Assistant City Attorney

Prosecution experience.

The Rules Governing Admission to the New Mexico State Bar allows public employees to obtain a limited, non-renewable, one-year license to practice law in New Mexico. Eligible attorneys must take the next New Mexico Bar Exam for which the applicant is eligible. Limited licenses only permit the attorney to practice law in New Mexico as a public employee representing public defender clients or a government entity. The Rules Governing Admission also provide for a process called Admission on Motion. Attorneys must be able to demonstrate that they have actively and substantially practiced law for five of the past seven years in a jurisdiction(s) that accepts New Mexico attorneys for admission without examination.

Essential Duties:

• Prosecutes violations of City ordinances;
• Provides professional advice to the City Commission and department heads; as directed by the City Attorney, makes presentations to councils, boards, commissions, civic groups and the public;
• Determines work procedures, prepares work schedules, and expedites workflow; studies and standardizes procedures to improve efficiency and effectiveness of operations in conjunction with the City Attorney;
• Accomplishes legal research and issues written and oral opinions;
• Assigns duties and examines work for exactness, neatness, and conformance to policies and procedures;
• Prepares a variety of studies, reports and related information for decision-making purposes;
• Assists department directors to see that all laws and ordinances are faithfully enforced;
• Advises City and judicial officers of legal conditions and current and future trends;
• Attends all meetings of the administration at which attendance may be required;
• Advises city officials of changes to state or Federal laws affecting city operations in assigned areas of responsibility;
• Conducts research, interviews clients, and witnesses and handles other details in preparation for trial;
• Prepares legal briefs, develops strategy, arguments and testimony in preparation for presentation of case;
• Represents City in court, and before quasi-judicial or administrative agencies of government, as directed;
• Interprets laws, rulings, and regulations for City officials and staff in assigned areas of responsibility;
• Confers with colleagues with specialty in area of law to establish and verify basis for legal proceedings; serves as a liaison between outside legal counsel and city officials on specialized legal issues;
• Drafts, revises and enforces contracts dealing with property, franchises, and other matters;
• Evaluates legal status of matters relating to protection and development of City's water supply, wastewater handling facilities, and real estate holdings;
• Monitors and drafts City ordinances;
• Responds to public inquiries and maintains law-related contacts with outside entities;
• Consults with City employees in field situations with relevance to City operations;
• Safely operates a City vehicle;
• Contributes to a high-quality work culture through participation in training and mentoring to develop skills, including safety related training and skills;
• Interacts professionally and provides excellent customer service to all levels of City staff and citizens, to ensure high operational and service standards; and
• Performs duties in accordance with the Employee Manual, Department Policies and Procedures, A Government Entity Ordinances, and any applicable State or Federal authority.

Other Important Duties

• May Serve as Interim City Attorney During Absences, as Assigned;
• Will attend City Commission meetings in the absence of the City Attorney;
• May attend Planning and Zoning meetings and other after-hours meetings, as directed;
• Recommends for adoption by the Commission such measures as City Attorney may deem necessary or expedient;
• Prepares and submits to the Commission such reports as may be required by that body or as the City Attorney may deem it advisable to submit;
• Assists the City Attorney in civil matters;
• Required to carry a City cell phone and respond to calls, including during off hours;
• Must obtain and/or maintain required licenses;
• Duties may be performed outside of normal working hours;
• Maintains the confidentiality of information obtained during the performance of duties; and
• Performs such other duties as may be assigned.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of:

• Modern policies and practices of municipal law; and
• State statutes relating to municipal conduct.

Skill/Ability to:

• Demonstrate proficiency in both oral and written communication; understand and follow instructions;
• Perform tasks and other daily activities in a positive and professional manner alongside employees of varied backgrounds and personalities;
• Attend work, as scheduled and on a regular basis, to effectively perform the position's essential duties and responsibilities;
• Exercise common sense and good judgment in the performance of essential duties;
• Maintain confidentiality and perform duties with integrity;
• Prepare and analyze briefs and other comprehensive legal documents;
• Conduct legal research using various search engines;
• Carry out assigned projects to their completion;
• Operate standard office equipment, including computer using standard word processing, spreadsheet, and database software;
• Learn and become proficient in the use of computer programs in use or adopted for City use;
• Quickly transition between multiple tasks with minimal instruction; and
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, city officials, the court system, law and code enforcement officers, and the public.

Work Environment:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job;
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions;
• Most work is performed indoors in an office or courtroom setting; the noise level in the work environment is typically quiet;
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear;
• The employee is occasionally required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms;
• Field inspections and consultations with city staff may require driving and off-road walking under a variety of weather conditions; required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) while performing field work. The noise level outdoors or on jobsites may be moderate to loud;
• Occasional late-night public meetings must be attended, and the employee must maintain alertness and concentration for extended periods of time;
• Lift and/or move items weighing up to fifty (50) pounds; the lifting of any object greater than fifty (50) pounds by a single individual is prohibited. Lifting objects, materials, or equipment weighing more than fifty (50) pounds requires the buddy system or the use of devices designed to assist with lifting or moving. Proper lifting techniques shall be used when lifting items of any weight; and
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.