Rule 15-201 - Admission to the practice of lawA.Requirements for the practice of law. Unless otherwise ordered by the Supreme Court, no person may practice law in New Mexico or be an active member of the State Bar of New Mexico until that person has qualified and met the requirements of these rules to the satisfaction of the Supreme Court.B.Delegation to board.The board shall administer the process for admission, including determining whether an applicant has the necessary qualifications and meets the requirements prescribed by these rules, recommending an applicant's admission to the Supreme Court, and other steps for finalizing an applicant's licensure as may be delegated by the Supreme Court.C.Methods of licensure. The various methods of licensure by which a person may apply for admission, and the qualifications and requirements for each license, are described in Article 3 of these rules.D.Admission process. Any applicant desiring admission must, for the applicant's desired method of licensure: (1) submit to the board an application identifying the method of licensure being applied for, the required information described for that license, and any additional information requested by the board;(2) pay to the board the fees required for the method of licensure;(3) prove the applicant meets the qualifications, including character and fitness, as described for the method of licensure; and(4) on issuance of an order authorizing that applicant's admission, comply with the admission procedures described for the method of licensure.E.Jurisdiction. Submission of an application shall subject an applicant to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the board. If a license to practice law is granted to an applicant, the board's jurisdiction over the applicant shall terminate three (3) years after the grant of the license. The board's jurisdiction over an applicant who has withdrawn an application or who has been denied admission shall terminate thirty (30) days after the withdrawal or denial and conclusion of any appeal thereof.F.Revocation. In addition to any grounds and procedures for revocation specified for a method of licensure, the board may hold a hearing to recommend to the Supreme Court the revocation of any license obtained by an applicant's false representations, fraud, or deceit in the application process. The Supreme Court may revoke a license at any time on satisfactory showing that the license was obtained by an applicant's false representations, fraud, or deceit.As amended, effective 11/1/1994; as amended by Supreme Court Order No. S-1-RCR-2023-00036, effective 12/31/2023.Committee commentary. -
[1] See Restatement (Third) of the Law Governing Lawyers, § 2 (2000).
[2] See Rule 24-101 NMRA; NMSA 1978, § 36-2-27 (1999); NMSA 1978, § 40-5A-10 (1997).
[3] See NMSA 1978, § 36-2-24 (1909) (stating that within three years, the Supreme Court may revoke a license obtained by false representation, fraud, or deceit).
[4] Rules regarding pro hac vice practice are contained in Rule 24-106 NMRA.
[5] Rules governing admission as an emeritus attorney are addressed in Rule 24-111 NMRA.
[Adopted by Supreme Court Order No. S-1-RCR-2023-00036, effective December 31, 2023.]
ANNOTATIONS The 1994 amendment, effective November 1, 1994, rewrote Paragraph B, which read: "The bar examination shall be designed to test the applicant's ability to reason logically, to analyze accurately the problems presented to him and to communicate an adequate knowledge of the fundamental principles of law and professional ethics and their application. The examination shall not be designed primarily for the purpose of testing memory or experience." Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. - 7 Am. Jur. 2d Attorneys at Law § 22. Validity, under federal constitution, of state bar examination procedures, 30 A.L.R. Fed. 934. 7 C.J.S. Attorney and Client § 18.