Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Quay County Courthouse soon will offer free legal consultations with an attorney by videoconference for anyone who needs it.
The videoconference legal clinic will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 11 in a private room of the second floor of the district courthouse at 303 S. Third St. in Tucumcari, said Marion Payton, court executive officer for the 10th Judicial Circuit Court in Tucumcari.
The free legal clinic will be offered on the second Friday of each month.
Attorneys from Albuquerque and Santa Fe will answer legal questions and provide free consultations on areas including family law and estates, wills, guardianships, public benefits, bankruptcy, foreclosure, creditor/debtor issues, landlord/tenant issues, immigration and employment.
Payton said Quay County doesn't have enough lawyers to offer pro bono, or free, legal services.
She said in some cases, the free legal clinic could save people hundreds, perhaps thousands, of dollars.
But if a case is too big or complicated for a free videoconference, Payton said the attorney will advise the client to hire an attorney instead.
People can use the service on a first-come, first-served basis, and the pro-bono lawyers will be talking to people all over New Mexico during the clinic.
Anyone with questions about the free legal clinic can contact Payton at 575-461-2764.
The clinic is presented by the State Bar of New Mexico and Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court.