There was one less active legal license in Rio Arriba County in the first quarter of 2026 than in the previous quarter, according to the State Bar of New Mexico.
Overall, 23 lawyers were working within the county at the time, compared to 24 the quarter before.
Data refers to all lawyers who were actively practicing during this time period.
As of April 1, 2026, average lawyer salaries in New Mexico ranged from $92,683 for an entry-level attorney handling routine legal work (Attorney I) to $234,661 for highly experienced attorneys managing complex cases with significant autonomy (Attorney V). Mid-level attorneys, such as those in Attorney III roles—who handle highly complex legal work with moderate supervision—earn on average $173,708 in New Mexico, compared to $187,549 nationwide.
New Mexico had a first-time pass rate of 81% on the July 2025 bar exam, above the national average that year, based on results from the National Conference of Bar Examiners. The rate marked a slight drop from 83% in July 2024, when the state ranked among the top 10 for first-time passage.
The overall pass rate in New Mexico was 63% in July 2025, compared with 69% in July 2024.
| Lawyer Name | Name of Firm | Admission Date |
|---|---|---|
| Adan E. Trujillo | Los Trujillo Legal Services, LLC | 09/20/2004 |
| Anastasia Martin | First Judicial District Court | 09/25/2012 |
| Antonio J. Salazar | Rancho de Los Perros, LLC | 10/21/1993 |
| Arwen Kristine Gaddis | First Judicial District Attorney’s Office | 05/16/2017 |
| Ashley Montoya | — | 09/29/2025 |
| Daniel T. Montoya | Daniel T. Montoya Law, LLC | 04/21/2008 |
| Edward Michael Gallegos | Gallegos Law | 04/24/2006 |
| Estevan Sanchez | North Central Regional Transit District | 09/23/2013 |
| Hector H. Balderas | Northern New Mexico College | 04/29/2002 |
| Jose A. Sandoval | Jose A. Sandoval Attorney at Law | 05/02/1977 |
| Joseph Alex Valdez | The J. Alex Valdez Law Firm | 10/01/1981 |
| Katharine Cook Fishman | The Espanola Mercantile Company | 10/08/1997 |
| Kristina Alexis Krell | — | 06/30/2022 |
| Matthew R. Baca | — | 09/25/2012 |
| Micaela Josefina Salazar | — | 04/28/2025 |
| Robert Marshall White | — | 09/22/2015 |
| Robert W. Merson | Chevron Pipe Line Company | 08/01/1966 |
| Sheri A. Raphaelson | — | 05/24/1991 |
| Timothy J. Vigil | — | 10/23/1989 |
| Tyr Loranger | Loranger Law, LLC | 04/29/2005 |
| Verily Taylor | First Judicial District Attorney’s Office | 05/14/2014 |
| William A. O’Connell | — | 10/02/1990 |
| Yvonne Kathleen Quintana | Yvonne K. Quintana Attorney at Law | 10/24/1995 |
