Trial Attorney and Founder
Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico
Phone: 575-523-4321
Fax: 575-680-1200
Email: mollie@lawfirmnm.com
Mollie McGraw is a highly accomplished trial attorney dedicated to representing plaintiffs in civil litigation, including personal injury, wrongful death, civil rights, victims of crime, inadequate security, insurance bad faith, medical malpractice, and pharmaceutical negligence cases. She practices in both state and federal courts, tirelessly advocating for individuals and families who have been harmed or lost loved ones due to the wrongdoing of corporations, government entities, or insurance companies.
Mollie’s passion for uncovering the truth and holding wrongdoers accountable stems from her early interest in investigative journalism. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University, where she studied Journalism at the renowned Medill School of Journalism, and double-majored in American History. During her time at Northwestern, Mollie worked on the Innocence Project, investigating wrongful convictions, and gaining invaluable skills in research, interviewing, and visual communications—skills she now uses to craft compelling narratives and visual presentations for juries. Her experience as a television news producer and newspaper graphic designer further refined her ability to present complex information in a clear and impactful way.
Driven by her commitment to justice, Mollie has built an impressive record of trial successes. Some of her notable achievements include:
- 2024: A $44 million federal jury verdict in T.R. v. Patrick Howard, representing a female client sexually abused by her high school teacher and Future Farmers of America advisor.
- 2023: A $52.8 million Albuquerque state jury verdict in Murphy v. Professional Underwriters Liability Insurance Company (PULIC), representing two families affected by insurance bad faith amidst opioid crisis.
- 2019: A state jury verdict for negligence and bad faith in Las Cruces Dona Ana County in favor of an insured against insurer, USAA, in McElmurry v. USAA.
- 2017: A $1.6 million federal jury verdict in Beck v. Baker, a civil rights lawsuit for excessive force and unlawful arrest by police officers.
- 2015: A $12 million verdict in Murphy et al v. Eagle’s Nest Condominium Association et al, a wrongful death and inadequate security case.
Mollie has argued multiple times before the New Mexico Supreme Court to protect her clients’ rights.
Early in her career, in 2007, she was honored with the Outstanding Young Lawyer Award by the New Mexico State Public Defender Department. She is the founding partner in McGraw & Associates, LLC d/b/a McGraw Law, LLC, which began in 2011 as McGraw & Strickland, LLC. In 2021, McGraw’s former law partner was nominated by President Joseph Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to U.S. federal district judgeship. The law firm flourished under McGraw’s guidance, and its renewed commitment to represent only those who have been harmed or killed through the wrongdoing and reckless acts of others.
An active leader in the legal community, Mollie served as President of the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association (NMTLA) from 2021 to 2022, and she remains a dedicated board member. During her tenure as President, NMTLA was instrumental in passing an amendment to the Medical Malpractice Act and passing the New Mexico Civil Rights Act, which gives victims the ability to sue in state court for violation of the civil rights guaranteed in new Mexico’s State Constitution.
Mollie volunteers her time as Board of Director of Emerge New Mexico, an organization promoted to encouraging and educating women and non-binary individuals to run for Democratic leadership positions, and she serves on the Editorial Advisory Board for Trial Guides, a publishing company supporting civil plaintiff trial lawyers.
Mollie is licensed to practice law in New Mexico and Texas. She graduated from Baylor Law School in 2006. During law school, Mollie clerked for the ACLU of Texas’s FairDefense Project where she utilized her skills to assist a team of lawyers in a case that eventually reached the United States Supreme Court, Rothgery v. Gillepsie County, 554 U.S. 191 (2008) which held that Sixth Amendment’s Right to Counsel attaches at the first judicial proceeding when an accused liberty is restricted.
Outside the courtroom, Mollie enjoys reading, hiking, running with her dogs, traveling and exploring the natural beauty of New Mexico, and spending time with her family.
Areas Of Practice
- Wrongful Death
- Personal Injury
- Insurance Disputes
- Civil Rights Violations
- Premises Liability
- Inadequate Security
- Medical Malpractice
- Pharmacy Negligence
- Car Crashes
Litigation Percentage
- 100% of Practice Devoted to Plaintiff ’s Litigation
Bar Admissions
- State of Texas, 2006
- State of New Mexico, 2007
Education
- Baylor University School of Law, Waco, Texas
- J.D. – 2006
- Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism, Evanston, Illinois
- Bachelor of Science – 2001
- Dual Major: Journalism and American History
Honors And Awards
- Southwest Super Lawyers (7 years) – 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
- Super Lawyers “Rising Star”, 2013 – 2016
- Best Lawyers in America , 2018 – Present
- Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, New Mexico Public Defender Department, 2007
- Order of Barristers, Baylor Law School, 2005
- The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 under 40 (Nominated in 2012, 2013 and 2014 as one of the top 40 attorneys in New Mexico under age 40)
- Voted Best Lawyers’ Las Cruces Personal Injury Litigation Lawyer of the Year, 2019
Professional Associations And Memberships
- New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association, President (2020-2021), Board of Directors, 2015 – Present
- American Association of Justice, Contributing Member, 2010 – Present, Council of Presidents member (2019-2022)
- Trial Guides’ Editorial Advisory Board , Board Member, 2014 – Present
- Emerge New Mexico, Board of Directors, 2022 – Present; Development Committee Member, 2018 – Present
- American Constitutional Society
- New Mexico Wilderness Alliance
- American Civil Liberties Union, 2001 – Present
- State Bar of Texas, 2006 – Present (inactive status)
- State Bar of New Mexico, 2006 – Present
Seminars/Presentations
- Conflict Scenarios for Plaintiffs’ Attorneys, NM Trial Lawyers Association 2024
- Redefining Justice in Sexual Abuse Cases in U.S. District Court of New Mexico:
How to fight like hell, win with the jury, lose with the judge, and still prevail, NM Trial Lawyers Association Seminar, 2024 - Verdict Just In: T.R., Plaintiff v. Patrick Howard, Defendant,NM Trial Lawyers Association, 2024.
- Verdict Just In: Dennis Murphy and Annie Laurie Coogan, Plaintiffs v. PULIC, Defendant, NM Trial Lawyers Association, 2023.
- Discovery in Bad Faith Cases: What to Ask for and Who to Depose, NM Trial Lawyers Association, 2021.
- Insurance Bad Faith Trial Themes and Defense Tactics, NM Trial Lawyers Association, 2020
- Gen X / Gen Y Jurors, NM Trial Lawyers Association, 2015
- The Art of Trial Objections, NM Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2012
- Expunging Your Criminal Record, Third Judicial District Court, NM, 2010 – 2011
- Leveling the Playing Field w Technology in Court, NM Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2011
Past Employment Positions
- McGraw & Strickland, LLC, 2011-2021
- The Pickett Law Firm, LLC, Attorney, 2008 – 2011
- New Mexico Public Defender Department, Felony Attorney, 2006 – 2007
Pro Bono Activities
- Democratic Party Voter Protection, Attorney Volunteer, 2008 – Present
- Las Cruces Downtown Partnership, Board of Directors, 2012 – 2015
- Southern New Mexico Young Philanthropists, Founding Member and Steering Committee Member, 2010
Languages
- English
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