LOCAL COLUMN
OPINION: It's time for UNM School of Law to move forward
Over the last few months, multiple opinion pieces, open letters and social media posts have been distributed and published about the reappointment of Camile Carey as the dean of the University of New Mexico School of Law. Such vast media coverage would be unusual in many other states, but in New Mexico, UNM Law School holds a unique position. It is the only law school in the state and the 100 or so lawyers who graduate annually go out and serve diverse communities. For a lawyer in New Mexico it is impossible to be a specialist 鈥� even the most specialized practices in our community are sometimes called upon to reach beyond their expertise and recall their foundational classes in law school to aid a client. To practice in New Mexico requires a strong foundation that can only be provided by the law school.
Some will be disappointed by the reappointment of Dean Carey, and some will be encouraged. I think both sides will agree that being the dean of a small and unique law school is difficult, and that the success of the law school is not determined by a single actor. The success of the law school is everyone鈥檚 responsibility. Its success requires the faculty to guide and nurture the students into responsible and good-natured advocates. It requires its alumni to contribute funds, hire and mentor students, and challenge students to become stronger and thoughtful lawyers. It requires our Legislature to appropriate adequate funds to preserve this institution and our broader nonlegal community to recognize the unique role the law school plays in New Mexico. In the last few weeks, we have lost sight of these responsibilities.
New Mexico is suffering from a legal desert. Several of our counties have no lawyers and many of our rural counties are underserved. A large majority of individuals in landlord-tenant cases are pro se 鈥� despite involving issues of contract interpretation and strict statutory requirements. The unhoused population in Albuquerque is facing criminal complaints for simply sleeping on the streets, creating increased strain on the public defenders and district attorneys. This shortage is compounded by the rapidly growing dockets in the federal and state judiciary, making this legal desert is nothing short of an emergency. New Mexico lawyers need to be more prepared than ever to face these challenges and to serve these communities.
Like in all litigation, someone prevails and someone does not, and regardless of what side you were on you keep moving forward. It is time to move forward and do the work necessary to serve our community.
Billy Tra颅baudo is gradu颅ate of the Uni颅versity of New Mex颅ico School of Law. He is a part颅ner at Bardacke Allison Miller LLP in Santa Fe.
