Practicing in the United States District Court, District of New Mexico

Attorneys must be admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, or associate with attorneys who are, when appearing in a case filed in this court. 

Attorney Admissions

Applications for admission to this court's bar are submitted through Public Access to Electronic Records (PACER).  An attorney must have an individual upgraded PACER account. For information on how to register for an individual PACER account, or to upgrade your existing PACER account, please visit our court's CM/ECF page. Once an individual upgraded PACER account has been obtained, visit pacer.uscourts.gov, select Manage PACER Account, and follow the step-by-step Attorney Admissions instructions to submit your Attorney Admissions / E-File Registration. This application also includes registration to the court's Case Management/Electronic Case Filing (CM/ECF) database.

After the court reviews your application and has verified the information provided, you will receive an email with a link to pay the one time admission fee of $199. Thereafter, pursuant to D.N.M.LR-Civ. 83.2(h), dues of $25 should be submitted on or before January 31 of every odd-numbered year. To pay bar dues online, please refer to the Paying Federal Bar Dues Online (via CM/ECF and Pay.gov) guide. Please note: 2023 Federal Bar Dues are waived.

Federal Attorney Admissions

Attorneys employed by, or on special assignment for the United States Government, licensed by and on active status in any state, federal territory, or the District of Columbia intending to practice before this court in their official capacity, must submit admission applications through Public Access to Electronic Records (PACER). Federal attorneys must have an individual upgraded PACER account. For information on how to register for an individual PACER account, or to upgrade your existing PACER account, please visit our court's CM/ECF page. Once an individual PACER account has been obtained, visit pacer.uscourts.gov, select Manage PACER Account > Maintenance > Attorney Admissions / E-File Registration to complete the application to practice in this district. **Do not select Federal Attorney option** Please follow the Attorney Admissions instructions to complete your application which also includes registration to the court's Case Management/Electronic Case Filing (CM/ECF) database.

The admission fee and biennial bar dues are waived for Federal Attorneys.

Pro Hac Vice Appearances

If not admitted to practice before this court, but appearing in a case under D.N.M.LR-Civ. 83.3(a) (commonly referred to as a pro hac vice appearance), you must associate with a federal bar member of this court and pay $100 for each case in which you appear.  See the Appearing in an Action if Licensed Outside the District of New Mexico guide for more information. 

Attorneys practicing by association must have an individual upgraded PACER account. For information on how to register for an individual PACER account, or to upgrade your existing PACER account, please visit our court's CM/ECF page. Once an individual PACER account has been obtained, visit pacer.uscourts.gov, select Manage PACER Account > Maintenance > Attorney Admissions / E-File Registration. Select Pro Hac Vice to complete the application to practice by association in this district. Additionally, an out-of-district attorney appearing in an action as a non-member attorney, must electronically file the D.N.M.LR-Civ. 83.3 text only notice "Association of Attorney Licensed Outside the District" event in CM/ECF. See the Appearing in an Action if Licensed Outside the District of New Mexico guide for more information. 

No bar dues are owed for attorneys appearing in this manner.

Forms and Information

Attorney Admissions Instructions

Attorney Self Reporting Form  (PDF) (DOC)

Paying Federal Bar Dues Online (via CM/ECF and Pay.gov) *2023 Federal Bar Dues are waived.

Appearing in an Action if Licensed Outside the District of New Mexico