Closing Date: 30th October, 2025
Description:
Salary$44.98 - $71.96 Hourly
$93,552 - $149,683 Annually
This position is a Pay Band C12
Posting Details
Interviews will be conducted no more than two weeks following the closing of the position.
The NM State Land Office was named a Regional Top Workplace in 2023, 2024 and 2025 and a National Top Workplace in 2024 and 2025! To learn more about why the Land Office was voted a Top Workplace, and about the great benefits offered by the agency, copy and paste the below link into your browser:
https://www.nmstatelands.org/job-opportunities/
The NM State Land Office has a Non-Emergency Telework Policy, which allows eligible employees to telework up to twenty-four (24) hours a week consistent with the agency's business needs.
As a valued State Land Office employee, you will receive a hiring bonus of forty (40) hours of leave at your start date to be used at any time. This is in addition to standard leave accrual for employees.
Why does the job exist?
The core mission of the New Mexico State Land Office (NMSLO) is to responsibly generate revenue through a wide array of leasing activities on state trust lands on behalf of public schools, universities and hospitals, while stewarding the land for future generations. The person selected for this position will join a dedicated team of attorneys and project staff and will play an important role in fulfilling the agency's mission through litigation, rule revisions, policy development, and work on special projects. This position will devote significant time to the agency's Accountability & Enforcement program (which we established to ensure the responsible use of state trust land and the cleanup and reclamation of state trust land).
The core mission of the New Mexico State Land Office (NMSLO) is to responsibly generate revenue through a wide array of leasing activities on state trust lands on behalf of public schools, universities and hospitals, while stewarding the land for future generations. The person selected for this position will join a dedicated team of attorneys and project staff and will play an important role in fulfilling the agency's mission through litigation, rule revisions, policy development, and work on special projects. This position will devote significant time to the agency's Accountability & Enforcement program (which we established to ensure the responsible use of state trust land and the cleanup and reclamation of state trust land).
How does it get done?
Key responsibilities include drafting pleadings, briefs, and other litigation papers; oral advocacy in court and other forums (e.g. administrative tribunals, legislative hearings, public meetings); successfully managing all other aspects of the attorney's active litigation docket (including depositions, coordination with experts, trial preparation); case management and project management; policy development; working with the agency's leasing divisions and executive management to revise administrative rules and work processes; spotting and developing opportunities to expand the agency's strong commitment to protecting public lands and resources.
Key responsibilities include drafting pleadings, briefs, and other litigation papers; oral advocacy in court and other forums (e.g. administrative tribunals, legislative hearings, public meetings); successfully managing all other aspects of the attorney's active litigation docket (including depositions, coordination with experts, trial preparation); case management and project management; policy development; working with the agency's leasing divisions and executive management to revise administrative rules and work processes; spotting and developing opportunities to expand the agency's strong commitment to protecting public lands and resources.
Who are the customers?
Internal: Oil, Gas, and Minerals Division; Administrative Services; Commercial Division; Legal Division; Surface Resources Division; and executive State Land Office management officials (Office of the Commissioner).
External: New Mexico public schools, universities and hospitals; individuals; general public; lessees (agricultural, oil and gas companies, commercial, rights-of-ways); natural resource authorization users; program enrollees; hunters; other government entities (state, federal, city, county, tribal).
Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate will have:
Minimum Qualification:
Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law and two (2) years of experience in the practice of law. Must be licensed as an attorney by the Supreme Court of New Mexico or qualified to apply for limited practice license (Rules 15-301.1 and 15-301.2 NMRA). For more information on limited practice licenses, please visit http://nmexam.org/limited-license/.
Employment Requirements:
Must possess and maintain a valid New Mexico Driver's License.
Working Conditions:
Work is performed primarily in an office setting with exposure to Visual/Video Display Terminal (VDT) and extensive personal computer to include working with computers, faxes, copiers and printers, and phone usage with extended periods of sitting, standing, bending, squatting, climbing, reaching, kneeling and crawling. Ability to lift up to 25 lbs. Some travel may be required.
Supplemental Information:
Do you know what Total Compensation is? Click here
Agency Contact Information: Jaiden Trujillo, (505) 476-4649. Email
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.
Internal: Oil, Gas, and Minerals Division; Administrative Services; Commercial Division; Legal Division; Surface Resources Division; and executive State Land Office management officials (Office of the Commissioner).
External: New Mexico public schools, universities and hospitals; individuals; general public; lessees (agricultural, oil and gas companies, commercial, rights-of-ways); natural resource authorization users; program enrollees; hunters; other government entities (state, federal, city, county, tribal).
Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate will have:
- Significant litigation experience and strong litigation skills (research, written and oral advocacy, case management, strategic planning)
- Ability to communicate effectively in a variety of professional settings (court advocacy, presentations to constituents/stakeholders, teams within agency)
- Demonstrated interest in the agency's efforts to protect state trust land and natural resources
- Ability to manage multiple competing deadlines/project needs
- Comfort and proficiency with creative problem-solving
Minimum Qualification:
Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law and two (2) years of experience in the practice of law. Must be licensed as an attorney by the Supreme Court of New Mexico or qualified to apply for limited practice license (Rules 15-301.1 and 15-301.2 NMRA). For more information on limited practice licenses, please visit http://nmexam.org/limited-license/.
Employment Requirements:
Must possess and maintain a valid New Mexico Driver's License.
Working Conditions:
Work is performed primarily in an office setting with exposure to Visual/Video Display Terminal (VDT) and extensive personal computer to include working with computers, faxes, copiers and printers, and phone usage with extended periods of sitting, standing, bending, squatting, climbing, reaching, kneeling and crawling. Ability to lift up to 25 lbs. Some travel may be required.
Supplemental Information:
Do you know what Total Compensation is? Click here
Agency Contact Information: Jaiden Trujillo, (505) 476-4649. Email
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.
