Family Law

• Divorce
• Child Support
  Upon returning to New Mexico, Ms. Brownfield set up her own practice, where she emphasized family law, which she continues to do with the firm of John D. Wheeler and Associates. She has worked extensively in cases involving divorce, child custody issues, child support cases, adoption, and kinship guardianship.
• Child Custody and Visitation
• Adoption
• Guardianship
  In 2011, Pam returned to health care and represents her client primarily in the area of risk management and behavioral health. Her courtroom work has included guardianships for dementia patients, treatment guardianships and commitments for the mentally ill. She worked with our district judges to establish Otero County’s first mental health court. The mental health court is on site at Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center in the Behavioral Medicine Department, and it enables patients to remain in a more appropriate, and safer, environment when facing legal proceedings. Pam also brought together a diverse group of community advocates who are working to implement the Assisted Outpatient Treatment Act in Otero County. This includes establishing housing and other wrap-around services for the mentally ill.

Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  Liz graduated first in her class from the University of Dayton School of Law in Ohio in 2017. While attending the University of Dayton, Liz served on the law review as a staff writer and a comment editor. Her comment analyzing the citizenship status of American Samoans was selected for publication by the University of Dayton Law Review and was published in the Winter 2017 Special Edition. Liz also worked as a research and teaching assistant while attending law school. As part of her work as a research assistant, Liz assisted Prof. Thaddeus Hoffmeister in completing two legal texts: an Ohio-focused criminal law book entitled “Criminal Law: The One-state Solution†and the social media edition of the “In a Nutshell†legal series.
• Sex Crimes
  Antonio v. Inn of the Mountain Gods, 148 NM 858, 242 P.3d 452, cert denied. In connection with her work in Indian Country, Pam was appointed to the American Bar Association (ABA) Commission on Domestic Violence Working Group which wrote the Standards of Practice for Lawyers Representing victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking in Civil Protection Order Cases.  She was one of three appointees in the country asked to represent the interests of Indian victims.  The standards were adopted by the ABA at its August, 2007 Annual Meeting.