Our History
Equal Access to Justice (EAJ) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was started in 1988 by concerned attorneys who saw firsthand how many New Mexicans with civil legal problems could not get legal help.
Over the past 30+ years, Equal Access to Justice has raised and distributed over $4 million dollars to civil legal service providers in their work. The end result is more families staying in their homes, more workers receiving the pay they've earned, more children accessing the education they deserve, more people protected from their abusers, and more seniors receiving much-needed healthcare.
Legal Needs in New Mexico
Every day in New Mexico, a family, a victim of domestic violence, an elderly person, or a disabled person needs legal help. The legal help they need affects the most basic aspects of life, such as personal safety, earned income, safe shelter, and access to medical care.
According to the 2012 American Community Survey—US Census Bureau update, New Mexico is the second poorest state in the nation. Twenty-two percent of individuals in New Mexico (451,000 people) are living in poverty compared to the national level of 15%. People living in poverty ($23,550 for a family of four) have three to four times more legal issues affecting them yearly than the average middle-income resident and often cannot afford legal assistance.
There is only one legal aid attorney per 13,667 low-income New Mexicans. The number of residents per legal aid attorney continues to grow due to slow recovery from the national recession and federal and state funding cuts. There is a local, private attorney per 379 residents in our state.
How EAJ Helps
When you donate to Equal Access to Justice, you are helping increase safety and stability for New Mexicans. This work is accomplished by three organizations that meet legal needs through services and advocacy. These civil legal services providers are New Mexico Legal Aid, DNA – People’s Legal Services, and the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty.
The types of cases the providers work with include housing and shelter rights, domestic relations, consumer issues, government benefits, health care, Indian tribal issues, and protection of land and water rights.
When a New Mexican faces life-altering legal issues and cannot afford needed legal help, Equal Access to Justice and your donations make this help possible.
Our monthly giving programs and annual campaign support:
A Note Especially for Attorneys
Rule 16-601 of The Rules of Professional Conduct encourages licensed attorneys in New Mexico to give donations or pro-bono time to the indigent population of our state. If you are a lawyer and are unable to donate pro-bono time, Equal Access to Justice is the perfect organization to make a financial contribution to support civil legal services.
Equal Access to Justice (EAJ) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was started in 1988 by concerned attorneys who saw firsthand how many New Mexicans with civil legal problems could not get legal help.
Over the past 30+ years, Equal Access to Justice has raised and distributed over $4 million dollars to civil legal service providers in their work. The end result is more families staying in their homes, more workers receiving the pay they've earned, more children accessing the education they deserve, more people protected from their abusers, and more seniors receiving much-needed healthcare.
Legal Needs in New Mexico
Every day in New Mexico, a family, a victim of domestic violence, an elderly person, or a disabled person needs legal help. The legal help they need affects the most basic aspects of life, such as personal safety, earned income, safe shelter, and access to medical care.
According to the 2012 American Community Survey—US Census Bureau update, New Mexico is the second poorest state in the nation. Twenty-two percent of individuals in New Mexico (451,000 people) are living in poverty compared to the national level of 15%. People living in poverty ($23,550 for a family of four) have three to four times more legal issues affecting them yearly than the average middle-income resident and often cannot afford legal assistance.
There is only one legal aid attorney per 13,667 low-income New Mexicans. The number of residents per legal aid attorney continues to grow due to slow recovery from the national recession and federal and state funding cuts. There is a local, private attorney per 379 residents in our state.
How EAJ Helps
When you donate to Equal Access to Justice, you are helping increase safety and stability for New Mexicans. This work is accomplished by three organizations that meet legal needs through services and advocacy. These civil legal services providers are New Mexico Legal Aid, DNA – People’s Legal Services, and the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty.
The types of cases the providers work with include housing and shelter rights, domestic relations, consumer issues, government benefits, health care, Indian tribal issues, and protection of land and water rights.
When a New Mexican faces life-altering legal issues and cannot afford needed legal help, Equal Access to Justice and your donations make this help possible.
Our monthly giving programs and annual campaign support:
- Grants to civil legal service providers who advise, represent and advocate on behalf of New Mexicans.
- Raising public awareness about the need for free civil legal services throughout the state.
- Educating members of the New Mexico State Bar on the importance of participating in and funding pro bono (free) initiatives.
A Note Especially for Attorneys
Rule 16-601 of The Rules of Professional Conduct encourages licensed attorneys in New Mexico to give donations or pro-bono time to the indigent population of our state. If you are a lawyer and are unable to donate pro-bono time, Equal Access to Justice is the perfect organization to make a financial contribution to support civil legal services.