LIPA & LEGAL RESOURCES

Legal Resources

The New Mexico Bar Association: holds free legal workshops to learn about powers of attorney, advanced care directives, estate planning, longterm care and Medicaid planning. Call free legal hotline at 1-800-876-6657 if you’re 55 or older and need help with a civil legal problem. Visit nmbar. org or 505-797-6000.

New Mexico Legal Aid: provides free legal help in civil cases for New Mexico residents who meet low-income requirements. Apply online at newmexicolegalaid.org or call 833-545-4357 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Senior Citizens Law Office: provides free legal advice to people 60 and older living in Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance and Valencia counties: sclonm. org or 505-265-2300.

Legal, Insurance and Paperwork Assistance Program (LIPA)

Cancer Services of New Mexico offers free services to cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones, including referrals and expert advice related to insurance, medical coverage, disability, legal, financial, and paperwork issues. Personal consultations are also available in- person.

For more information, call Sonya Pierce, LIPA program manager, at 505-2599583 or e-mail LIPA@cancerservicesnm.org. Visit cancerservicesnm.org.

Sonya Pierce, LIPA program manager

I am the program manager of the LIPA program, which helps cancer patients and their loved ones navigate through the many non-medical issues that arise from a cancer diagnosis. Quite often I am contacted by a family member or friend seeking advice for their loved one. It’s not unusual that the patient is too overwhelmed to call for assistance. Now during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, I usually receive an email or a phone call requesting assistance. This way we are able to involve family that isn’t local.

I’m passionate about what I do and am happy that I can offer some solace during this difficult time for a family. It’s not necessarily a one-time call. In some cases, I’ve continued to navigate off and on with the same patient as new issues arise. I encourage anyone who isn’t finding help or assistance elsewhere to contact me and the LIPA program so that we might see what we can do for you.