Appellate Attorney- Assistant (U) #00000055-21500, Full-Time, At-Time, in Albuquerque or Santa Fe, NM

New Mexico Courts; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 76,000 - 152,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision/Rx

Paid leave

Paid holidays

Parental leave

Retirement plan

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

The Administrative Office of the Courts in New Mexico is seeking an Appellate Attorney- Assistant (U) for Albuquerque or Santa Fe. This full-time, at-will position supports the Court of Appeals by performing legal research, drafting recommendations, and advising on complex matters.

Travel and background checks may be required, with competitive benefits and a comprehensive workload. The role requires a law degree from an ABA-accredited school, NM license, and at least three years of relevant

Qualifications

• Graduate of ABA-accredited law school and licensed to practice law in New Mexico.
• Three years of experience in the practice of applicable law or as a law clerk.
• Competency in legal research, writing, and analysis, with understanding of court procedures.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and perform legal research and analysis for court operations.
• Draft memoranda, proposed dispositions, and opinions for appellate matters.
• Assist with rulemaking, committees, and staff support for commissions and boards.
• Screen petitions for jurisdiction and procedural prerequisites, review filings and briefs.
• Prepare oral presentations and training materials for conferences and internal staff.
• Ensure compliance with deadlines, budgets, and court policies.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Policy analysis

Court procedures

Education

Juris Doctor, ABA-accredited

Job description

Business Unit: 21500

Appellate Attorney- Assistant (U) #00000055-21500, Full-Time, At-Time, in Albuquerque or Santa Fe, NM

# of Positions: 1

Administrative Office of the Courts

Business Unit: 21500

Appellate Attorney- Assistant (U) #00000055-21500, Full-Time, At-Time, in Albuquerque or Santa Fe, NM

# of Positions: 1

Opening Date: 09-25-2026 - Close Date: 10-30-2026

Target Pay Range/Rate: $36.541-$73.085 per hour or $76,005-$152,011 annually

The Court of Appeals is recruiting for a full-time, at-will Appellate Attorney- Assistant (U) #00000055-21500 in Albuquerque or Santa Fe, NM. GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES Acting under administrative direction of a Justice or Judge, Chief Appellate Court Clerk, or a supervising appellate attorney provides legal advice, performs legal research and analysis, and makes recommendations to the court. Finalist may be subject to a background check.

Examples Of Job Duties

• The Appellate Attorney – Assistant (At-Will) is responsible for providing support to the court on legal matters as they arise in the course of court operations.
• Assists the court with the exercise of its rulemaking authority and provides staff support for committees, boards, and commissions.
• Drafts recommendations and proposed dispositions for assigned cases.
• May screen pro se petitions for jurisdiction and procedural prerequisites.
• Assists the court to resolve pending appeals by reviewing motions, docketing statements, and briefs.
• Recommends appropriate courses of action and dispositions.
• Drafts memoranda of law, proposed opinions, and orders for administrative appeals of record and de novo appeals.
• Analyzes briefs, records, and legal authorities cited.
• May create proposed orders addressing petitions for extraordinary writs and motions in civil and criminal matters.
• Evaluates court processes and formulates, recommends and implements policies and procedures to ensure uniform compliance with statutory and constitutional provisions, case law and Supreme Court Rules.
• May Assist management on personnel issues and ensure compliance with applicable employment laws, rules, regulations, court and AOC policies and procedures.
• May assist with Requests for Proposals and Invitations to Bid.
• May prepare and make oral presentations, training, or continuing education at national, state and local conferences.
• May research proposed legislation, provide testimony and participate in developing strategies for passage of legislation.
• May oversee court-mandated programs.
• May prepare curriculum or workshop materials for training and educational programs.
• Ensures compliance with statuary deadlines and budgetary limitations.
• May serve on statewide or local committees.
• Maintains awareness of current developments in the law.
• Responds to correspondence, emails, telephone calls, and in-person information requests from pro se litigants, inmates, attorneys, judges, court staff, government employees, and members of the public.
• Other duties as assigned.

Competencies/Qualifications

The successful applicant should demonstrate knowledge of the United States and New Mexico constitutions, federal law, New Mexico case law, statutes, rules, policies, and procedures; rules of Criminal and Civil procedures, rules of Appellate Procedure, rules of evidence, the Code of Judicial Conduct, and rules of Professional Conduct. Court jurisdiction and operations; legal research; judiciary processes and policies, administrative, civil, and criminal law and procedures. Principles of legal analysis and writing, legal proofreading and editing; court case management systems; supervisory techniques, mediating and managing conflict. Employment law; and conflict-resolution principles and techniques. Ability to balance practical and legal considerations, develop procedures, comprehend and explain complex issues and solve problems.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The following functions are representative, but not all-inclusive of the work environment and physical demands an employee may expect to encounter in performing tasks assigned to this job. Work is performed in an office or court setting. A valid driver's license and travel may be required. The assigned work schedule may include nights, weekends, holidays, and overtime. The employee must regularly interact positively with co-workers, clients, the public, judges, and justices.

• This job description is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions performed

Benefits

• Medical/Dental/Vision/Rx, Short, and Long Term Disability Insurance Programs, employee assistance program (EAP) [http://www.mybenefitsnm.com/]
• State paid life insurance, supplemental and dependent life insurance
• Optional flexible spending accounts for medical, day-care, and travel expenses
• Paid vacation and sick leave up to eight (8) weeks
• Eleven (11) paid holidays
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• Deferred Compensation 457(b) plan
• Lifetime Defined Benefits Retirement Plan [http://www.nmpera.org/]
• Flexible work schedules and alternative work locations*
• Free health care, Rx, and lab work at the facility (Stay Well Health Center) in Santa Fe, NM
• Bilingual compensation*
• Training and career development opportunities
• Higher education opportunities, educational leave, and tuition reimbursement
• May qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• May receive overtime holiday or shift differential pay*
• May receive physical fitness leave*
• What are your benefits worth? Click here to find out

*These benefits vary by job classification or need*

Qualifications

• MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
• Education: Must be a graduate of a law school meeting the standards of accreditation of the American Bar Association; possess and maintain a license to practice law in the State of New Mexico.
• Education Substitution: None.
• Experience: three (3) years of experience in the practice of applicable law or as a law clerk.
• Experience Substitution: None.

Proof Of Education Is Required.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER