There were two more active legal licenses in Valencia County in December 2025 than in the previous month, according to the State Bar of New Mexico.
Overall, 52 lawyers were working within the county at the time, compared to 50 the month before.
Data refers to all lawyers who were actively practicing during this time period.
As of Dec. 1, 2025, average lawyer salaries in New Mexico ranged from $92,702 for an entry-level attorney handling routine legal work (Attorney I) to $234,462 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 $173,614 in New Mexico, compared to $187,448 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Allen R. Smith | 13th Judicial District Court | 10/05/1988 |
| Amavalise F. Jaramillo | Law Office of Amavalise F. Jaramillo | 09/29/2003 |
| Ann T. McCartney | NM Environmental Law Center | 09/21/1983 |
| Anthony J. Williams | Anthony J. Williams Attorney at Law | 08/28/1979 |
| Antonia Rae Aguilar | The Law Firm of David C. Chavez | 04/21/2021 |
| Arturo B. Nieto | Nieto Law Office | 10/03/2000 |
| Audriana Susana Martinez | 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office | 04/28/2025 |
| Bryan Arthur Collopy | NM Health Care Authority-Child Support Services Division | 05/01/2000 |
| Christopher L. Green | 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office | 05/07/2024 |
| Cindy M. Mercer | 13th Judicial District Court | 10/08/1997 |
| Danielle M. Bryant | 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office | 09/29/2025 |
| David C. Chavez | The Law Firm of David C. Chavez, LLC | 09/21/1983 |
| Ed Meintzer | Meintzer Law Firm | 05/05/1997 |
| Elias Barela | Elias Barela Attorney at Law, LLC | 10/03/2000 |
| Emiline E. Heisler | 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office | 09/29/2025 |
| Erin A. Olson | 13th Judicial District Court | 09/26/2008 |
| Francine M. Jaramillo | — | 09/26/2008 |
| Franziska L. Ortega | — | 05/06/2002 |
| Georgene Louis | — | 09/20/2004 |
| Gregory A. Baca | Baca Law Offices | 04/25/2011 |
| Gregory Gaudette | Law Office of Greg Gaudette | 04/07/1991 |
| Guy Dicharry Jr. | Dicharry Law Office | 10/05/1988 |
| Helen Bernadette Padilla | — | 12/22/1999 |
| James Lawrence Sanchez | 13th Judicial District Court | 10/07/1986 |
| Karson Winton Smith | 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office | 05/07/2024 |
| Kenneth Edward Mack | 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office | 08/13/2025 |
| Kenneth R. Wagner | Ken Wagner Law, P.A. | 04/01/1976 |
| Laura Boyett | The Boyett Law Office | 09/24/2001 |
| Laurence P. Guggino Jr. | Griego & Guggino | 10/05/1987 |
| Lisa Bourgeois | US Army | 10/21/2022 |
| Lori Bauer Apodaca | Lori Bauer Apodaca Attorney at Law | 05/26/1994 |
| Matthew Hasler | 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office | 09/25/2018 |
| Matthew Joseph Strand | — | 04/28/2015 |
| Michael J. Doyle | Michael J. Doyle Attorney at Law | 10/03/2000 |
| Michael R. Griego | Griego & Guggino | 09/26/1984 |
| Michael S. Sanchez | Michael Sanchez Law Offices, P.C. | 02/01/1978 |
| Natalie L. Baca | 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office | 10/13/2022 |
| Olivia Kay Garcia | NM Children Youth and Families Department | 09/23/2019 |
| Pamela Tonkinson-Saiz | 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office | 09/26/2005 |
| Pedro G. Rael | — | 08/01/1972 |
| Peter G. Ortega | — | 09/26/2008 |
| Ricardo S. Gonzales | The Law Firm of David C. Chavez, LLC | 11/16/2020 |
| Robyn Anne Simms | 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office | 04/25/2011 |
| Sherry P. Thompson | HCA/CSSD | 10/08/1997 |
| Stephanie Russo A. Baca | — | 10/16/2017 |
| Steven M. Chavez | Chavez Law Firm, P.C. | 10/22/1996 |
| Susan S. McLean | — | 12/20/2003 |
| Tibo J. Chavez Jr. | Law Office of Tibo J. Chavez Jr | 10/05/1981 |
| Vern H. Payne | Singleton Schreiber, LLP | 08/01/1964 |
| Vincent A. Martinez | NM Children Youth and Families Department | 09/24/2001 |
| William A. Sanchez | Sanchez Settlement & Legal Services, LLC | 09/01/1980 |
| William Norman McDonald | Norman McDonald, P.A. | 10/09/1974 |
