Leadership Criminal Defense Attorney (CDA) - Supervising Attorney or Managing Attorney (3358)
Apply NowCompany: New Mexico Law Offices of the Public Defender
Location: Portales, NM 88130
Description:
Salary : $88,358.40 - $162,468.80 Annually
Location : Clovis/Portales, NM
Job Type: Career Appointment, Full-Time
Job Number: 3358
Unit: 9th District-Curry-Clovis
Division: 9th District-Curry-Clovis
Opening Date: 03/25/2025
Closing Date: 4/20/2025 11:59 PM Mountain
Objectives Summary
The objective summary of this job classification is to direct and supervise a felony unit or an office of the Law Offices of the Public Defender in providing professional level services representing clients.
We are excited to announce a leadership opportunity at the Clovis office, where the chosen candidate will play a pivotal role in representing our clients and overseeing the operations of both the Clovis and Portales offices in southern New Mexico. This position presents a valuable opportunity to contribute to a team of 14 dedicated professionals, including 6 attorneys and 8 core staff members.
Pay Information
***This position qualifies for an additional hourly pay differential of $4.55 hourly / $9,464.00 annually.
Hourly pay differential reflects geographical and retention pay incentives, as applicable to the position advertised.***
The current pay range for Supervising Attorneys is approximately $51.36 - $59.81 per hour.
The current pay range for Managing Attorneys is approximately $62.49 - $65.97 per hour.
Additionally, the role may offer a recruitment and retention bonus between $10,000 and $15,000, depending on the terms and structure of the contract with the LOPD. To learn more about the specifics of this position and gain insights into the vibrant community of Clovis, please visit the provided Your leadership could make a significant impact in our organization!
Our department offers flexible work opportunities, including teleworking (a.k.a. working from home) and work schedules outside the typical 8 am to 5 pm schedule. Applicants selected for a position are encouraged to discuss these options with the hiring manager early in the hiring process to ensure the specifics of any terms and conditions of an approved flexible work arrangement are clearly understood.
Essential Functions
Supervising Attorney:
Other Duties:
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Note: An employee with this classification may be required to perform at a PD4 level or duties of a lower classification without additional compensation. Employee will be required to show competence in all levels PD2 through PD4.
Managing Attorney:
Note: An employee with this classification may be required to perform at a PD5 level or duties of a lower classification without additional compensation. Employee will be required to show competence in all levels PD2 through PD5.
Minimum Qualifications
Supervising Attorney:
Current license as an attorney issued by the New Mexico Supreme Court or eligible for limited license issued by New Mexico Supreme Court and four (4) years criminal law experience as a practicing attorney.
Managing Attorney:
Current license as an attorney issued by the New Mexico Supreme Court or eligible for limited license issued by New Mexico Supreme Court and six (6) years of criminal law experience and/or management experience in a legal environment.
Employment Requirements
Must possess and maintain a valid driver's License.
Collective Bargaining: This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement..
Default FLSA: Exempt
The Law Offices of the Public Defender is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis on race, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, spousal affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, political affiliation or religion, mental or physical disability, or serious medical condition.
This job advertisement may be used to fill multiple vacancies.
Preference may be given to multilingual applicants fluent in English and other languages.
The State's General Services Department Risk Management Division, Employee Benefits Bureau (EBB), is responsible for the procurement and oversight of employee benefits - including Medical, Pharmacy, Dental, Vision, Short & Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance. The State's Group Benefits Plan also offers COBRA, Flexible Spending Account Programs, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Erisa Administrative Services, Inc. (Erisa) is the State's Third Party Administrator. They provide benefits administration to all plan participants, and offer knowledgeable staff to answer your questions. To learn more about the benefits available please
In addition to the benefits listed above, the Law Offices of The Public Defender offers a retirement plan and a medical program for retirees. For more information regarding the plan you can visit the following websites:
Total Compensation Package
As an employee of the Law Offices of the Public Defender (LOPD), you receive regular pay for your services. The other part of your total compensation is the value of the benefits LOPD makes available to you and, if applicable, your family. The Total Compensation Estimator is for illustrative purposes only and provides benefits-eligible employees an estimate of their total compensation based on selected options from the drop-downs in the estimator.
