Appellate Attorney- Assistant (U) #00032304-21600, Full-Time, At-Will, in Santa Fe, NM

Administrative Office of the Courts

Business Unit: 21600

Appellate Attorney- Assistant (U) #00032304-21600, Full-Time, At-Will, in Santa Fe, NM

# of Positions: 1

Opening Date: 07-18-2025 - Close Date: --

Target Pay Range/Rate: $36.179-$72.358 per hour or $75,252-$150,505 annually

The New Mexico Supreme Court is recruiting for a full-time, at-will, Rules Attorney position #00032304-21600 for the Supreme Court in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

IDEAL CANDIDATE: Come work in the historic Supreme Court Building in Santa Fe, New Mexico! The New Mexico Supreme Court is accepting applications to fill the position of Rules Attorney for the Supreme Court Clerk’s Office. This position provides the opportunity to work closely with a broad array of legal professionals across the state to craft and amend the Supreme Court’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. The Rules Attorney is essential to the rulemaking process of the Supreme Court. Among other duties, the Rules Attorney is primarily responsible for coordinating and staffing the Supreme Court’s standing rules committees, including preparing drafts of new and amended rules, forms, and uniform jury instructions, researching applicable state and federal law, and preparing materials for monthly committee meetings; reviewing petitions for rule change requests and assigning those requests to the appropriate rules committee; collaborating with the New Mexico Compilation Commission on changes to the New Mexico Rules Annotated; preparing memoranda and final rule change proposals for the Supreme Court Justices’ review; and disseminating notice of Supreme Court rulemaking activity via email and publication in the Bar Bulletin. This position requires both excellent interpersonal skills and a particular eye for the details of technical legal writing, including proper citation, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and editing. Experience as a judicial law clerk, service on a Supreme Court committee, or appellate practice experience is preferred.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: Acting under general direction of a Justice or Judge, Chief Appellate Court Clerk, or a supervising appellate attorney provides legal advice, performs legal research and analysis, and makes recommendations to the court.

Examples Of Job Duties

• The Appellate Attorney – Associate (At-Will) is responsible for drafting
  
  

recommendations and proposed dispositions for assigned cases, memorandum opinions,

judgements, orders, and decisions for review.

• Assists the Court with the exercise of its constitutional rulemaking authority and provides
  
  

staff support for the Court’s rulemaking committees, boards, and commissions.

• May screen pro se petitions for jurisdictional and procedural prerequisites.
• May respond to correspondence, e-mails and telephone calls from pro se litigants, inmates,
  
  

attorneys, and members of the public.

• Assists the Court to resolve pending appeals by reviewing motions, docketing statements
  
  

and briefs.

• Drafts calendar recommendations, notices, orders, and opinions.
• May perform review of disposition of Driving While Intoxicated and Domestic Violence
  
  

cases on appeal from Metropolitan Court and reviews cases on appeal from Motor Vehicle

Department license revocation hearings.

• Analyzes briefs, records, and legal authorities cited.
• Assists in providing justices and judges with information and recent opinions to ensure
  
  

compliance with current law.

• May draft memoranda of law, proposed opinions and orders for administrative appeals of
  
  

record and de novo appeals, including addressing complex areas of the law such as water,

oil and gas, taxation, employment and zoning.

• May draft proposed orders addressing petitions for extraordinary writs and motions in civil
  
  

and criminal matters.

• Reviews, analyzes, and edits findings of fact and conclusions of law.
  
  

Evaluates court processes and formulates, recommends and implements policies and

procedures to ensure uniform compliance with statutory and constitutional provisions, case

law and Supreme Court Rules.

• May evaluate proposed rule changes, draft comments and attend trials and hearings.
• Meet with and advise Justices, Judges or other staff on legal matters as they arise in the
  
  

course of court operations.

• May assist management on personnel issues and ensure compliance with applicable
  
  

employment laws, rules, regulations, court and AOC policies and procedures.

• May assist with Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and Invitations to Bid (ITBs).
• May serve on statewide or local committees and provide training at national, state and local
  
  

conferences.

• May assist in tracking, reviewing, analyzing, and advising the court on proposed
  
  

legislation.

• Other duties as assigned.
  
  

COMPETENCIES/QUALIFICATIONS: The successful applicant should demonstrate knowledge of United States and New Mexico constitutions, federal law, New Mexico case law, statutes, rules, policies, and procedures; rules of Criminal and Civil procedures, rules of Appellate Procedure, rules of evidence, the Code of Judicial Conduct, and rules of Professional Conduct. Court jurisdiction and operations; legal research; judiciary processes and policies, administrative, civil and criminal law and procedures. Principles of legal analysis and writing, legal proofreading and editing; court case management systems; supervisory techniques, mediating and managing conflict. Employment law; and conflict resolution principles and techniques. Ability to balance practical and legal considerations, develop procedures, comprehend and explain complex issues and solve problems.

Work Environment And Physical Demands

The following functions are representative, but not all-inclusive of the work environment and physical demands an employee may expect to encounter in performing tasks assigned to this job. Work is performed in an office or court setting. A valid driver's license and travel may be required. The assigned work schedule may include nights, weekends, holidays, and overtime. The employee must regularly interact positively and professionally with co-workers, clients, the public, judges, and justices.

Benefits

• Medical/Dental/Vision/Rx, Short, and Long-Term Disability Insurance Programs, employee assistance program (EAP) [http://www.mybenefitsnm.com/]
• State paid life insurance, supplemental and dependent life insurance
• Optional flexible spending accounts for medical, day-care, and travel expenses
• Paid time off, up to eight (8) weeks accrued annually
• Paid time off and retirement buyback
• Eleven (11) paid holidays annually
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• Deferred Compensation 457(b) plan
• Lifetime Defined Benefits Retirement Plan [http://www.nmpera.org/]
• Flexible work schedules and alternative work locations*
• Free health care, Rx, and lab work at the facility (Stay Well Health Center) in Santa Fe, NM
• Bilingual compensation*
• Training and career development opportunities
• Higher education opportunities, educational leave, and tuition reimbursement
• May qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• May receive overtime holiday or shift differential pay*
• May receive physical fitness leave*
  
  

*These benefits vary by job classification or need*

Qualifications

• Education: Must be a graduate of a law school meeting the standards of accreditation of the American Bar Association; possess and maintain a license to practice law in the State of New Mexico.
• Education Substitution: None
• Experience: Five (5) years of experience in the practice of applicable law, or as a law clerk.
• Experience Substitution: None.
  
  

TO APPLY: Submit a New Mexico Judicial Branch Application for Employment, or a Resume and a Resume Supplemental form, and proof of education to:

Application Forms

Microsoft Word Format

Adobe PDF Format

Resume Supplemental Forms

Microsoft Word Format

Adobe PDF Format New Mexico Supreme Court Attn: Francesca Martinez 237 Don Gaspar Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 Email: supfbm@nmcourts.gov Phone: (505) 946-7296

PROOF OF EDUCATION IS REQUIRED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR EMPLOYMENT.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER