paperwork for them, show them how to get before the judge, give them advice on how to present their case, and also attempt, wherever possible, to resolve cases without resorting to litigation. It is never fun to go to court. If I can get people communicating, they can frequently work out their difficulties without having to spend exorbitant amounts of money on lawyers, and without the emotional bitterness that often accompanies litigation.

Remote legal services - I have had many clients from out of state or even from outside the U.S. I am very happy to assist people who need legal help in New Mexico even when they are not actually present in the state.

Areas of Practice

• Divorce and Family Law
• Child Custody, Visitation and Child Support
• Chapter 7 Consumer Bankruptcy
• Chapter 13 Consumer Bankruptcy
• Foreclosure and Repossession
• Wills, Trusts and Probate
• Personal Injury Claims
• Real Estate Law
• Immigration
• Bankruptcy Law
• Personal Injury -- Plaintiff
• Probate & Estate Administration
• Adoption

Honors and Awards

• W.E. Bondurant Law School Award
• Hugh B. Woodard Law School Award
• National Honor Society

Published Works

• Constitutional Challenges to Punitive Damages, American Insurance Defense Lawyers Association, 1990

West Practice Categories

Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation, Bad Faith Insurance, Bankruptcy Law, Collections & Repossessions, Consumer Bankruptcy, Debt Discharge, Foreclosures, Garnishment, Workouts, Civil Rights, Disability & Illness Discrimination, Estate Planning, Living Wills, Powers of Attorney and Appointment, Trusts, Wills, Family Law, Adoption, Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Divorce, Paternity, Health & Health Care Law, Disability, Nursing Home, Immigration & Naturalization Law, Immigration, Naturalization & Citizenship, Visas, Insurance Law, Bad Faith, Litigation & Appeals, State Appellate Practice, State Trial Practice, Personal Injury -- Plaintiff, Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff, Property Damage -- Plaintiff, Wrongful Death -- Plaintiff, Probate & Estate Administration, Estate Administration, Real Estate Law, Foreclosure & Alternatives