*State and Federal Laws - Rights of Employees*
Employers are required by state and federal law to post certain information concerning the rights of employees. The required posters are listed below and may be printed individually using a standard printer and paper.
New Mexico state minimum wage is $12.00 per hour effective January 1, 2023. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009. More information can be read at
Please contact for questions.
01
Supervising Attorney Q:1Which of the following do you possess:
02
CDA Q:2How many total years of experience as a practicing attorney do you have documented in the Work Experience section of your application?PLEASE NOTE: If the years of experience that you indicate below cannot be found in the Work Experience section of this application, your application may not be eligible for further consideration. It is recommended that you attach documents that support your work experience at this time. If you are attempting to attach documents, but are unable to, you should email lopd-hr@lopdnm.us. with the documents and your contact information. Or, if selected for an interview, you should bring the documents to your interview.
03
CDA Q:3
Please provide licensure details below for all states in which you are licensed or have been licensed to practice law including license number, location issued, expiration date and status.PLEASE NOTE: if this information is not provided, your application may not be recognized as being qualified for this position. It is recommended that you attach documents that support your licensure details (as requested above) at this time. If you are attempting to attach the documents to support the details of your licensure, but are unable to, you should email lopd-hr@lopdnm.us with the attachments and your contact information. Or, if selected for an interview, you should bring the documents to your interview.
04
CDA Q:4
How many total years of experience in Criminal Litigation experience do you have documented in the Work Experience section of your application?PLEASE NOTE: If the years of experience that you indicate below cannot be found in the Work Experience section of this application, your application may not be eligible for further consideration. It is recommended that you attach documents that support your work experience at this time. If you are attempting to attach documents, but are unable to, you should email lopd-hr@lopdnm.us. with the documents and your contact information. Or, if selected for an interview, you should bring the documents to your interview.
05
PD5 Q:5
Have you completed a minimum of ten (10) felony level jury trials to include at least one (1) serious violent offense jury trial?
06
Supervising Attorney How many years of supervisory and/or management experience do you have? Please ensure that this experience is clearly indicated in the Work Experience section of your application. If you are attempting to attach documents, but are unable to, you should email lopd-jobs@lopdnm.us., with the documents and your contact information. Or if selected for an interview, you should bring the documents to your interview.
07
Management
Do you have experience managing a law office?
08
Briefly describe when and how you obtained this experience. Please note if you answered "No" to the previous question, type "n/a" as your response to this question.
09
Managing Attorney
Do you have experience as an attorney manager including supervising other attorneys?
10
SVO
How many years of experience do you possess as an attorney manager including supervising other attorneys?
11
Briefly describe when and how you obtained this experience. Please note if you answered "No" to the previous question, type "n/a" as your response to this question.
12
Management
Do you have experience supervising support staff in a law firm either private or in a public setting?
13
Managing Attorney
Do you have experience developing program policies and procedures?
14
Briefly describe when and how you obtained this experience. Please note if you answered "No" to the previous question, type "n/a" as your response to this question.
15
CDA Q:9
Do you have experience working with marginalized populations such as indigent individuals, immigrants, and those living in homelessness or with mental health and/or substance abuse issues?
16
Briefly describe when and how you obtained this experience. Please note if you answered "No" to the previous question, type "n/a" as your response to this question.
17
CDA Q:13 For current State of New Mexico employees: I understand that the Law Offices of the Public Defender will only accept up to 40 hours of annual leave and all sick leave. Furthermore, upon transfer, I will begin a new probationary period regardless of a break in service from my current state agency.
18
CDA Q:14
I understand that my response to the question regarding years of experience as a practicing attorney will be confirmed. I have included my related work experience in the Work Experience Section of my application with a detailed description of my related duties. If I am attempting to attach documents, but unable to, I should email lopd-hr@lopdnm.us. with the documents and my contact information. Or if selected for an interview, I may bring the documents to my interview.
