Professor Sarah Steadman Appointed to Serve as the Inaugural F. Michael Hart Chair in Children’s Law
October 1, 2024
David B. Martinez, Kelly Stout Sanchez, and Julio C. Romero, partners at Martinez, Hart, Sanchez & Romero P.C., contributed $2.5 million to the University of New Mexico School of Law. Their gift established an endowed chair, the F. Michael Hart Chair in Children’s Law, created in recognition of Mike Hart, partner of Martinez, Stout Sanchez, and Romero.
The School of Law is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Sarah Steadman as the inaugural F. Michael Hart Chair. Professor Steadman graduated with her J.D. in 2005 from the UNM School of Law and began her teaching career with the School in 2013. She has been instrumental in developing the Child and Family Justice Clinic, launched in 2017, which focuses on providing essential legal assistance to low-income, at-risk children and their families.
In addition to her legal expertise, Professor Steadman has a background as a child and family therapist, which influences her teaching students a trauma-informed approach to lawyering. She is enthusiastic about designing and teaching a children’s law curriculum that emphasizes practical application. The course will have a practice focus, inspiring students to engage in advocacy, practice, and pro bono work focused on children’s needs. Professor Steadman remarked, “The children we serve, and so many of our New Mexico kids, have had adverse childhood experiences. I'm truly grateful and excited to explore how we can expand the ways we serve these youth through the Chair's focus on children's law.”
