City Attorney

City of Las Cruces•Las Cruces, NM

About The Position

The City Attorney is the chief legal advisor to the City Manager and City Council and serves as Director of the Legal Department. The position provides legal opinions and strategy, minimizes risk and liability, manages legal issues, and represents the City in administrative proceedings and legal actions. It directs the Legal Department’s operations, staff, budget, and projects; advises City officials, employees, departments, and agencies; and represents the City in litigation, negotiations, settlements, and other municipal legal proceedings. The work involves competing demands, multiple tasks, deadlines, customer issues, and occasional work beyond normal business hours, including holidays and weekends. Regular attendance is essential. The position is subject to drug testing under applicable state and federal regulations and City policies. Work is primarily in an office, with possible travel to other facilities and locations. Physical demands are light and consist mostly of desk work, with frequent to constant computer use.

Requirements

Juris Doctor degree.
Seven years of experience in government legal practice, including three years of administrative and management experience that includes supervising personnel.
Must be a member of the New Mexico State Bar Association, licensed to practice law in New Mexico, and remain active with all New Mexico Bar annual requirements.
If not licensed in New Mexico at hire, must apply for a Public Employee Limited License under NMRA 15-301.1 and obtain a regular New Mexico bar license within one year of hire; associated costs are the applicant’s responsibility.
Comprehensive knowledge of management and personnel administration; New Mexico criminal and civil law; personnel and labor-management law; legal precedents affecting municipal government; court procedures and evidence; legal research and case management; evidentiary gathering; negotiation and litigation; City ordinances, policies, resolutions, and agreements; and computers and technical software.
Ability to exercise initiative and independent judgment; prioritize and delegate multiple tasks; build effective working relationships; prepare and administer budgets; supervise and lead; communicate effectively; and work effectively with employees, officials, agencies, and the public.
Skills in executive-level decision-making; legal research and precedent identification; negotiation and litigation; reviewing legal issues and documents; applying complex criminal and civil law; using electronic legal research systems; long-range planning and cost-effective resource management; working with labor-union leadership; and analyzing complex variables.
A combination of education, experience, and training may be applied in accordance with City of Las Cruces policy.

Nice To Haves

A valid Class D driver’s license may be required or preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement goals aligned with City strategic plans and objectives; assess strategies, resource requirements, program goals, deliverables, project scope, and priorities.
Plan, organize, coordinate, and direct assigned operations; monitor goals and objectives; evaluate issues and implement solutions that safeguard City operations.
Manage department performance, productivity, services, functions, budgets, and projects, and direct continuous improvement of work products.
Represent the City in administrative hearings and before local, state, and federal courts; review, approve, and negotiate legal matters and resolve issues within City policy guidelines.
Attend City Council meetings to provide legal advice and information and present findings and recommendations.
Advise City officials, employees, departments, and agencies on legal matters; conduct legal research and review issues arising from City policies, resolutions, ordinances, and applicable laws and regulations.
Negotiate agreements on behalf of the City and assess claims and matters involving labor unions, contracts, leases, personnel, finances, personal injury, property, and criminal prosecutions.
Establish legal strategies, identify policy and compliance issues, anticipate problems, and propose solutions.
Conduct factual and legal analysis to determine whether matters should be prosecuted or defended; coordinate conferences and mediation concerning settlements.
Gather and evaluate records and legal instruments; prepare and present reports, legal documents, analyses, and recommendations.
Guide, coach, train, and evaluate professional legal staff; assist with case strategy and legal development; manage department activities and assign cases and projects.
Develop and monitor the department budget, approve expenditures, and review operational analyses of program costs.
Monitor municipal law and risk-management trends; recommend operational, procedural, and policy improvements.
Direct and coordinate multi-jurisdictional issues, manage internal and external resources, and ensure effective communication of issues and strategies.