Required Question
Location : Clovis/Portales, NM
Job Type: Career Appointment, Full-Time
Job Number: 3358
Unit: 9th District-Curry-Clovis
Division: 9th District-Curry-Clovis
Opening Date: 03/25/2025
Closing Date: 4/20/2025 11:59 PM Mountain
Objectives Summary
The objective summary of this job classification is to direct and supervise a felony unit or an office of the Law Offices of the Public Defender in providing professional level services representing clients.
We are excited to announce a leadership opportunity at the Clovis office, where the chosen candidate will play a pivotal role in representing our clients and overseeing the operations of both the Clovis and Portales offices in southern New Mexico. This position presents a valuable opportunity to contribute to a team of 14 dedicated professionals, including 6 attorneys and 8 core staff members.
Pay Information
***This position qualifies for an additional hourly pay differential of $4.55 hourly / $9,464.00 annually.
Hourly pay differential reflects geographical and retention pay incentives, as applicable to the position advertised.***
The current pay range for Supervising Attorneys is approximately $51.36 - $59.81 per hour.
The current pay range for Managing Attorneys is approximately $62.49 - $65.97 per hour.
Additionally, the role may offer a recruitment and retention bonus between $10,000 and $15,000, depending on the terms and structure of the contract with the LOPD. To learn more about the specifics of this position and gain insights into the vibrant community of Clovis, please visit the provided Your leadership could make a significant impact in our organization!
Our department offers flexible work opportunities, including teleworking (a.k.a. working from home) and work schedules outside the typical 8 am to 5 pm schedule. Applicants selected for a position are encouraged to discuss these options with the hiring manager early in the hiring process to ensure the specifics of any terms and conditions of an approved flexible work arrangement are clearly understood.
Essential Functions
Supervising Attorney:
- Positions at this level provide supervision to attorneys at lower levels and conduct in-house training for attorneys.
- May oversee workflow and work assignments of subordinate staff.
- Maintain adequate staffing levels by closely reviewing all requests for leave.
- Provides guidance and mentoring to lower levels Attorneys and Law Clerks.
- Provide corrective action and/or directives when necessary to include but not limited to progressive disciplinary action.
- Provide reports and updates to management
- Assist in hiring new employees for the division or unit.
- Provide input to the performance review and development of attorneys at lower levels
- Incumbents in position at this level are recognized as an expert in one or more areas of criminal law.
- Positions at this level handle a variety of cases including second-degree felony cases such as violent crimes, burglaries, drug crimes, property crimes and probation violations with limited supervision.
- May handle more complex level felonies, or first-degree cases with some guidance/direction from a higher-level attorney/managing attorney.
- Works independently and is able to recognize and resolve complex issues related to the caseload.
- Will attend seminars, training classes and review current professional literature to maintain and develop professional skills and knowledge.
- Drafts/reviews, proposes and prepares reports and legal documents.
- Performs related and other duties as assigned.
Other Duties:
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Note: An employee with this classification may be required to perform at a PD4 level or duties of a lower classification without additional compensation. Employee will be required to show competence in all levels PD2 through PD4.
Managing Attorney:
- Manage attorneys in a unit or manage a legal program
- Manages, trains, develops, mentors and conducts performance evaluations of assigned attorney resources.
- Manages financial resources of the unit.
- Provides key input into the development of policies and procedures for the assigned organization unit and/or program.
- Oversees workflow and work assignments.
- Maintain adequate staffing levels by closely reviewing all requests for leave, and requesting posting of vacant positions through executive management.
- Provides key input into the development of policies and procedures for the assigned organization unit and/or program.
- Provide input to the performance review and development of Attorneys at lower levels
- Provide corrective action and or directives when necessary to include but not limited to progressive disciplinary action.
- Conducts legal research/analysis of laws, precedents, legal issues, procedural rules, in preparation of cases.
- Reviews and investigates client cases to determine legal position and propose legal strategy.
- Prepares for litigation and appeal through initiation of legal documents, review of case information, obtaining evidence, conducting interviews, preparation of witnesses to testify.
- Researches changes in laws, legislation, rules court decisions, case precedents, to determine/ anticipate legal problems and propose resolutions.
- Counsels and advises clients on cases such as pleadings, arraignments, trials, appeals.
