Staff Attorney (LGBTQ+ legal access program, Safe To Be You Project)

New Mexico Legal Aid seeks a Staff Attorney for our LGBTQ+ legal access program, Safe To Be You Project.

New Mexico Legal Aid (NMLA) provides civil legal services to low-income New Mexicans for a variety of legal issues including domestic violence/family law, consumer protection, housing, and benefits. NMLA has locations throughout the state including Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Gallup, Roswell, Silver City, Clovis, Hobbs, Las Vegas, Taos, and Santa Ana.

New Mexico Legal Aid's statewide LGBTQ+ legal access program, Safe To Be You!, serves LGBTQ+ survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.

For this position, the work will include:

• Free civil legal services legal advice;
• Referrals and/or full attorney representation in court to address a broad range of legal needs within the LGBTQ+ community such as high volume litigation for:
  • Domestic Violence
  • Family Law
• In addition, the staff attorney would be part of a broader holistic advocacy team litigating civil rights and impact cases throughout the State of New Mexico;
• Outreach.
• The Staff Attorney will be active in local bar and community activities.

The attorney position can be based out of any NMLA offices. The work may include casework and outreach throughout New Mexico.

NMLA seeks highly motivated candidates who are passionate 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.

Requirements:

• Experience as practicing attorney preferred but will consider exceptional candidate without experience.
• Must be licensed in New Mexico, eligible for admission by examination, licensed in another state and eligible for reciprocity admission or for a limited license.
• Must be willing and able to travel.
• Able to effectively use computer technology and remote communications systems, including shared on-line workspaces and web meeting and video conferencing software, to effectively collaborate and co-counsel with staff located in multiple offices.
• Possess excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and manage a significant caseload.
• Have the skills to build collaborative relationships within the staff and the community.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Licensing in a Tribal Court and/or experience with Native American communities and legal issues. Proficiency in one or more additional languages is a plus.
• The Ideal candidate will have experience working with LGBTQ+ rural populations.
• Federal Court experience preferred.