Assistant County Attorney I

Santa Fe County NM; Santa Fe (NM); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

AD&D Insurance

Voluntary Life and AD&D

Short-Term Disability

Long-Term Disability

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Gym Membership

Job summary

Santa Fe County seeks a high‑caliber attorney to provide complex governmental legal services to elected officials, management, and staff. You will handle matters across zoning, land use, utilities, contracts, real estate, and water law, while coordinating with outside counsel and defending the county in proceedings.

The role requires strong legal research, writing, and advocacy, with the ability to manage a diverse workload and interact professionally with the public and officials.

Qualifications

• Must be licensed to practice law in New Mexico or eligible for a limited license under Rule 15-301.1 NMRA.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Outlook.
• Experience advising Elected Officials and local governmental entities is desired.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal representation and advice to County elected officials, management, and staff in zoning, land use, utilities, contracts, real estate, and water law.
• Work with outside counsel in judicial and administrative proceedings.
• Represent the County in litigation and prepare pleadings and strategy.
• Negotiate and prepare contracts, deeds, easements, settlements, mortgages, and notes.
• Prepare intergovernmental agreements and county ordinances, resolutions, and policies.
• Attend meetings of County boards and commissions as needed.
• Represent the County in personnel matters before HR bodies and arbitrators.
• Respond to public records requests and subpoenas.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Public interaction

Oral advocacy

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Tools

Westlaw

OneSource

Outlook

SF County Ordinance lookup

Job description

Primary Purpose

Performs governmental legal work of the highest degree of professional complexity and difficulty.

Essential Job Functions

• Provides legal representation and advice to County elected officials, management, and staff in numerous areas of legal practice, including zoning and land use, utilities, corrections, human resources, community services, procurement, contracts, real estate and property, code enforcement, and water law.
• Works with and directs outside counsel in judicial and administrative proceedings.
• Represents the County and County elected officials, management and staff in judicial and administrative proceedings and appeals, prepares litigation pleadings and other court papers, and advises on legal strategy.
• Negotiates, prepares and reviews various transactional documents, including contracts, deeds, easements, settlements, mortgages, and notes.
• Negotiates and prepares intergovernmental agreements.
• Prepares and reviews proposed county ordinances, resolutions, regulations, and policies.
• As needed, attends meetings of County boards and commissions, including the Board of County Commissioners, Planning Commission, Santa Fe County Ethics Board, and Buckman Direct Diversion Board.
• Represents the County in personnel matters, before the PELRB, EEOC, HRB and arbitrators.
• Responds to public records requests and subpoenas.

Knowledge/ Skills

• Knowledge of New Mexico law and relevant federal law. Experience or knowledge of local government law is preferable.
• Superior demonstrated skill and expertise in legal research, writing and problem solving.
• Superior skill in organizing facts, evidence and precedents; capable of presenting material in a clear and logical form for oral presentations or in such written media as memoranda, briefs, contracts, deeds or agreements.
• Capable of working with members of the public in diverse settings in a professional and effective manner; capable of establishing positive and professional working relationships with Elected Officials, employees, court personnel, coworkers and the public.
• Capable of managing a diverse workload with shifting priorities independently.
• Capable of working collaboratively with others within the office, as well as able to accept direction and decision making from the Deputy County Attorney and/or County Attorney.
• Capable of operating various word-processing, spreadsheets, database, and other software programs in a Windows environment, including Westlaw, OneSource, Outlook, and SF County Ordinance lookup.

Minimum Qualifications

• Applicants must be licensed to practice law in the State of New Mexico or apply for and be granted a limited license pursuant to Rule 15-301.1 NMRA prior to the start of employment with the County. If the limited license is not granted, or the limited license is revoked or suspended after the start of employment, the employee will cease to be qualified for the position of Assistant County Attorney I and will be terminated from employment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Outlook.
• Experience advising Elected Officials and local governmental entities is desired.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions

Work is primarily in an office environment. Some work is performed in the community. Some fieldwork may be required outdoors in various weather conditions with exposure to dust, fumes, airborne particles and/or allergens. Work may occasionally include exposure to hostile individuals and use of protective clothing, equipment, devices, and materials. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly is required to stand, walk, and sit; use hands to finger handle or feel; reach with hands or arms; and talk or hear. Will be required to work some evenings and weekends. May be subject to exposure to CRTs, VDTs and UV rays. Ability to lift up to 20lbs. Clarity of vision at long distance and short distance required.

Conditions Of Employment

Selected candidate must submit to and pass a County paid pre-employment physical and drug/alcohol screening. Additionally, selected candidate must submit to and pass a county paid criminal background screening. Selected candidate must possess and maintain a valid New Mexico Class D Driver’s License as incumbent shall be appointed to drive a County vehicle during the performance of his/her duties. Candidate must obtain and/or maintain all certifications required.

Santa Fe County is an Equal Opportunity Employer It is the policy of Santa Fe County to ensure equal employment opportunity to all persons regardless of race, color, age, physical or mental handicap, sex, national origin, ancestry, religion, serious medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or political affiliation.

Santa Fe County is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package to eligible, full-time and part-time employees who work 20 hours per week. You will receive plan booklets, which give you more detailed information about each of these programs.

Benefits Offered

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
• Voluntary Life and AD&D
• Short-Term Disability
• Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Gym Membership

To learn more details, visit our website:

• Health Benefits
• Leave and Retirement
• Additional Employee Benefits
• Employee Development Program