There were 35 fewer active legal licenses in Otero County in September than in the previous month, according to the State Bar of New Mexico.
Overall, 16 lawyers were working within the county at the time, compared to 51 the month before.
Data refers to all lawyers who were actively practicing during this time period.
As of March 1, 2025, average lawyer salaries in New Mexico ranged from $96,460 for an entry-level attorney handling routine legal work (Attorney I) to $202,032 for highly experienced attorneys managing complex cases with significant autonomy (Attorney V). Mid-level attorneys, such as those in Attorney III roles—who handle highly complex legal work with moderate supervision—earn on average $161,322 in New Mexico, compared to $174,969 nationwide.
Based on results from the February 2025 Bar Exam by the National Conference of Bar Examiners, New Mexico’s first-time pass rate was 63%, ranking it above the national average at the time. However, that also marked a notable drop from the 82% first-time pass rate in July 2024, when New Mexico was among the top 10 states for first-time passage.
For context, overall pass rates for the February 2025 bar exam were low, with only 14 states recording rates above 50%. The decline has been linked to historically low scores on the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), which saw its lowest average since it began in 1972.
| Lawyer Name | Name of Firm | Admission Date |
|---|---|---|
| Angela Ginn Waltman | 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office | 10/09/2024 |
| Angie K. Schneider | 12th Judicial District Court | 12/07/2001 |
| Armand R. Velez | — | 11/02/1993 |
| Chase Ryan San Miguel | 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office | 06/24/2025 |
| Darrell Paul Mori | — | 05/30/2025 |
| Dayna Louise Jones | Law Offices of the Public Defender | 02/27/2020 |
| Elizabeth Katherine Watson | John D. Wheeler & Associates, P.C. | 04/29/2019 |
| Ellen Rattigan Jessen | — | 04/21/2008 |
| James R. Walker | Law Offices of the Public Defender | 09/20/2004 |
| Jason W. Galbraith | NM Human Services Department Child Support Enforcement Division | 04/22/2008 |
| Jeffrey F. Van Keulen | The Van Keulen Law Firm | 09/27/2007 |
| Lindsey Marie Cerny | Law Offices of the Public Defender | 03/18/2024 |
| Melissa Garcia | Twelfth Judicial District Attorney’s Office | 10/12/2023 |
| Mikel T. Ward | 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office | 11/16/2020 |
| Nelva Lena Cervantes | Mescalero Apache Tribe | 04/27/2007 |
| Taylor Donovan Weary | 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office | 04/21/2021 |
