Closing Date: 3rd February, 2026
Description:
Salary$39.11 - $62.58 Hourly
$81,349 - $130,159 Annually
This position is a Pay Band C11
Posting Details
Under the leadership of Attorney General Raúl Torrez, the New Mexico Department of Justice serves as the chief legal authority for the state of New Mexico. The NMDOJ works to ensure that the rule of law is upheld, and the rights of all citizens are protected. The NMDOJ has broad statutory authority over civil legal matters and proceedings involving the state. The Government Counsel and Accountability Bureau provide legal advice and defends Boards, Commissions, and Agencies around the State. The Bureau reviews complaints alleging OMA and IPRA violations and brings enforcement actions under state laws for these violations. The Bureau also provides review for other statutorily required AG review of school bonds, government employee contract review, and jail agreements. The Bureau's attorneys are essential in fulfilling the Attorney General's statutory duty to provide legal advice and representation to various parts of the state government and to help ensure that the government remains accessible, accountable, and transparent across the state.
Interviews are anticipated to be conducted within two weeks of closing date.
Why does the job exist?
Provide legal services to public bodies. The Bureau serves as legal advisor; develop and improve Bureau processes in coordination with Bureau and Division leadership and support staff; collaborate with Bureau attorneys concerning legal needs; perform legal analysis; engage in OMA/IPRA compliance program and take necessary enforcement action; enforce other governmental accountability and transparency laws; conduct Open Meetings Act and Inspection of Public Records Act (OMA/IPRA) trainings around the state and to public bodies; review other statutorily required documents; represent public bodies in appeals process and other assigned litigation.
More experienced attorneys provide legal services to sophisticated state clients; mentor junior attorneys; take on more complex litigation and enforcement matters; and assist in developing and implementing consistent standards and practices in litigated matters.
Provide legal services to public bodies. The Bureau serves as legal advisor; develop and improve Bureau processes in coordination with Bureau and Division leadership and support staff; collaborate with Bureau attorneys concerning legal needs; perform legal analysis; engage in OMA/IPRA compliance program and take necessary enforcement action; enforce other governmental accountability and transparency laws; conduct Open Meetings Act and Inspection of Public Records Act (OMA/IPRA) trainings around the state and to public bodies; review other statutorily required documents; represent public bodies in appeals process and other assigned litigation.
More experienced attorneys provide legal services to sophisticated state clients; mentor junior attorneys; take on more complex litigation and enforcement matters; and assist in developing and implementing consistent standards and practices in litigated matters.
How does it get done?
Assigned Client Representation - Advise and train assigned public bodies on: Powers and Duties, Governmental Conduct Act, Open Meetings Act, Inspection of Public Records Act, State Rules Act, Uniform Licensing Act; Provide procedural advice and review on Administrative Proceedings, Rulemaking, and in some instances, Appeals and Litigation; Assist with the coordination and facilitation of disciplinary administrative proceedings; Provide assistance and legal advice to hearing officers, and staff on procedural, evidentiary, and due process requirements under the Uniform Licensing Act or other applicable law; Assist with conducting and defending public rule hearings under the New Mexico State Rules Act.
Assigned Client Representation - Advise and train assigned public bodies on: Powers and Duties, Governmental Conduct Act, Open Meetings Act, Inspection of Public Records Act, State Rules Act, Uniform Licensing Act; Provide procedural advice and review on Administrative Proceedings, Rulemaking, and in some instances, Appeals and Litigation; Assist with the coordination and facilitation of disciplinary administrative proceedings; Provide assistance and legal advice to hearing officers, and staff on procedural, evidentiary, and due process requirements under the Uniform Licensing Act or other applicable law; Assist with conducting and defending public rule hearings under the New Mexico State Rules Act.
Who are the customers?
The Attorney General is the state's attorney, and the work of an Assistant Attorney General is broadly done for the state of New Mexico, through the delegation and power of the Attorney General. The position is directly supervised by the Division Director, who directs the majority of this position's work.
Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate has strong judgment, excellent written and verbal communication skills, the ability to deal with complex matters that cut across many legal and related areas, leadership skills, the ability to spot and anticipate a wide variety of legal issues and risks, is decisive in strategic approaches to the law, has impeccable ethics and integrity, has a curiosity to learn and become a general legal subject-matter expert, and the ability to independently multitask in a high volume environment with the possibility of frequent interruptions.
