LEGAL FACS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
Valorie D. Romero VICE-PRESIDENT
Timothy Hale Esq. SECRETARY
Hon. James J. Loughren TREASURER
Anthony Allred
DIRECTORS
Rose Marie DeLeon-Garcia Prof. Alfred Mathewson Emmanuelle Sainte Kenneth C. Lersten Stephen Comeau Aquila M. Stanley
Legal FACS Facts
Mission Statement
To provide access to justice by empowering and educating Self Represented Litigants and Victims of domestic violence with legal and victim support services.
Legal FACS strives to provide free and low cost legal services to low income persons with civil legal problems through referral to volunteer attorneys for individual cases, direct representation in some matters, and by using volunteer attorneys to give information and forms to self represented litigants and victims of domestic violence.
Legal FACS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, which heavily depends on the generosity of our supporters and volunteers through their donation of time and financial support to our mission of assisting low-income individuals and families with domestic and small claims cases, and assisting victims of domestic violence. If you would like to help keep our service going, consider making a tax deductible contribution now to Legal FACS, 400 Gold SW, Suite 106, Albuquerque, NM 87102, or volunteer for one of our programs.
It is important at the outset that self-represented persons recognize that they are required to follow the same rules of procedure and evidence as a party represented by a lawyer. It is the responsibility of every litigant, including self-represented parties, to determine what needs to be done and to take the necessary action.
Former Bernalillo County Metropolitan and Drug Court Judge Donavon A. Roberts has been the Executive Director of the program since July of 2000. Other recently hired staff include; a Domestic Violence Project Coordinator; two Staff Attorneys, two Domestic Violence Victim Advocates; a Paralegal; a Office Administrator; and a Receptionist.
“We are proud to serve you and work hard to earn your business and your support.”
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Honorable Donavon A. Roberts,
History of Legal FACS
Legal FACS, established in 1971 as Legal Services Corporation, and then the Albuquerque Bar Volunteer Lawyers Office, rose to meet the dire need for legal assistance for low income people. For its first 20 years, Legal FACS acted as a pro bono referral agency, directing individual clients to volunteer attorneys for representation. In 1990, a committee of Albuquerque Bar Association members and local judges met to brainstorm how volunteer attorneys could more efficiently serve the increasing numbers of low income pro se litigants. After a three year struggle to obtain malpractice coverage, the Courthouse Lawyer Service (CLS) or "Booth", as it was then known, was launched to serve people with domestic relations and domestic violence issues. This involved volunteer attorneys working out of court donated space to assist low income litigants.
The CLS structure empowers people and teaches them to help themselves through some of the most difficult issues they will face in their lifetime. CLS volunteer attorneys meet individually with litigants and provide them with forms and instructions on how to proceed in their case. In 1999, the format expanded into Metropolitan Court to assist low income litigants in small claims and landlord/tenant disputes. Domestic violence victims receive individual counseling or direct representation, which often prevents victims from dismissing their cases because of fear or intimidation by abusers or the system. The Forms Clinic, also introduced in 1999, allows low income litigants to meet individually with a paralegal or student and learn how to complete and file their cases. Today Legal FACS has a staff of qualified attorneys who will also provide limited and full representation to victims of domestic violence in Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance and Valencia Counties.
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