ATKINS & WALKER TEAM
COMPASSION. DEDICATION. PERSISTENCE.
TYLER ATKINS | ATTORNEY
PHONE: 505-508-4640
E-MAIL: TYLER@ATKINSWALKER.COM
Tyler graduated from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon in 2002 with a major in Hispanic Studies and continued to graduate school at New York University in Madrid, Spain, earning a Master of Arts degree in Spanish and Latin American Literature in 2003. He moved to New Mexico in 2004 to attend law school at the University of New Mexico School of Law. While in law school, Tyler served as the co-Managing Editor of the New Mexico Law Review.
He graduated with honors in 2007. Before entering private practice, Tyler clerked for the Honorable James J. Wechsler at the New Mexico Court of Appeals, where he assisted in drafting dozens of appellate opinions. Tyler is the current President of the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association and formerly served as the Editor-in-Chief of its publication, The New Mexico Trial Lawyer. He has served on the City of Santa Fe’s Ethics and Campaign Review Board and the New Mexico Code of Professional Conduct Committee. Tyler is currently the Chair of the New Mexico Rules of Evidence Committee; serves as an adjunct faculty member at the University of New Mexico School of law, teaching Evidence and Trial Practice; and is the current President of the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association
In his free time, Tyler enjoys reading fiction, playing guitar, and spending time with his family. Tyler’s connection to the New Mexico Bar goes back more than 150 years, when his distant relative practiced law in Santa Fe County and served a short stint as the Attorney General of the Territory of New Mexico in the mid-19th century.
EDUCATION
UNM SCHOOL OF LAW
Juris Doctor, 2007
LEWIS AND CLARK COLLEGE
B.A., Hispanic Studies, 2002
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY (MADRID, SPAIN)
M.A., Spanish & Latin American Literature, 2003
BAR ADMISSIONS
New Mexico
SAM WALKER | ATTORNEY
PHONE: (773) 922-6470
E-MAIL: SAM@ATKINSWALKER.COM
Sam Walker was born and raised in McHenry County, Illinois. He attended DePaul University in Chicago and after graduating, worked at a local non-profit on Chicago’s westside. In 2011, Sam moved to New Mexico to attend the University of New Mexico School of Law.
During law school, Sam served as the Managing Editor of the Natural Resources Journal and clerked for a local personal injury law firm. After graduating from law school, Sam represented individuals in cases ranging from car collisions, premises liability, and medical malpractice. In 2019, Sam returned to Illinois to be near his family and extend his practice to his home state.
Sam is an active member of the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, and the American Association of Justice. Sam frequently writes for the New Mexico Trial Lawyers’ publication, The New Mexico Trial Lawyer, and has worked as adjunct faculty at the University of New Mexico School of Law, teaching Advanced Legal Analysis.
EDUCATION
UNM SCHOOL OF LAW
Juris Doctor, 2014
DePAUL UNIVERSITY
B.A., History, 2010
BAR ADMISSIONS
New Mexico and Illinois
REBECCA SALAS | OFFICE MANAGER
Rebecca Salas is a native New Mexican who grew up in Conchas Lake, New Mexico and attended high school in Tucumcari, New Mexico until the 9th grade. She then moved to Clovis, New Mexico, enrolled in the American School Accredited Home School program, and graduated high school in 2000.
In 2007, Rebecca graduated with an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts and Elementary Education making her the first in her family to earn a college degree. While earning this degree, she worked as a Community Living Support Specialist at a community-based non-profit organization which provided comprehensive programs and services to support the challenges of families and clients facing developmental delays and intellectual disabilities. After moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2007, she worked as an authorized service repair technician for a local computer and cell phone company and continued with her education graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction in Social and Criminal Justice in 2009. While volunteering at the Domestic Violence Resource Center as a Helpline Coordinator and learning the ropes in casework, she worked towards earning her Masters degree in Criminal Justice and Management and graduated with distinction in 2013. She then gained a Legal Assistant position with the State of New Mexico Human Services Department and worked there for several years until she decided it was time to broaden her experience in the legal field at which time, she joined the Atkins & Walker Law Firm as a Paralegal in May of 2019. Rebecca takes great pride in being part of a team whose goal is to work closely with one another to help people in any way that they can.
Outside of work, Rebecca enjoys spending time with her daughter, reading, researching, traveling, and adding music to her already large music collection. She also enjoys taking part in local discussion groups which often provide her with opportunities to get involved in the community through volunteering and organizing small community events.
CRYSTAL WATHEN |LEGAL ASSISTANT
Crystal joined Atkins & Walker Law in January of 2023. She is an Albuquerque native. She attended and graduated from a small media arts charter high school as she has always had a strong affinity for all things creative, especially digital arts. This led her to study graphic design in college. While working towards her bachelor’s degree she realized that a job in aviation would be a much more fulfilling career choice for her.
To help her afford her flight training she has worked various roles in an array of fields. Her gravitation towards jobs where she can help people is what led her to working in a law firm. While she is in pursuit of her airline transport pilot certificate, she thoroughly enjoys the work that she is able to do to be able to help those who have been wronged.
When she isn’t working, she loves spending time with her cat, weightlifting, playing drums and snowboarding.