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The New Mexico State Bar Foundation is excited to announce the opening of the Modest Means Helpline which is a civil legal telephone helpline and pro bono referral service for New Mexico residents of modest means. The Modest Means Helpline was created through the efforts of the Access to Justice Commission, the Administrative Office of the Courts and the State Bar of New Mexico/New Mexico State Bar Foundation with funding from the New Mexico State Legislature. The MM Helpline is an expansion to the New Mexico Legal Aid Volunteer Attorney Program (VAP) for members of the public who cannot be assisted by the VAP due to being a conflict of interest for New Mexico Legal Aid, over income for NMLA or are otherwise ineligible for NMLA. The Modest Means Helpline’s two staff attorneys provide legal advice over the phone, and, if appropriate, may refer the case to pro bono attorneys for representation ranging from legal advice up to limited or full representation. The Helpline staff will also work with the VAP to enable people of modest means or those who are NMLA conflicts to be served at court- sponsored legal clinics around the state.

The Modest Means Helpline can be reached at 505-797-6013 or 888-857-9935, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm. (MT). 

Please note: The Modest Means Helpline does not assist in criminal matters. In addition, if callers are seeking assistance for someone who is 55 or older, they should call the Legal Resources for the Elderly Program (505-797-6005 or 1-800-876-6657), which is the New Mexico State Bar Foundation’s other helpline and referral service, which is for people 55 or older.