Melanie Fritzsche

JD University of New Mexico, 1996
BA Adams State College, 1992

Melanie grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico and is from Laguna Pueblo. She earned a BA in History/Government from Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado. She graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Law with a Certificate in Indian Law and a Certificate in Natural Resources. In law school, she was a teaching assistant for first year advocacy and was a staff member of the Natural Resources Journal. Melanie was a judicial law clerk for the New Mexico Court of Appeals. Her experience as an attorney and in JD preferred positions includes private practice, State of New Mexico, federal government, as well as local and national non-profits.

Patrick Lopez, Esq. JD, LLM

L.L.M., Biotechnology & Genomics
Juris Doctor
Bachelor of Science, Psychology

Patrick was born in Taos and grew up in northern New Mexico. After graduating from Peñasco High School, Patrick spent time pursuing university and graduate studies while living in Utah, Arizona, Alaska, Guatemala, and Peru. While in law school, Patrick worked in the law library and stayed on after graduation working his way up from Circulation Aid to Access Services Librarian. Patrick graduated from Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law and decided to return home to New Mexico to work as a felony trial attorney in the Albuquerque public defender’s office. Patrick represented indigent defendants facing a broad range of charges and litigated many jury trials as a public defender. Patrick then spent several years in civil practice focusing on plaintiff matters and foreclosure defense where he successfully litigated cased in all levels of New Mexico State Courts. Patrick previously served as Associate Director of Career Services from 2019-2023 and has served as Director of Bar Success since early 2024.

Audrey McKee

Audrey grew up in Nebraska and moved to New Mexico in 1982 to attend the University of New Mexico. She earned a Bachelor of University Studies in 1985, a Master of Arts in Public Administration with a Certification in Budget and Finance in 1987, and a J.D. in 1991, all from the University of New Mexico. Her 35-year legal career has included practicing in the public sector, the private sector, and for local non-profits.

Bonnie Stepleton

JD University of New Mexico, 1987
BS University of Oregon, 1984

Bonnie grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  She attended the University of Oregon and obtained a BS in Political Science in 1984.  She graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 1987.  She was a law clerk in the New Mexico Supreme Court.  Following her clerkship, Bonnie represented people with intellectual disabilities and then practiced law in insurance defense.  She served as a mediator with the New Mexico Workers’ Compensation administration and has also been a volunteer mediator for the Metropolitan Court. She was Assistant Dean for Student Services from 2004 until 2014 when she left to return to the Workers’ Comp Administration as Bureau Chief.   She served as Appellate Mediator with the New Mexico Court of Appeals in 2018 and early 2019 and then returned again to the law school as Director of Student and Career Services.

Amber Johnson
BA University of New Mexico, 2009  

Amber Johnson grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She is a graduate of the University of New Mexico. She graduated with a BA in Signed Language Interpreting. She worked with the Deaf community for over ten years. Amber was out in the field as an interpreter then worked behind the scenes as an interpreting administrative coordinator. She has a heart for her community.