by Rivkela Brodsky
Daily Lobo
Saundra Brown-Savoy wants everyone to know she passed the New Mexico Bar exam.
The highly paid lawyer resigned from her position as deputy counsel at the UNM Health Sciences Center on March 18.
Brown-Savoy hired a public relations firm to send out a news release stating she took the exam.
"She wanted to do the release because of a lot of speculation she failed the exam," said Joan Griffin, spokeswoman for Brown-Savoy.
The New Mexico Bar Examiner's office verified that Brown-Savoy passed the Feb. 22 and Feb. 23 exam.
Griffin said she resigned after she took the exam.
She cited personal reasons for quitting on the release.
She said in the release that taking the exam was not a factor in her resignation.
Griffin said during her time off to study for the exam, Brown-Savoy reflected on her goals and objects and decided to leave her position.
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"She just really wants to spend more time with her family," Griffin said.
The University gave her time off in January and February to study for the exam.
Brown-Savoy returned to the Washington, D.C., area after she resigned.
She was one of the highest paid lawyers at the University, making $144,375 when she resigned from her position.
The University had received heat for allowing Brown-Savoy to remain in her position without passing the New Mexico Bar exam.
Taking the exam was a condition of the job description. Human Resources Director Susan Carkeek said in March, the description allows a person to get a temporary license if he or she moves to the state.
Brown-Savoy received a temporary license in July. She had been working in the counsel's office since November 2003.
The license required she take the next bar exam, which was in February.
The names of those who passed the exam were released on April 11. Brown-Savoy was on the list.
Griffin said Brown-Savoy plans on coming back to New Mexico to be sworn in to the state bar.
Griffin said she did not know if Brown-Savoy would continue to practice law.
Sam Giammo, spokesman for the Heath Sciences Center, said the deputy counsel position has not been filled and UNM plans on doing a national search to fill the position.
