Legal Well-Being In Action

Tenessa Eakins, currently serves as the Case Manager of the New Mexico Lawyer Assistance Program, she plays a pivotal role in guiding and aiding legal professionals in their personal and professional well-being through the program. In addition to her role as Manager, she is a member of the NM Well-Being Committee, where she contributes her passion for enhancing the lives of those within the legal community.

Prior to becoming an attorney in 2006, Amber Griffiths was a master's-level counselor to families and individuals.  She then attended UC Law San Francisco, which was followed by four years of clerking for federal trial and appellate judges.  She then became a plaintiff-side litigator in a big firm for a few years after which she was ecstatically happy to leave the world of court practice to open her solo practice in 2016.  Amber thinks of herself not as a lawyer only but as a "JD MSW" as she walks clients through the legal maze that is estate planning.  She enjoys helping folks who are clarifying their end-of-life values and addressing their family situations in the context of death and incapacity planning.  In sum, she's devoted to using the law to her clients' benefit and focusing on what matters the most to them.  A New Mexico native, Amber lives in the mountains with her husband and loves murder mysteries, hiking, travel, and gardening.

Disclaimer: Thank you for listening! This episode was produced by the State Bar of New Mexico’s Well-Being Committee and the New Mexico Lawyer Assistance Program. All editing and sound mixing was done by the State Bar of New Mexico and/or the State Bar Foundation. Intro music is by Gil Flores. The views of the presenters are that of their own and are not endorsed by the State Bar of New Mexico. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment or legal advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Speaker Bio: Pamela Moore, MA, LPCC, currently serves as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Director of the State Bar of New Mexico’s Professional Programs Group where she educates the legal community on positive health and well-being and assists in providing resources and services to any legal professional struggling with mental, emotional or behavioral issues.

Thank you for listening! This episode was produced by the State Bar of New Mexico’s Well-Being Committee and the New Mexico Lawyer Assistance Program. All editing and sound mixing was done by the State Bar of New Mexico and/or the State Bar Foundation. Intro music is by Gil Flores. The views of the presenters are that of their own and are not endorsed by the State Bar of New Mexico. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment or legal advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Briggs Cheney, Esq., Dixon•Scholl•Carrillo•P.A., and the Co-Chair to the NMJLAP Committee.

Brian Nichols, Esq. is primarily in federal Indian law and litigation, including tribal courts, with focuses on energy, natural resources, transportation and employment.

Disclaimer:
Thank you for listening! This episode was produced by the State Bar of New Mexico’s Well-Being Committee and the New Mexico Lawyer Assistance Program. All editing and sound mixing was done by the State Bar of New Mexico and/or the State Bar Foundation. Intro music is by Gil Flores. The views of the presenters are that of their own and are not endorsed by the State Bar of New Mexico. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment or legal advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Caitlin L. Dillon is a prosecutor in New Mexico. Any views expressed here are her own, in her personal capacity as a wellness enthusiast.

William Slease (“Bill”) is the Professional Development Program Director for the State Bar of New Mexico. 

Disclaimer:
Thank you for listening! This episode was produced by the State Bar of New Mexico’s Well-Being Committee and the New Mexico Lawyer Assistance Program. All editing and sound mixing was done by the State Bar of New Mexico and/or the State Bar Foundation. Intro music is by Gil Flores. The views of the presenters are that of their own and are not endorsed by the State Bar of New Mexico. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment or legal advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Pamela Moore, MA, LPCC, currently serves as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Director of the State Bar of New Mexico’s Professional Programs Group where she educates the legal community on positive health and well-being and assists in providing resources and services to any legal professional struggling with mental, emotional or behavioral issues.

Thank you for listening! This episode was produced by the State Bar of New Mexico’s Well-Being Committee and the New Mexico Lawyer Assistance Program. All editing and sound mixing was done by the State Bar of New Mexico and/or the State Bar Foundation. Intro music is by Gil Flores. The views of the presenters are that of their own and are not endorsed by the State Bar of New Mexico. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment or legal advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Victoria Bateman, Esq. is a licensed attorney in the State of New Mexico.  She is a business owner of Bateman Law Firm, partner of Signature Title Agency and RE/MAX Results.  She is the 2016 NAWREB Leading Lady Recipient featured in Volume 5 Issue 3 of Women in the Housing & Real Estate Ecosystem. She has built an online school for EPA related contractor Repair, Renovation and Lead Based Paint Training Certification and is a former real estate educator. She sat on panels presenting with the agents of change to include the former AZ Real Estate Commissioner, US EPA counsel, former City of Tucson Mayor and New Mexico Bar Association. Her passion is to educate and help others elevate to the best versions of themselves as others have helped her evolve. 

Tenessa Eakins, currently serves as the Case Manager of the New Mexico Lawyer Assistance Program, she plays a pivotal role in guiding and aiding legal professionals in their personal and professional well-being through the program. In addition to her role as Manager, she is a member of the NM Well-Being Committee, where she contributes her passion for enhancing the lives of those within the legal community.

