Staff Attorney - Disaster Relief Project
Northern New Mexico (Santa Fe, Las Vegas or Taos Office)
New Mexico Legal Aid seeks a staff attorney for the Disaster Relief Project in Northern New Mexico.
New Mexico Legal Aid (NMLA) provides civil legal services to low income New Mexicans for a variety of legal issues including domestic violence/family law, consumer protection, housing, and benefits. NMLA has locations throughout the state including Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Gallup, Roswell, Silver City, Clovis, Hobbs, Las Vegas, Taos, and Santa Ana.
For this position, the staff attorney will support the delivery of legal services to low-income New Mexicans in the federally declared disaster areas of Northern New Mexico impacted by the wildfires, flooding, mudflows and straight-line winds that the state faced in 2022.
The attorney will be responsible for handling cases that affect disaster victims such as:
FEMA cases
Bankruptcy
Housing
Interpersonal violence
Predatory scams
Fraud
Conducting an outreach campaign to increase awareness of the availability of free legal services and education;
Collaborating with community organizations to distribute educational materials;
Conducting on-site clinics;
Training of community partners' staff on spotting legal issues;
Creating a referral process for individuals with legal needs;
Working with local courts to create and distribute self-represented litigant materials related to:
Property law;
Small estate probates;
Alternative documentation for disaster claims.
The work will include:
Direct representation.
Advice and counsel
Brief service related to:
Document preparation;
Boundary disputes;
Small estate probates;
Quiet title actions;
Other related legal issues resulting from the disaster.
Experience as practicing attorney;
Experience working with disaster relief legal issues preferred.
Admission to practice in New Mexico required or ability to qualify for a limited license.
Must be willing and able to travel.
Must be able to effectively use computer technology and remote communications systems, including shared on-line workspaces and web meeting and video conferencing software, to effectively collaborate and co-counsel with staff located in multiple offices.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple tasks, manage a caseload and build collaborative relationships within the staff and the community.
Proficiency in Spanish is a plus.
Applicants will be subject to a background search. Please do not let this deter you from applying. NMLA is committed to a strong workforce and recognizes that persons with marks on their record may qualify.
NMLA employees enjoy:
Being unionized;
A great work environment;
Great benefits including generous leave;
Competitive salary.
The position is part of by a collective bargaining agreement. Pay is determined by years of experience and set by a union scale; click here to view the salary scale. NMLA provides comprehensive benefits, holiday and leave packages. For information about NMLA's generous benefits, and what it is like to work at NMLA click here
Applicants must submit a current resume and a cover letter in order to be considered. Your cover letter should explain your interest in this position and the mission of NMLA. Click here to apply. As an alternative, you can email the applicant packet to [email protected].