- Explains, interprets and keeps client informed on changes in law, court decisions, legal issues and problems.
- Attends seminars, training classes and reviews current professional literature to maintain and develop professional skill and knowledge.
- Conducts plea bargaining with District Attorneys and other parties to establish agreements to resolve cases.
- Depending on location: may assist with (CLIP) program or coordinate volunteer/intern/extern programs.
Note: An employee with this classification may be required to perform at a PD5 level or duties of a lower classification without additional compensation. Employee will be required to show competence in all levels PD2 through PD5.
Minimum Qualifications
Supervising Attorney:
Current license as an attorney issued by the New Mexico Supreme Court or eligible for limited license issued by New Mexico Supreme Court and four (4) years criminal law experience as a practicing attorney.
Managing Attorney:
Current license as an attorney issued by the New Mexico Supreme Court or eligible for limited license issued by New Mexico Supreme Court and six (6) years of criminal law experience and/or management experience in a legal environment.
Employment Requirements
Must possess and maintain a valid driver's License.
Collective Bargaining: This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement..
Default FLSA: Exempt
The Law Offices of the Public Defender is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis on race, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, spousal affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, political affiliation or religion, mental or physical disability, or serious medical condition.
This job advertisement may be used to fill multiple vacancies.
Preference may be given to multilingual applicants fluent in English and other languages.
The State's General Services Department Risk Management Division, Employee Benefits Bureau (EBB), is responsible for the procurement and oversight of employee benefits - including Medical, Pharmacy, Dental, Vision, Short & Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance. The State's Group Benefits Plan also offers COBRA, Flexible Spending Account Programs, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Erisa Administrative Services, Inc. (Erisa) is the State's Third Party Administrator. They provide benefits administration to all plan participants, and offer knowledgeable staff to answer your questions. To learn more about the benefits available please
In addition to the benefits listed above, the Law Offices of The Public Defender offers a retirement plan and a medical program for retirees. For more information regarding the plan you can visit the following websites:
Total Compensation Package
As an employee of the Law Offices of the Public Defender (LOPD), you receive regular pay for your services. The other part of your total compensation is the value of the benefits LOPD makes available to you and, if applicable, your family. The Total Compensation Estimator is for illustrative purposes only and provides benefits-eligible employees an estimate of their total compensation based on selected options from the drop-downs in the estimator.
- Please to download the Total Compensation Estimator on our , Join Our Team section.
*State and Federal Laws - Rights of Employees*
Employers are required by state and federal law to post certain information concerning the rights of employees. The required posters are listed below and may be printed individually using a standard printer and paper.
- - PDF file
- Human Trafficking - () () ()
- Paid Sick Leave - () () ()
New Mexico state minimum wage is $12.00 per hour effective January 1, 2023. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009. More information can be read at
- Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law - ),
- Job Safety and Health Protection - (,
- Employee Polygraph Protection Act - ,
- Family Medical Leave Act - ,
- Pregnant Workers Fairness Act - ,
- Employee Rights under USERRA -
Please contact for questions.
01
Supervising Attorney Q:1Which of the following do you possess:
- Current licensure as an attorney by the Supreme Court of New Mexico and at least four (4) years of experience as a practicing attorney.
- Current license in good standing from another state and eligible to apply for public employee limited license pursuant to Rule 15-304 NMRA and at least four (4) years of experience as a practicing attorney.
- None of the above
02
CDA Q:2How many total years of experience as a practicing attorney do you have documented in the Work Experience section of your application?PLEASE NOTE: If the years of experience that you indicate below cannot be found in the Work Experience section of this application, your application may not be eligible for further consideration. It is recommended that you attach documents that support your work experience at this time. If you are attempting to attach documents, but are unable to, you should email lopd-hr@lopdnm.us. with the documents and your contact information. Or, if selected for an interview, you should bring the documents to your interview.