Prior to her work in the legal field, Tenessa served as an Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B) with the San Diego Fire Department.

Amanda Parker, PhD, is a writer, researcher, and educator from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her PhD is focused on critical race studies in education and society. Her academic work and teaching concentrated on the intersection of race and gender, building solidarity, developing critically conscious teachers, and examining racism in families.  

She lives in Albuquerque with her daughters and can be found walking her poorly behaved dogs and practicing yoga in her free time.

Miss-Ashley Kendrick is a licensed attorney in the state of New Mexico, where she has her own practice in Albuquerque. Her practice areas include the following: IP, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, Estate Planning, Entertainment and Civil Right Law. 

Miss-Ashley Kendrick is driven by a client-focused approach, coupled with exceptional legal knowledge and skill. With a deep-rooted passion to make a difference in the lives of others. Her clients trust her to listen attentively to their needs and desired outcomes, and she offers competent and realistic legal advice to help them achieve their goals.

In addition to her contribution to the legal profession as an attorney, Miss-Ashley is the founder and creator of Balance Her Hustle, which focuses on the unique needs and desires of professional women. Furthermore, Balance Her Hustle brings awareness to the physical and mental health of professional women. More specifically, Balance Her Hustle assists professional women in achieving a healthy work-life balance through community, practical tools and education. More information can be found at www.balanceherhustle.com

In addition to her Juris Doctor degree, Miss-Ashley Kendrick holds an undergraduate degree in Communications and Business, which enhances her ability to effectively communicate and strategize on behalf of her clients. Furthermore, she has received specialized training in Alternative Dispute Resolution and Mediation from the prestigious University of California, Berkeley, allowing her to navigate complex matters and resolve conflicts in a peaceful and efficient manner.

Born and raised in the picturesque Wine County of Northern California. When she's not busy zealously advocating for her clients, Miss-Ashley enjoys spending quality time with her loved ones. They share a passion for live theater, exploring new destinations through travel, and immersing themselves in the rich tapestry of cultural festivals and trade shows.

Shared Resources:

www.BalanceHerHustle.com 

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Thank you for listening! This episode was produced by the State Bar of New Mexico’s Well-Being Committee and the New Mexico Lawyer Assistance Program. All editing and sound mixing was done by the State Bar of New Mexico and/or the State Bar Foundation. Intro music is by Gil Flores. The views of the presenters are that of their own and are not endorsed by the State Bar of New Mexico. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment or legal advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Episode Bio:

HANNAH BELL, Esq. AFC, is a financial wellness consultant and the founder of Bottom Line Personal Finance. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of New Mexico and a law degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law. During law school, Ms. Bell started a company helping attorneys conduct focus groups and prepare for trial. After years of operating that business, Ms. Bell decided she wanted to practice law. While practicing law, Ms. Bell explored many areas including personal injury, criminal prosecution, and government law. Ms. Bell currently co-teaches Mediation to law students and community members and has previously taught Interviewing, Counseling, and Negotiating as an adjunct professor at the University of New Mexico School of Law. Ms. Bell’s financial wellness journey began early in her law career when she realized her family was trapped by student loans and car debt. Determined to change this situation, Ms. Bell set out to learn everything she could about personal finance. Within 24 months, Ms. Bell and her husband successfully paid off over $90,000 in debt. Through this process, Ms. Bell discovered, first-hand, the freedom of living debt-free, and the importance of creating financial stability and practicing mindfulness around money. By combining two of her great passions-- financial fluency and teaching-- Ms. Bell helps her clients adopt a practical budget and find the framework to afford a happier life.

Dr. Evelyn Sandeen PhD, is  a licensed psychologist in New Mexico and  also Board-Certified in clinical psychology. She was born in the Midwest and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame.  She received her doctorate (PhD) in clinical psychology from Stony Brook University in New York.  She then completed her clinical internship in Los Angeles, and has lived and worked in New Mexico for over twenty years.  She has been married for over 30 years and has two grown sons.

Pamela Moore, MA, LPCC, currently serves as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Director of the State Bar of New Mexico’s Professional Programs Group where she educates the legal community on positive health and well-being and assists in providing resources and services to any legal professional struggling with mental, emotional or behavioral issues.  Ms. Moore served as an advisory member to the National Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs in 2019 and 2020 and is the New Mexico representative for the Institute for Well Being In Law. 

Disclaimer: Thank you for listening! This episode was produced by the State Bar of New Mexico’s Well-Being Committee and the New Mexico Lawyer Assistance Program. All editing and sound mixing was done by BlueSky eLearn. Intro music is by Gil Flores. The views of the presenters are that of their own and are not endorsed by the State Bar of New Mexico. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment or legal advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

ELIZABETH LYNCH PHILLIPS, ESQ, PCC, CPCC: is certified as a Professional Coach by the Coaches Training Institute and the International Coach Federation. She works primarily with stressed attorneys who feel like the practice of law isn’t all it was cracked up to be, and isn’t giving them the satisfaction they’d hoped for. She is grateful to be a part of the growing, national focus on attorney well-being, and she is committed to bringing more compassion and humanity to the practice of law. She moved to New Mexico 10 years ago with her husband and 3 kids, to get away from the traffic and crowding of the DC area. She is currently a member of the State Bar of New Mexico and the Virginia State Bar where she practiced for 20 years.

