Staff Attorney

New Mexico Wild; Albuquerque (NM); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

New Mexico Wild seeks a Staff Attorney to defend wilderness, public lands, waters, and wildlife through law and policy. You will draft comments, petitions, and briefs, track agency actions, and advise leadership on legal risk.

The role blends legal work with outreach and fundraising support, coordinating with science, organizing, and communications staff. 70+% linked to legal and policy tasks, with opportunities to engage in litigation and advocacy across NM.

Qualifications

• J.D. from ABA-accredited law school required.
• Active NM bar membership or ability to gain NM admission within 12 months.
• At least 3 years of legal experience; exceptional candidates considered.

Responsibilities

• Track and analyze federal/state actions affecting public lands, waters, wildlife.
• Draft NEPA comments, protests, objections, and petitions for rulemaking.
• Conduct legal research and draft pleadings, motions, briefs; coordinate with counsel.
• Draft FOIA/NM Inspection of Public Records Act requests and appeals.
• Represent NM Wild in coalitions and advise on legal risks and opportunities.

Skills

Legal research

Policy analysis

Oral advocacy

Comment drafting

Coalition building

Education

J.D. from ABA-accredited law school

Job description

Reports to: Senior Staff AttorneyPosted: October 23, 2026, open until filledFLSA: Exempt Position

Summary:

In pursuit of New Mexico Wild’s mission, the Staff Attorney will use law and policy to protect and defend New Mexico’s wilderness, public lands, waters, and wildlife, working at the direction of the Executive Director and Senior Staff Attorney. The Staff Attorney will support the organization’s administrative advocacy, from tracking agency actions and building strong administrative records to drafting comments, protests, objections, and appeals. They will advise leadership on legal risks and opportunities across our campaigns, collaborate on litigation, conduct legal research, analyze federal and state legislation, represent New Mexico Wild in legal and policy coalitions, and help develop policy. As federal protections for public lands, waters, and wildlife are rolled back, the Staff Attorney will assist with developing and employing New Mexico Wild’s legal response. New Mexico Wild functions as an integrated team. The Staff Attorney will work closely with conservation, organizing, communications, and development staff, and their legal judgment will help shape campaign strategy across the organization. About 80% of the role is legal and policy work; the rest supports outreach, fundraising, and the team.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Administrative Advocacy (about 35%): Track and analyze federal and state actions affecting New Mexico’s public lands, waters, and wildlife, including land management plans, site-specific projects, lease sales, mining projects, and rulemakings. Draft NEPA comments, protests, objections, administrative appeals, and petitions for rulemaking for the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other agencies. Participate in state rulemaking proceedings and public hearings on issues including mining, water quality, and wildlife management. Build strong administrative records that preserve options for future litigation.

Legal Strategy and Litigation (about 30%): Identify, evaluate, and develop potential cases under applicable federal law including the Wilderness Act, NEPA, FLPMA, NFMA, ESA, APA, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the Mining Law, the Clean Water Act, and New Mexico law. Conduct legal research and factual investigation. Draft pleadings, motions, and briefs in coordination with the Senior Staff Attorney, outside counsel, co-counsel, and pro bono partners as directed. Draft and submit FOIA and New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act requests and appeals. Work with scientists, hydrologists, and other experts to build the factual case.

Policy, Coalitions, and Legislation (about 15%): Analyze pending federal and state legislation, including Wilderness and Wild and Scenic designation bills, and advise on organizational positions. Represent New Mexico Wild in state, regional, and national legal and policy coalitions. Build working relationships with federal, state, Tribal, and local leadership and agency staff and with congressional and legislative offices.

Community Legal Support and Outreach (about 10%): Disseminate information to coalition partners, Tribes and Pueblos, acequias, land grant communities, local officials, and members of the public to facilitate engagement in agency processes, including how to comment, object, and request records. Provide education to staff, volunteers, and activists about public lands law and advocacy tools. Serve as a spokesperson on legal issues and support communications staff with media outreach, press releases, and public-facing content.

Development and Organizational Support (about 10%): Provide case updates and content for grant proposals, funder reports, donor communications, and events. Meet with donors and funders as needed, including for the Legal+Outreach Fund. Attend staff meetings, retreats, trainings, and field trips, and perform other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Active membership in good standing with the New Mexico bar, or another state bar and the ability and commitment to gain New Mexico admission within 12 months.
• At least 3 years of legal experience. Exceptional candidates at all experience levels will be considered.

Required Qualifications:

• Goal-driven, results-oriented individual with a passion for New Mexico Wild’s mission and a demonstrated commitment to protecting New Mexico’s wilderness, public lands, wildlife, and water.
• Experience in public lands, natural resources, or environmental law.
• Excellent research, writing, analytic, and oral advocacy skills.
• Ability to explain legal and technical issues in plain language.
• Working knowledge of NEPA, FLPMA, NFMA, ESA, APA, FOIA, and of how federal land management agencies make decisions.
• Ability to manage multiple matters with shifting deadlines and to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Sound judgment and discretion with confidential information.
• Ability to professionally represent the organization in front of agency staff, elected officials, coalition partners, the press, and the public.
• A commitment to working with a diverse array of partners and stakeholders engaged in the protection of wilderness, public lands, water, and wildlife, including coalition partners, Tribes and Pueblos, acequias, land grant communities, outdoor recreation groups, and small businesses throughout the state.
• Able to travel within New Mexico on an occasional basis for hearings, meetings, community events, and field visits.
• Strong work ethic and initiative, excellent organization skills, and attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Litigation experience in federal court, especially public lands, water, or wildlife cases.
• Experience with the Wilderness Act, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, mining law, water law, or New Mexico environmental and public records statutes.
• Experience working in coalitions or at an advocacy organization or public interest environmental law firm.
• Comfort as a public speaker and with media interviews.
• Bilingual Spanish speaker.

Salary & Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $80,000 to $85,000, depending on experience. New Mexico Wild offers a competitive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance; a 403(b) retirement plan; paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, and parental and family leave; bar dues, CLE, and professional development support; and Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility as a 501(c)(3) employer.

Location: Albuquerque, NM office (hybrid); remote within New Mexico considered.

New Mexico Wild is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, especially those with deep ties to New Mexico’s communities. If you need an accommodation during the application process, please let us know.

ABOUT NEW MEXICO WILD:

The New Mexico Wilderness Alliance (“New Mexico Wild”) was founded in 1997. New Mexico Wild is an independent, grassroots advocacy organization dedicated to conserving New Mexico’s public lands, wild places, waters, and wildlife. With staff, directors of the board, volunteers, and dues-paying members in every corner of the state, we have the local ties, expertise, credibility, political access, and organizing chops to effectively defend and proactively protect our most special public lands. New Mexico Wild has demonstrated success assembling broad coalitions of diverse stakeholders and nurturing local voices to participate and lead place-based conservation efforts and issue advocacy. Our model of collaboration cultivates credible local messengers and provides them with the tools and resources to articulate the values to be protected and creates the political and strategic framework around which successful campaigns are built. We are well positioned to apply our hard-won experience to today’s profoundly challenging political environment to build upon past conservation victories.