Limited Practitioner

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

7d•Onsite

About The Position

This position bridges the gap between graduating from law school and passing the bar. It allows the Law Offices of the Public Defender (LOPD) to extend an offer to applicants prior to graduation, providing law students with guaranteed employment after graduation and the LOPD with an employee dedicated to indigent defense. The purpose is to cover the period between law school graduation and being sworn in as a practicing attorney. As a government agency, the LOPD cannot hire individuals as attorneys until they are licensed by a state bar. Individuals offered this position are expected to join the LOPD team shortly after taking the bar exam for extensive training in criminal defense, local rules and practices, and the LOPD's approach to holistic representation. Upon being sworn in and demonstrating expected performance, limited practitioners will transition into a public defender attorney position based on performance and availability.

Requirements

Completion of a minimum of at least two years in an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited 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.
Not able to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.

Nice To Haves

Preference may be given to multilingual applicants fluent in English and other languages.

Responsibilities

Assists attorneys in preparing legal documents, conducting legal research, and handling administrative tasks.
May attend court hearings, trials, and client meetings to provide support to attorneys.
Helps with case preparation, including reviewing discovery, drafting motions, and organizing case files.