As an accredited CLE provider, the Volunteer Attorney Program (VAP) of New Mexico Legal Aid provides volunteer attorneys with free CLE opportunities and access to a comprehensive collection of CLE recordings, presentation materials, and other resources to support their pro bono services.
The VAP CLE Program is designed to strengthen the knowledge and skills of volunteer attorneys by providing practical, relevant education on legal topics and issues that arise in pro bono practice. The program also creates opportunities for attorneys with expertise in particular areas of law to share their knowledge with the broader volunteer attorney community.
Through the VAP CLE Program, volunteer attorneys can:
- Attend free CLE sessions on topics relevant to pro bono practice.
- Access CLE recordings for convenient, self-paced learning.
- Download presentation materials and other resources to support their volunteer services.
- Explore practical legal resources and educational materials relevant to serving pro bono clients.
- Present CLEs on areas of law, emerging issues, or other topics that would benefit volunteer attorneys.
We Welcome Volunteer Attorneys and Presenters
The VAP CLE Program welcomes:
- Current and new volunteer attorneys interested in free CLE opportunities and resources.
- Experienced legal practitioners and subject matter experts interested in presenting a CLE on a topic of value to the pro bono community.
- Attorneys with resources or expertise to share that can help strengthen and support pro bono representation throughout New Mexico.
If you are interested in presenting a CLE or suggesting a topic that would be valuable to volunteer attorneys, please email vapecho@nmlegalaid.org.
Upcoming CLE Sessions
2026 Fall Estate Planning & Probate CLE Series
PRESENTER: Judge Cristy Carbón-Gaul
Simple Wills: In-Depth Review & Step-by-Step Preparation Tuesday, September 15 | 4:30–6:00 p.m.
A deeper, practical review of preparing a simple will for a low-income client, including key provisions, execution requirements, common drafting issues, and practice considerations.
Powers of Attorney: In-Depth Review & Common Pitfalls Tuesday, October 20 | 4:30–6:00 p.m.
A deeper, practical review of powers of attorney, including key provisions, types of authority, execution requirements, and common pitfalls—including why adding someone to a title may create unintended consequences.
New Mexico Probate I: Getting Started Tuesday, November 3 | 4:30–6:00 p.m.
A practical introduction to New Mexico probate, including determining the appropriate probate process, required documents, key procedural steps, and common issues through practice-based hypotheticals.
New Mexico Probate II: Administration & Closing Tuesday, November 10 | 4:30–6:00 p.m.
Building on Probate I, this session covers administration through distribution and closing, with practical guidance and hypotheticals addressing common probate issues and pitfalls.