The following are areas of the law the Division advises on regularly, and the ideal candidate will have a general understanding of the following:
Senior attorneys will demonstrate and innate ability and experience in, effectively communicating at all levels with a variety of different stake holders, taking on additional duties and responsibilities, the ability to handle more complex matters and assignments, presiding over more complex investigations and litigation, mentoring and inspiring others, and conducting regular training's on a wide variety of subjects.
Minimum Qualification:
Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law. Must be licensed as an attorney by the Supreme Court of New Mexico or qualified to apply for limited practice license.
Employment Requirements:
All Attorney classifications must be and remain licensed as an attorney, in good standing, by the Supreme Court of New Mexico, or licensed as an attorney and in good standing by the highest court of another state and eligible pursuant to the limited license provisions (See Rules 15-301.1 and 15-301.2 NMRA).
Candidate must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License and current Defensive Driving Course Certification from the State of New Mexico; or must obtain a Defensive Driving Course Certification within six (6) months of hire as a condition of continued employment.
Preemployment background investigation is required and is conditional pending results.
Working Conditions:
Work is performed in an office setting with exposure to visual/video display terminals (VDT) and extensive personal computer and phone usage with extended periods of sitting. Must be able to lift 25 lbs. Limited in-state and out-of-state travel may be required on occasion. It is anticipated the person in this position will hold a valid driver's license and be able to lawfully operate a state-owned motor vehicle when necessary.
Supplemental Information:
Do you know what Total Compensation is? Click here (http://www.spo.state.nm.us/total-compensation.aspx)
Agency Contact Information: Veronica Batres Email (vbatres@nmdoj.gov)
For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.
Bargaining Unit Position:
This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
The Attorney General is the state's attorney, and the work of an Assistant Attorney General is broadly done for the state of New Mexico, through the delegation and power of the Attorney General. The position is directly supervised by the Division Director, who directs the majority of this position's work.
Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate has strong judgment, excellent written and verbal communication skills, the ability to deal with complex matters that cut across many legal and related areas, leadership skills, the ability to spot and anticipate a wide variety of legal issues and risks, is decisive in strategic approaches to the law, has impeccable ethics and integrity, has a curiosity to learn and become a general legal subject-matter expert, and the ability to independently multitask in a high volume environment with the possibility of frequent interruptions.
The following are areas of the law the Division advises on regularly, and the ideal candidate will have a general understanding of the following:
- Administrative law, including State Rules Act, Uniform Licensing Act, and administrative appeals
- Public Finance, including state procurement, issuance of bonds, purchase agreements, grant funding, Tax
- Transparency Laws, including OMA, IPRA, Governmental Conduct
- Transactional, including Joint Powers Agreements, Memorandums of Understanding, Property Contracts, Services Contracts, and other state contracts review
- Ethics and Corruption Laws
- Environmental and Natural Resources Laws
- Public Safety Laws
- Compliance and Risk Management
Senior attorneys will demonstrate and innate ability and experience in, effectively communicating at all levels with a variety of different stake holders, taking on additional duties and responsibilities, the ability to handle more complex matters and assignments, presiding over more complex investigations and litigation, mentoring and inspiring others, and conducting regular training's on a wide variety of subjects.
Minimum Qualification:
Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law. Must be licensed as an attorney by the Supreme Court of New Mexico or qualified to apply for limited practice license.
Employment Requirements:
All Attorney classifications must be and remain licensed as an attorney, in good standing, by the Supreme Court of New Mexico, or licensed as an attorney and in good standing by the highest court of another state and eligible pursuant to the limited license provisions (See Rules 15-301.1 and 15-301.2 NMRA).
Candidate must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License and current Defensive Driving Course Certification from the State of New Mexico; or must obtain a Defensive Driving Course Certification within six (6) months of hire as a condition of continued employment.
Preemployment background investigation is required and is conditional pending results.
Working Conditions:
Work is performed in an office setting with exposure to visual/video display terminals (VDT) and extensive personal computer and phone usage with extended periods of sitting. Must be able to lift 25 lbs. Limited in-state and out-of-state travel may be required on occasion. It is anticipated the person in this position will hold a valid driver's license and be able to lawfully operate a state-owned motor vehicle when necessary.
Supplemental Information:
Do you know what Total Compensation is? Click here (http://www.spo.state.nm.us/total-compensation.aspx)
Agency Contact Information: Veronica Batres Email (vbatres@nmdoj.gov)
For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.
Bargaining Unit Position:
This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
