The New Mexico Department of Justice has broad statutory authority over civil legal matters and proceedings involving the state. The Government Counsel and Accountability Bureau provides legal advise to over 100 Boards, Commissions, and Agencies around the State. The Bureau reviews complaints alleging OMA and IPRA violations and brings enforcement actions under state laws for these violations. The Bureau also provides review for other statutorily required AG review of school bonds, TRD abatements and refunds, former employee contract review, and jail agreements. The Bureau’s attorneys are essential in fulfilling the Attorney Generals statutory duty to provide legal advice and representation to various parts of the state government and to help ensure that the government remains accessible, accountable, and transparent across the state.
Responsibilities
More experienced attorneys provide legal services to sophisticated Bureau clients; mentor junior attorneys; take on more complex litigation and enforcement matters; and assist in developing and implementing consistent standards and practices in litigated matters.
How does it get done?
Administrative Appeals and Litigation – Represent public bodies in district and appellate courts in defending administrative decisions appealed under Rules 1-074 and 1-075 NMRA; Represent public bodies in other occasional litigation, including defending extraordinary writs, injunctions, declaratory actions and other matters.
Legislative Affairs – Research and draft fiscal impact reports (FIRs) during legislative sessions; Assist with other legislative or policy needs including reports, recommendations, and presentations.
Review and approval of former employee contracts.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate has strong judgment, excellent written and verbal communication skills, the ability to deal with complex matters that cut across many legal and related areas, leadership skills, the ability to spot and anticipate a wide variety of legal issues and risks, is decisive in strategic approaches to the law, has impeccable ethics and integrity, has a curiosity to learn and become a general legal subject-matter expert, and the ability to independently multi-task in a high volume environment with the possibility of frequent interruptions.
The following are areas of the law the Bureau advises on regularly, and the ideal candidate will have a robust understanding of the following:
Administrative law, including State Rules Act, Uniform Licensing Act, and administrative appeals.
Public Finance, including state procurement, issuance of bonds, purchase agreements, grant funding, tax
Transparency Laws, including OMA, IPRA, Governmental Conduct
Transactional, including Joint Powers Agreements, Memorandums of Understanding, Property Contracts, Services Contracts, and other state contracts review
Ethics and Corruption Laws
Environmental and Natural Resources Laws
Public Safety Laws
Compliance and Risk Management
Senior attorneys will demonstrate an innate ability and experience in, effectively communicating at all levels with a variety of different stake holders, taking on additional duties and responsibilities, the ability to handle more complex matters and assignments, presiding over more complex investigations and litigation, mentoring and inspiring others.
Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law. 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). For more information on limited practice licenses, please visit http://nmexam.org/limited-license/
Application Process
To apply please visit the New Mexico State Personnel Office’s website at the following link: https://careers.share.nm.gov. If you do not have a SPO account, you will be prompted to create one. If you have any questions, please send an email to RecruitingTraining@nmdoj.gov.
