Staff Attorney
New Mexico Legal Aid is seeking a Staff Attorney for our regional offices in either Las Cruces or Silver City. The Staff Attorney position will be part of our rural communities advocacy team, and will represent clients throughout northwestern or southwestern New Mexico.
The Staff Attorney will handle cases for low-income individuals and families in a wide variety of poverty law areas including family law, housing, public benefits, and consumer issues. The Staff Attorney will be active in local bar and community activities. The work will include participating in community education and outreach to eligible clients, and recruitment of and collaboration with pro bono attorneys.
The Staff Attorney also will handle a significant caseload to assist domestic violence victims, including an opportunity to be involved in outreach and case handling for NMLA’s statewide LGBTQ+ Legal Access Project, “Safe to Be You!,“ which provides holistic civil legal services to LGBTQ+ survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. The project especially focuses on services to LBTQ+ survivors living in New Mexico’s rural and Native American communities. Candidates with experience working as advocates on behalf of Native American or LGBTQ+ clients are strongly encouraged to apply.
The NMLA offices in Las Cruces and Silver City handle a wide range of creative, challenging and complex work. We are looking for highly motivated candidates who are passionate about justice and strongly committed to helping NMLA better serve our client communities, including development of effective team strategies to handle complex advocacy and extended representation cases.
At least three years’ experience as a licensed attorney preferred but will consider exceptionally well qualified entry level candidates. Must be licensed in New Mexico, or eligible for licensing by reciprocity, limited legal aid providers licensing, or by sitting for the next available New Mexico bar examination. Must be willing to travel. Must be able to effectively use computer technology and remote communications systems, including shared on-line workspaces and web meeting and videoconferencing software, to effectively collaborate and co-counsel with staff located in multiple offices. Candidates also must possess excellent written and oral communication skills, the ability to manage multiple tasks, manage a caseload and build collaborative relationships within the staff and the community. Proficiency in Spanish or New Mexico tribal languages is a plus.
Send a current resume, and a letter of interest explaining what you would like to accomplish if you are selected for either position to: jobs@nmlegalaid.org
Salary: DOE, NMLA is an EEO Employer. Application Deadline: March 1, 2019