Kay Cargill Jenkins

Kay Cargill Jenkins is an attorney at Ragsdale Law Firm in Roswell, New Mexico, whose primary practice areas are medical malpractice, health law, and personal injury. Before becoming a lawyer, Jenkins trained and worked in nursing, giving her a clinical foundation that complements her legal work involving health care providers, patients, professional standards, and medical issues. She is licensed in both New Mexico and Texas and is Board Certified in Health Law by the New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization.

Jenkins earned an Associate Degree in Nursing from New Mexico State University in 1977 and a B.S. in Nursing from the same university in 1986, graduating with highest honors. She received her J.D. with honors from the University of Texas School of Law in 1988. Her combined nursing and legal education provides a strong basis for understanding medical records, standards of care, health care operations, and the legal questions that arise in medical malpractice and other health law matters.

Jenkins spent approximately 20 years with Kemp Smith LLP in El Paso before practicing with Atwood, Malone, Turner & Sabin in Roswell. She joined Ragsdale Law Firm in July 2018. Across those roles, she developed experience addressing disputes and legal issues at the intersection of medicine and law. Her practice also includes personal injury matters, allowing her to apply detailed medical knowledge when evaluating injuries, treatment histories, causation questions, and the practical consequences of alleged negligence.

Kay Cargill Jenkins has held leadership and service roles in the legal profession, including service as chair of the State Bar of New Mexico’s Health Law Section. She is also affiliated with the State Bar of New Mexico, the State Bar of Texas, the American Bar Association’s health law community, and local professional organizations. Her background as a nurse and health law attorney supports careful analysis of medically complex matters and practical guidance for clients navigating health-related legal disputes.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Ragsdale Law Firm
• Section Chair, State Bar of New Mexico (2007 – 2008)
• Member, State Bar of Texas (1988 – Present)
• Board Member, El Paso County Bar Association (1994 – 1999)
• President, El Paso County Women’s Bar Association (1993 – 1994)
• Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
• Member, Chaves County Bar Association (2004 – 2008)
• Member, American Bar Association, Healthlaw Forum
• Board of Trustees, Roswell Museum and Art Center (2019 – Present)
• Board Member, Roswell Jazz Festival (2019 – Present)
• Board Member, Cattle Baron Restaurants, Inc. (2015 – Present)
• Board Member, Assurance Home Foundation (2014 – Present)
• Board Member, Assurance Home (2012 – 2014)
• Advisory Board of Directors, College of Human and Community Services, New Mexico State University (2009 – 2014)
• Board Member, United Bank of El Paso del Norte (2010 – 2012)
• President, Planned Parenthood of El Paso (1998 – 2000)
• Member, Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (2013 – 2018)
• Member, Texas Association of Defense Counsel
• Member, New Mexico Association of Defense Counsel

Licensed State

• New Mexico
• Texas

Education

• University of Texas School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• New Mexico State University
  Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• New Mexico State University
  Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

Awards & Badges