WILLIAM (Bill) D. Slease: is the Professional Development Program Director for the State Bar of New Mexico. In addition to his duties at the State Bar, he serves as an adjunct professor at the University of New Mexico School of Law where he teaches Ethics, 1L Lab, and serves as a practice skills evaluator for the evidence-trial practice skills course. 

Disclaimer:

Thank you for listening! This episode was produced by the State Bar of New Mexico’s Well-Being Committee and the New Mexico  Lawyer Assistance Program. All editing and sound mixing was done by BlueSky eLearn. Intro music is by Gil Flores. The views of the presenters are that of their own and are not endorsed by the State Bar of New Mexico. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment or legal advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Sandra Engel: is a graduate Executive Coach who comes to the field with a background in the areas of law and leadership. She has recently retired from the bench as a criminal judge in Albuquerque, New Mexico where she served her community for over 16 years. She is also a licensed and active attorney, previously serving as an Assistant District Attorney for over ten years and has practiced law in the civil and criminal areas for over 25 years. During that time, she has served as supervisor over divisions/teams, and most recently served as Chief Judge of the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court, managing a courthouse, and leading a C-Suite with over 350 employees. She has performed as a trainer, evaluator, and resource director for several court and community programs. 

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing, and a Juris Doctor degree, both from the University of Alabama. She most recently completed her training with Coaching Out of the Box, an executive coaching program that is accredited and certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). She also received her certification from ICF as an Associate Certified Coach. 

She is a Certified Diversity coach, a member of ICF International and her local chapter, ICFNM, and serves on their board. She is involved in both the local coaching community and legal community in a variety of roles. She specializes in leadership/executive coaching, working with many business leaders and executives.

Barbara J. Vigil: served on the New Mexico state judiciary for twenty-one years. For twelve years, she served as a District Court Judge in n the First Judicial District and for over nine years as a Justice on the New Mexico Supreme Court. Barbara stepped down from the Supreme Court on June 30, 2021. In August 2021 Barbara was appointed to serve as Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department. On May 1, she left that role to pursue other interests. 

As a District Court Judge, Barbara presided over the children and family court docket for over 10 years resolving over 16,000 cases. In 2010 she was chosen by her peers to serve for two years as Chief Judge of the First Judicial District Court. During her last two years on the trial court bench, she presided over the civil docket. In 2012, Barbara was elected as a Justice on the New Mexico Supreme Court, where she served as an Associate Justice, Chief Justice from 2014-2016 and as Senior Justice. Throughout her judicial career Barbara strived to improve court processes and procedures for children and families. She worked with community stakeholders to garner state and federal funding for programs designed to help children throughout the state. Barbara has served on numerous boards, commissions, and committees, including the Tribal State Judicial Consortium, the Children’s Court Improvement Commission, and the New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners. Barbara was born in Albuquerque and grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from New Mexico State University and a juris doctorate from the University of New Mexico School of Law. Barbara enjoys travelling abroad and using her free time to support youth and court improvements. Barbara travels extensively abroad. She maintains a lifelong commitment to public service and does all she can to improve the lives of children and families. 

Judge Shammara H. Henderson: was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 2020 by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. Born and raised in Albuquerque, NM, she graduated from Valley High School. She received a bachelor’s degree from American University in Washington, D.C., where she received a full ride with the highly competitive Frederick Douglass Scholarship. She received her J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law where she received the W.E. Bondurant Scholarship and University of New Mexico Graduate Fellowship.

After graduating from law school, she clerked for Justice Charles W. Daniels at the New Mexico Supreme Court. She started her career as a litigator with the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office. She later became the Associate General Counsel for the Office of Governor. In 2011, Judge Henderson joined the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico. She successfully tried criminal and civil cases in the United States District Court and appealed criminal cases in the Tenth Circuit. She developed and presented training and outreach programs across the state for law enforcement as well as community organizations and churches. In 2017, Judge Henderson co-founded her own law firm Henderson & Grohman, PC, which joined Freedman, Boyd, Hollander, Goldberg, Urias, & Ward, PA in October of 2018 where she represented clients in criminal, civil, and administrative matters in both state and federal courts at the trial and appellate level.

Judge Henderson enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, barre, yoga, and rollershaking as well as community service.

Judge Brett R. Loveless: Presiding Criminal Judge for the Second Judicial District Court (Bernalillo County) handling an exclusive docket of felony level criminal cases. Judge Loveless took the bench in 2012.

Prior to that was a prosecutor in the Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office for approximately 12 years

Practiced civil law for approximately five years, doing both plaintiff's work and civil defense.

1995 graduate of UNM School of Law.