Legal Extern Fall 2026

Law Offices Of The Public Defender•Statewide (various locations), NM

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This posting will be used to fill 2 externship openings. The New Mexico Law Offices of the Public Defender (LOPD) offers PAID externships which are available to law students entering their 2L or 3L years. The program is a competitive recruitment program for a compensated fall externship. Law students who participate will benefit from an exceptional legal experience and invaluable exposure to trial work and the ability to work directly with clients. The fall externship program runs from September through December. Externs are offered the opportunity to work directly with attorneys on felony, misdemeanor and juvenile cases. This paid externship will be offered in the following LOPD offices: Alamogordo Albuquerque Aztec Carlsbad Hobbs Las Cruces Roswell Ruidoso Santa Fe Law students are paired with senior attorneys experienced in training new attorneys on court procedures and local practices. Law students are expected to perform complex technical legal work, prepare documents, correspondence, take statements of witness, and assist the senior attorney in preparation of the facts and legal references for use in litigation. The payment for participation in this program will be through a one-time stipend and based on total hours worked (full time/part time status) for minimum of 4 weeks and up to a maximum of 8 weeks. See chart below for the fall externship pay. For more information, g o here ( Download PDF reader).

Requirements

Currently enrolled in Law School.
Must possess and maintain a valid driver's License.
Employment eligibility to work with the Law Offices of the Public Defender (LOPD) in the U.S. is required.
Must have received a passing grade in law school courses aggregating thirty (30) or more semester hours.
Shall be familiar with the Rules of Professional Conduct.
Obtain a certificate from their dean which specifies the time frame the student will be participating in the internship.
Review NMRA Rule 5-110.1 and Rule 1-094.1.

Nice To Haves

Law students entering their 2L or 3L years.
Multilingual applicants fluent in English and other languages.

Responsibilities

Address the judge and speak on behalf of clients by entering their appearance in court hearings, including bond arraignments, conditions of release and motion hearings, trials, and plea and sentencing hearings.
Perform complex technical legal work.
Prepare documents and correspondence.
Take statements of witnesses.
Assist the senior attorney in preparation of the facts and legal references for use in litigation.