Assistant County Attorney- Legal

Doña Ana County; Las Cruces (NM); On-site; USD 81,000 - 133,000; Full time

Job summary

Doña Ana County seeks an in-house counsel to perform legal research, provide opinions, attend public meetings, and defend the county in limited litigation. You will advise county departments, assist senior management on programs, budgets, and legislation, draft legal documents, and collaborate with outside counsel as needed.

The role requires a Juris Doctor and NM licensure or eligibility for a limited license, with a background check and driving record check.

Qualifications

• Attorney must hold a Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Local government experience preferred.
• Must be licensed as an attorney by the NM Supreme Court or eligible for limited practice license (NM Rules 15-301.1/15-301.2).
• Background check and driving record check required.

Responsibilities

• Perform legal research and write oral and written opinions; draft memoranda, ordinances, and resolutions.
• Advise County departments and senior management on legal issues, budgets, and legislation; participate in strategic planning.

Skills

Legal research

Legal ethics

Communication

English usage

Legal writing

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Job description

NOTICE TO APPLICANT

This position is open until filled.

You must ensure your application reflects the correct and current information for your work experience, hours worked per week per position, education, personal information, etc.

Only the information provided on this application is evaluated when determining compensation.

Job Description

PURPOSE SUMMARY.

Perform In-house counsel duties such as legal research, providing oral and written legal opinions, attending public meetings and hearings. Defend and/or represent the county in limited litigation matters.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES.

1. Legal Research and Analysis

• Perform legal research and prepare written and oral opinions on various legal issues.
• Research and write memoranda and legal documents on a variety of legal issues.
• Research and write legal opinions on case law and administrative practices at the request of the County Attorney and/or Deputy County Attorney.
• Review policy and policy initiatives to ensure alignment with state and federal laws and regulations.
• Conduct research and apply that research to advise internal clients.
• Conduct discovery and interview witnesses, research and analyze a variety of issues, and propose strategy on specific matters.

2. Advisory and Department Support

• Provide legal assistance to County departments as assigned.
• Advise senior management and executives on legal issues involving agency programs, budgets, and legislation and participate in management teams to develop and implement strategic plans to meet the agency mission.
• Assist with personnel issues and labor law issues as assigned.
• Delegate duties to assigned support staff and monitor their work.

3. Litigation and Hearings

• Represent the County in administrative hearings as assigned.
• Prosecute violations of County ordinances and defend the County in civil actions.
• Prepare litigation pleadings and other court papers and advise on legal strategy.
• Work with outside counsel on legal matters as assigned.
• Prepare and present information for meetings and hearings as assigned.

4. Document Drafting and Review

• Draft legal documents.
• May prepare and review drafts of ordinances, resolutions, contracts, administrative policies, rules and regulations, and other written documents required in the operation of county government for compliance with legal requirements.
• Draft legally defensible documents for approval by the County Attorney and/or Deputy County Attorney.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES.

Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS.

A. Education. A Juris Doctor degree from an American Bar Association accredited law school.

B. Experience. Prior local government experience preferred.

C. Education/Experience substitution. N/A

D. Licenses/Certifications. 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).

E. Other (e.g., post-offer medical exam, polygraph, background check, driver's license record, etc.). Must pass pre-employment background check and driving record check.

Knowledge of :

• Legal research, including case law, statutes, ordinances, and administrative rules.
• Legal ethics, professional responsibility, and conflict of interest principles.
• Effective communication principles and practices including oral and written communication.
• Proper English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Principles of legal writing, including drafting memoranda, ordinances, and resolutions.

Skill in :

• Researching and identifying precedence in case law.
• Reviewing and assessing legal issues and documents.
• Utilizing and evaluating electronic legal research and online systems.
• Presenting oral and written information in a clear and concise manner.

Ability to :

• Analyze, appraise, and organize facts, evidence, and precedents.
• Present materials in a clear and logical form, both verbally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with public officials, outside agencies, County staff, and other participants.
• Assess and prioritize multiple tasks, projects, and demands.
• Interpret technical instructions and analyze complex variables.

Compensation Range

$81,328.00 - $132,704.00

Doña Ana County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to abide by all federal and state laws prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of a person's race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, disability, serious medical condition, genetic information, ancestry, spousal affiliation, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other unlawful criteria, except where a reasonable Bona Fide Occupational Qualification exists.

Doña Ana County will make reasonable accommodation(s) for the known physical or mental limitations of an applicant with a disability, upon request, unless the accommodation(s) would cause an undue hardship on the operation of the County. Please see http://www.donaanacounty.org/ada/ for our Public Notice and to get the Testing/Interview Accommodation Request Form or call 575-647-7210 for assistance.