New Mexico Employment Lawyers

Employment law are those laws approved in New Mexico that apply to employers, employees and independent contractors. These laws apply to every aspect of workplace endeavors, such as hiring policies, wage disputes, and firing of employees. New Mexico's employment laws set forth particular mandates that need to be understood by both employers and employees.

At-Will and Contract Employment

Most job relationships in New Mexico are on the basis of "at will" employment, but in other cases there may be an employment contract with a predetermined term. "At will" employment implies that either the employee or the employer may end the relationship at any time, so long as the reason for the termination is not prohibited. If the employer and employee are working according to an employment contract, New Mexico employment law will govern the different clauses contained in the contract.

The Law of Discrimination in New Mexico

New Mexico laws prohibiting discrimination usually apply at any stage of the employment process, including hiring, promotions and terminations. In New Mexico, it is illegal for an employer to discriminate against persons based on their membership in a specific class. These classes may include: age, race, gender, religion, national origin, and disability. Determining what forms of employer actions are considered discrimination can be subject to dispute. There are many lawyers in New Mexico who specialize in employment discrimination.

Interesting Facts About New Mexico

New Mexico is situated in the Southwestern region of the U.S. It is often considered the prime example of Southwestern life and culture in America. Before becoming part of the U.S., the New Mexico region was once part of the Imperial Viceroyalty of Spain. This is reflected in the red and gold colors of the state flag, which reference the region's Spanish origins.

New Mexico's state Constitution was approved in 1912 and authorizes the form of government in the state. The New Mexico court system is organized into different levels beginning with the Municipal Courts and ending with the Supreme Court of New Mexico. New Mexico has also instituted a one-of-a-kind "Problem-Solving Court" system, which is authorized to provide special interventions for drug offenders.

The state of New Mexico has also launched a Court Improvement Project (CIP). The CIP is aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of judiciary proceedings in New Mexico. One of the state's most famous court cases is Liebeck v. McDonald's (1994), popularly known as "The McDonald's hot coffee case". The case spawned a whole host of liability claims for fast-food chains, and was featured in a television documentary film.

Lawyers in New Mexico handle many types of cases ranging from simple legal claims to complex claims like the Liebeck case. New Mexico lawyers are skilled at providing legal advice and zealously represent clients during lawsuits. Working with a New Mexico lawyer can help make the legal process run much smoother.