Legal Intern

Dona Ana County; Las Cruces (NM); On-site; USD 32,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

Doña Ana County seeks a legal research and writing support professional to assist attorneys and paralegals under supervision. You will conduct research, draft memoranda, and review documents to support public sector law and County workflows.

Responsibilities include assisting with client interviews, preparing summaries, and helping with litigation preparation. A law school education and strong written communication are required; passing background checks are required.

Qualifications

• Completion of a minimum of one year of law school at an accredited institution and current enrollment in a Juris Doctor program.
• Ability to conduct thorough legal research and draft written materials.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Perform legal research under attorney direction and draft memoranda and summaries.
• Review documents for accuracy and provide feedback on legal issues for County meetings.
• Attend client interviews and prepare summaries; assist with litigation preparation as needed.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Effective communication

Time management

Education

One year of law school

Tools

Online legal databases (e.g., LexisNexis, Westlaw)

Job description

Job Description

Purpose Summary

Provide legal support under the direct supervision of attorneys and paralegals. Work closely with the legal department to support the legal needs of the County. Assist with research, drafting, and review of documents while gaining practical experience in public sector law and case management.

Essential Duties

1. Legal Research and Writing

• Conduct legal research under attorney direction.
• Draft correspondence, memoranda, summaries, and written responses for attorney review.
• Review documents for legal sufficiency and accuracy.
• Provide feedback on legal issues presented for upcoming Board of County Commissioner meetings.

2. Client and Attorney Support

• Attend client interviews, hearings, or meetings with attorney approval.
• Take notes and prepare summaries of meetings or proceedings.
• Gather background information from clients and staff as directed.
• May shadow attorneys in court and assist with litigation preparation.

Additional Duties

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

A. Education

Completion of a minimum of one (1) year of law school at an accredited institution and current enrollment in a Juris Doctor program.

B. Experience

N/A

C. Education/Experience substitution

N/A

D. Licenses/Certifications

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, Skills, and Abilities Required by the Position

Knowledge of:

• Basic legal principles and procedures learned in law school.
• Legal research methods and resources, including online databases.
• Legal writing standards and citation formats.

Skill in:

• Conducting thorough and accurate legal research.
• Drafting clear, concise, and well-organized written documents.
• Communicating effectively with attorneys, staff, and department leaders.
• Managing time, meeting deadlines, and handling multiple assignments.

Ability to:

• Review documents for accuracy and completeness.
• Summarize complex information in a clear and understandable manner.
• Work collaboratively with attorneys, paralegals, and County leadership.
• Exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality of legal matters.
• Adapt to a professional legal office environment and accept constructive feedback.

Compensation Range

$23.53 - $38.19

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.