Indian Law

The Indian Law Section seeks to provide support, information and education for New Mexico attorneys practicing in areas that are impacted by the specialized legal rules and doctrines applicable to Indian tribes, individuals and property. Among the Section’s activities are:

The purpose of the Mentorship Committee of the Indian Law Section of the State Bar of New Mexico is to support an expansive understanding of “mentorship opportunities” for students and both young and experienced lawyers, interested in or already practicing in Tribal and federal Indian law. The Mentorship Committee further commits to addressing visibility issues for Native American attorneys in the legal profession and drawing attention to the complex legal terrain of Tribal and federal Indian law, to support correcting the prolonged absence of Native American practitioners while raising the profile of the application of Tribal and federal Indian law in our legal system. Because New Mexico is home to 23 federally recognized Tribes and Pueblos, the visibility and advancement of Native American attorneys, Tribal law, and federal Indian law, is critical to the success of our sovereign, but interrelated, communities. The Mentorship Committee is committed to cross-generational mentoring, because it is the most effective way to support the success of first-generation and historically marginalized professionals in our legal field. The Committee’s commitments include encouraging and fostering knowledge sharing, meaningful professional development, and long-term wellness for Native American attorneys and legal practitioners practicing or engaging with Tribal and federal Indian law. These tangible and intangible benefits will directly translate into renewed community and membership engagement on behalf of and with the Mentorship Committee of the Indian Law Section.