- 15+ years of experience
- 14 years of experience
- 13 years of experience
- 12 years of experience
- 11 years of experience
- 10 years of experience
- 9 years of experience
- 8 years of experience
- 7 years of experience
- 6 years of experience
- 5 years of experience
- 4 years of experience
- 3 years of experience
- 2 years of experience
- 1 year of experience
- Less than 1 year of experience
- None
03
CDA Q:3
Please provide licensure details below for all states in which you are licensed or have been licensed to practice law including license number, location issued, expiration date and status.PLEASE NOTE: if this information is not provided, your application may not be recognized as being qualified for this position. It is recommended that you attach documents that support your licensure details (as requested above) at this time. If you are attempting to attach the documents to support the details of your licensure, but are unable to, you should email lopd-hr@lopdnm.us with the attachments and your contact information. Or, if selected for an interview, you should bring the documents to your interview.
04
CDA Q:4
How many total years of experience in Criminal Litigation experience do you have documented in the Work Experience section of your application?PLEASE NOTE: If the years of experience that you indicate below cannot be found in the Work Experience section of this application, your application may not be eligible for further consideration. It is recommended that you attach documents that support your work experience at this time. If you are attempting to attach documents, but are unable to, you should email lopd-hr@lopdnm.us. with the documents and your contact information. Or, if selected for an interview, you should bring the documents to your interview.
- 15+ years of experience
- 14 years of experience
- 13 years of experience
- 12 years of experience
- 11 years of experience
- 10 years of experience
- 9 years of experience
- 8 years of experience
- 7 years of experience
- 6 years of experience
- 5 years of experience
- 4 years of experience
- 3 years of experience
- 2 years of experience
- 1 year of experience
- Less than 1 year of experience
- None
05
PD5 Q:5
Have you completed a minimum of ten (10) felony level jury trials to include at least one (1) serious violent offense jury trial?
- Yes
- No
06
Supervising Attorney How many years of supervisory and/or management experience do you have? Please ensure that this experience is clearly indicated in the Work Experience section of your application. If you are attempting to attach documents, but are unable to, you should email lopd-jobs@lopdnm.us., with the documents and your contact information. Or if selected for an interview, you should bring the documents to your interview.
- None
- Less than Two (2) years
- Two (2) to Five (5) years
- Five (5) to Eight (8) years
- Eight (8) to Ten (10) years
- Ten (10) or more years
07
Management
Do you have experience managing a law office?
- Yes
- No
08
Briefly describe when and how you obtained this experience. Please note if you answered "No" to the previous question, type "n/a" as your response to this question.
09
Managing Attorney
Do you have experience as an attorney manager including supervising other attorneys?
- Yes
- No
10
SVO
How many years of experience do you possess as an attorney manager including supervising other attorneys?
- Thirty one or more years (31+)
- Twenty to thirty years (20-30)
- Fifteen to twenty years (15-20)
- Ten to fifteen years (10-15)
- Five to ten years (5-10)
- One to five years (1-5)
- Zero years
11
Briefly describe when and how you obtained this experience. Please note if you answered "No" to the previous question, type "n/a" as your response to this question.
12
Management
Do you have experience supervising support staff in a law firm either private or in a public setting?
- Yes
- No
13
Managing Attorney
Do you have experience developing program policies and procedures?
- Yes
- No
14
Briefly describe when and how you obtained this experience. Please note if you answered "No" to the previous question, type "n/a" as your response to this question.
15
CDA Q:9
Do you have experience working with marginalized populations such as indigent individuals, immigrants, and those living in homelessness or with mental health and/or substance abuse issues?
- Yes
- No
16
Briefly describe when and how you obtained this experience. Please note if you answered "No" to the previous question, type "n/a" as your response to this question.
17
CDA Q:13 For current State of New Mexico employees: I understand that the Law Offices of the Public Defender will only accept up to 40 hours of annual leave and all sick leave. Furthermore, upon transfer, I will begin a new probationary period regardless of a break in service from my current state agency.
- I Understand
18
CDA Q:14
I understand that my response to the question regarding years of experience as a practicing attorney will be confirmed. I have included my related work experience in the Work Experience Section of my application with a detailed description of my related duties. If I am attempting to attach documents, but unable to, I should email lopd-hr@lopdnm.us. with the documents and my contact information. Or if selected for an interview, I may bring the documents to my interview.
- I Understand
Required Question