History of the Southwest Women’s Law Center

The Southwest Women’s Law Center, founded in 2005, is driven to advance opportunities and protect the rights of women and girls throughout New Mexico and the Southwest. Since its inception, the Center has steadfastly advocated social justice, addressing critical issues such as economic security, healthcare access, and reproductive justice. Through strategic litigation, advocacy, and community engagement, the Center works tirelessly to break down barriers and build pathways to equality.

Established to create a fairer and more just society, the Southwest Women’s Law Center has tackled some of the most pressing challenges facing women and girls. From addressing workplace discrimination to championing healthcare access and reproductive rights, the Center’s work has made a meaningful impact on countless lives. Its dedication to gender equity and justice remains unwavering as it continues to empower women and communities through legal and policy initiatives.

About Jane B. Wishner

The Southwest Women’s Law Center owes much of its early success to the visionary leadership of its founder and first Executive Director, Jane B. Wishner. As a trailblazer in the legal community, Ms. Wishner brought years of experience and dedication to advancing women’s rights. Before establishing the Center, she spent nearly fifteen years as a partner at the Albuquerque law firm of Peifer, Hanson & Mullins, P.A., where she handled complex civil litigation, including commercial cases, civil rights disputes, class actions, and employment issues. Earlier in her career, Ms. Wishner served as an Assistant Attorney General of New Mexico, specializing in white-collar prosecutions, and also practiced law in San Francisco.

Ms. Wishner’s academic achievements laid a strong foundation for her professional journey. A graduate of Harvard University, she received Radcliffe’s Gerta Richards Crosby Prize, awarded to the highest-ranking woman in the Harvard Government Department. She earned her law degree from Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley. She served as a law clerk for the Honorable Abner J. Mikva, Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Beyond her legal career, Ms. Wishner has been an active leader in local and national community organizations. She served as the national chair of the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism, guiding public policy initiatives for the Reform Jewish Movement, which represents over 900 synagogues and 1.5 million Jews across North America. She continues to serve her community as a Policy Advisor to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s administration.

With her enduring dedication to social justice, Jane B. Wishner’s legacy lives on through the ongoing work of the Southwest Women’s Law Center, inspiring a continued commitment to fairness, equality, and advocacy.