The Rodey Law Firm
est achievements was authoring the bill that brought the University of New Mexico to Albuquerque. Today, a handful of structures and institutes continue to commemorate his extraor- dinary life – Rodey Theatre on the UNM campus, the Village of Rodey south of Hatch and the law firm of Rodey, Dickason, Sloan, Akin & Robb.
Founded in 1883, the Rodey Law Firm is one of the largest law firms in New Mexico with full-ser- vice offices in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Rodey lawyers have a distinguished history of trying and winning lawsuits in all of New Mexico’s state and federal courts, and the firm also offers a full range of services in advising clients in business and fi- nancial matters. For the past 127 years, the Rodey Law Firm has been an integral part of New Mex- ico’s legal landscape.
Celebration Vice Chair and Promotional Sponsor B
ernard Shandon Rodey came to New Mexico in 1856. During his lifetime, one of his great-
In addition to its role as one of New Mexico’s pre- mier law firms, the Rodey Law Firm has been an avid supporter of the UNM School of Law.
• During most years, Rodey hires UNM law stu- dents for its summer clerk program.
• Rodey lawyers consistently serve as adjunct professors and frequent lecturers at the law school. They also regularly supervise moot court competitions and the law school’s writ- ing and advocacy programs.
• Don L. Dickason, a longtime member and named partner of the Rodey Law Firm, pro- vided a bequest to the law school that created and continues to fund two professorships.
• In addition to the Dickason bequest, the Rodey Law Firm has been a strong financial supporter of the UNM School of Law through the years.
The list of prominent, influential and amazing lawyers who have chosen to spend their legal ca- reers at Rodey is long. The firm is especially proud that so many of those lawyers are UNM law school graduates. Currently, nearly one-half of the firm’s lawyers are graduates of the University of New Mexico School of Law.
As one of New Mexico’s oldest and largest law firms, a member of UNM School of Law’s Honor Roll of Donors and an avid supporter of the school for many years, the Rodey Law Firm is both pleased and honored to have played a small part in UNM Law School’s 60 for 60 project.
many complex cases in both state and federal courts, and has appeared before the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States, and he still has an active litigation and general practice rep- resenting clients throughout New Mexico on vari- ous matters.
Mel Yost, Santa Fe Chair D
Amid this record of success, he prefers to talk about the mediation practice that he has built during the past 25 years. These days, he devotes at least one- half of his law practice to mediation. In addition to working with attorneys and their clients, he shares his deep knowledge of alternative dispute resolution in training and seminars he conducts for local bar associations across New Mexico, the State Bar of New Mexico and national organiza- tions. He has been recognized by his peers for his work in alternative dispute resolution by being
18•UNM LAW
uring 38 years of practicing law in New Mex- ico, Mel Yost has been the lead attorney in
elected to Best Lawyers in America and Southwest Super Lawyers.
“It’s very rewarding, helping people resolve dis- putes and avoid the uncertainty, cost and emo- tional turmoil of litigation,” said Yost of the benefits of his practice.
Yost, who grew up in Santa Fe, followed his father, Melvin T. Yost, into the legal profession. They practiced together until the elder Yost died in 2001. Yost is now a senior shareholder and direc- tor in the Santa Fe firm of Scheuer, Yost & Pat- terson.
He chose the University of New Mexico School of Law, the only school to which he applied after he graduated from Columbia University, because he figured it was the best choice, knowing that he wanted to practice in New Mexico. He earned his J.D. from UNM in 1973 and graduated first in his class. He remains friends and colleagues with many of his law school acquaintances and class- mates. Becoming involved in 60 for 60 was a way
to reconnect with his law school alma mater and to give back to the school that prepared him for his legal career.
“It was exciting and inspiring to learn about all of the school’s different success stories and about how many leaders in various fields it has produced,” he said. “Through this project, I be- came aware of what an important institution the UNM School of Law is in New Mexico, and I was able to focus again on the important role it played in whatever success I have enjoyed in my practice.”
Mel Yost (`73)
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