Law Offices of the Public Defender

The Law Offices of the Public Defender (LOPD) operates as New Mexico's Public Defender Department, the state's largest law firm, providing professional legal services to indigent clients facing criminal charges. The Aztec office serves the 11th Judicial District and can be contacted at 300 Gossett Drive, Aztec, NM 87410, with main line 505-386-4060 and hours from 8-4, lunch 12-1, and applications accepted 8:00-11:30 and 1:00-3:30.

LOPD is built on a team based approach that includes attorneys, social workers, investigators, paralegals and office staff who guard individuals from injustice and work to address underlying issues that bring clients into the criminal court system. In addition to representing individuals in criminal cases, the organization also engages in legislative advocacy to protect the constitutional rights of all New Mexicans.

Since 2012 the office has been overseen by the Public Defender Commission, a shift that culminated in 2013 with the appointment of the first Chief Public Defender and a move toward a career law firm model. This structure supports statewide defense services, continuous professional standards, and expanded advocacy on behalf of clients and their families.