Civil legal services are free services to help low-income individuals and, families defend their legal rights and resolve legal problems that often involve the most fundamental aspects of life–personal and family safety, homeownership and shelter protection, healthcare, and economic security.

The New Mexico Black Lawyers Association (“NMBLA”) was incorporated by charter members and incorporators: Tommy Jewell, retired Chief Children’s Court Judge; Hannah Best, who now heads the law firm of Best and Associates; Raymond Hamilton, retired Assistant United States Attorney; and Angela Jewell, retired District Court Judge, who notarized the documents of incorporation. Today, that group of four has now expanded to over 75 attorneys who hold dear to the original tenets of the organization: to conduct a program of continuing legal education for the membership; to improve the method of judicial selection and tenure; to study the needs of the State and community for legislation, and to protect the civil rights of the citizens of the community though the legal profession.