Sarah Jacobs, Leslie Jones & Queva Hubbard
A native of Florida, Sarah Jacobs studied law at Ave Maria School of Law and the University of New Mexico School of Law, and she is licensed to practice law in the State of New Mexico since 2012.with an extensive background in law and policy surrounding juvenile justice and child welfare. After passing the bar, Sarah worked in domestic violence and sexual assault survivor advocacy, and as the Children’s Court Attorney in New Mexico’s First Judicial District, where she co-chaired the regional juvenile justice board and focused her practice on progressive alternatives to traditional juvenile justice issues. Sarah currently serves as the juvenile justice and child welfare attorney for the New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts where she works as the Court Improvement Project Director which seeks to improve children’s court processes, manages the parent and child attorney contracts statewide for abuse and neglect cases, and currently serves as the project director for the Strengthening Child Welfare Systems Grant which seeks to expand interdisciplinary legal practice in child welfare cases statewide. She lives in Santa Fe with her adorable french bulldogs, Roy and Eleanor.
Leslie Jones received her Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico in May of 1988 and was admitted to the New Mexico State Bar in October of 1988. She has been in private practice since October of 1993, working primarily in the areas of abuse/neglect, adoption, and domestic relations. Her work in domestic relations is limited to serving as Guardian ad Litem for children and as a mediator or advisory consultant. She began serving as Guardian ad Litem for children in abuse/neglect cases in the 2nd Judicial District through Advocacy, Inc. in 1994, and served on their Legal Committee and on their Training Sub-Committee. She also served on the Quality of Advocacy Committee for the Administrative Office of the Courts in 2008, the Children’s Code Changes Discussion Group in 2013-2014, the Legal Representation Workgroup in 2014, and the Children’s Law Institute Planning Committee for 2018 and 2019. Since 1994, she has been one of several contract attorneys for the 13th Judicial District, serving as guardian ad litem, youth attorney, or attorney for respondents in abuse/neglect cases in Sandoval County. At various times, she has also served as a trainer for other attorneys and a mentor for attorneys new to abuse/neglect practice through Advocacy, Inc., Pegasus Legal Services for Children, and the Corinne Wolfe Center for Child and Family Justice.
Queva Hubbard is a Certified Peer Support Specialist who works with the New Mexico Family Advocacy Program assisting families who have been affected by the child welfare system. She has a unique perspective in working with families by offering support and sharing her own 14-year history with incarceration, drug use, and the separation of her children. After being sentenced to Department of Corrections, the cycle of her addiction and illegal activity got worse. Throughout her journey of addiction and incarceration, her two children were being torn apart and bounced from house to house. In late 2014, Ms. Hubbard decided she had, had enough. While incarcerated, she enrolled herself into a treatment program where she later became a mentor. Upon her release from incarceration, she knew she needed more support and assistance repairing and restoring her life. She continued to participate in a therapeutic treatment program where she graduated, became a peer mentor, a case manager and was able to regain full custody of both of her children. Since then, she has devoted her time and experience in supporting individuals who are dealing with strongholds and barriers similar to her past. She is currently enrolled at Central New Mexico Community College majoring Social Work and has passed the state exam to become a Certified Peer Support Specialist in NM.
