New Mexico Legal Aid (NMLA) provides civil legal services to low-income New Mexicans to promote family and economic stability, helping clients access food, shelter, security, and to preserve their unique cultural heritages. NMLA has locations throughout the state, including Santa Ana Pueblo, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Gallup, Roswell, Silver City, and Taos.
NMLA’s Native American Program (NAP) provides free legal services – both civil and criminal – to eligible low-income Native Americans living on or near the 19 Pueblos and the Mescalero Apache tribe in New Mexico. In addition to cases promoting family and economic stability, NAP prioritizes cases arising because of someone’s status as a Native American, including tribal and Indian law, estate planning involving tribal property, racial discrimination, and tribal criminal court cases. Much of NAP’s caseload is comprised of cases in Pueblo courts.
This position is based onsite at the Pueblo of Isleta and at NAP’s office on Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico.
The Equal Justice Isleta Staff Attorney will be the primary staff person dedicated to serving Pueblo of Isleta members under the Equal Justice Isleta project. The Project provides free legal services to low-income Isleta members on civil legal issues impacting public health, such as matters related to health and safety, income and asset preservation, and other social determinants of health. Isleta Pueblo government departments will refer clients, and the attorney will also serve walk-in clients. Cases may be within the Pueblo of Isleta Tribal Court, other tribal courts, state court, or federal court, and services range from advice to full representation. Beyond individual client services, the Project includes regular community education presentations and clinic-style events and the creation of pro se materials. Additionally, there may be an opportunity to partner with Counsel for the Pueblo of Isleta and other Native American rights firms on systemic impact cases in which the Pueblo also has an interest. The current term of the project is through December 2026, but NMLA and the Pueblo of Isleta are hopeful to extend the project with additional funding.
The Equal Justice Isleta Staff Attorney will receive the same mentorship, supervision, and office equipment as any other NAP Staff Attorney and will participate in weekly case staffing meetings with the rest of the NAP. The Equal Justice Isleta Staff Attorney will be able to connect applicants for services falling outside the scope of the Project to other resources at the NAP, NMLA, and the larger legal community.
Duties: the Equal Justice Isleta Staff Attorney is responsible for the following tasks, under the supervision and direction of the NAP Litigation Managing Attorney and Director:
• Provides legal services, from advice to full representation, to eligible clients under the Project.
• Completes intakes for walk-in applicants.
• Develops community education presentations responsive to the needs of Pueblo of Isleta community members.
• Develops pro se materials responsive to the needs of Pueblo of Isleta community members.
• Hosts monthly clinics at the Isleta Tribal Courts.
• Analyzes Project applicants’ needs to highlight areas where systemic solutions or more dedicated focus would prove valuable.
• Collaborates with NAP staff to resource or serve applicants not eligible under the Project.
Qualifications:
• Understanding of tribal law and federal and state Indian law, particularly in areas handled by NAP case workers, including court procedures;
• Experience – lived or professional – in low-income Native communities, preferably Pueblo communities, is preferred;
• Experience as an attorney, including experience in tribal courts, on matters concerning the unique status of Native persons;
• Admission to practice in New Mexico required; or ability to become licensed to practice in New Mexico within three months of hire and admission to practice in another state’s jurisdiction;
• Ability to work effectively in a diverse team, including adjusting communication for a variety of cultural backgrounds and learning styles;
• Ability to take initiative to identify questions or barriers faced in their work, design and propose solutions, and proactively communicate with colleagues and supervisors who are working out of different offices;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Ability to effectively use computer technology and remote communications systems, including shared on-line workspaces and web meeting and videoconferencing software, to effectively work with staff located in multiple offices;
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, manage a caseload, and build collaborative relationships across different NMLA offices and across Pueblo of Isleta agencies.
NLADA Mutual Insurance Co., RRG
