The City of Albuquerque Legal Department is hiring for various Assistant City Attorney positions. Hybrid in person/remote work schedule available. The Legal Department’s attorneys provide a broad range of legal services to the City and represent it in legal proceedings in court and before state, federal and administrative bodies. Current open positions include:
General Counsel: The City is seeking attorneys to provide a broad range of general counsel legal services to various City departments, boards, commissions, and agencies. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, drafting legal opinions, reviewing and drafting ordinances and executive/administrative instructions, reviewing and drafting contracts, and providing general advice and counsel on day-to-day operations for various Departments throughout the City.
Land Use and Enforcement Division: The City is seeking an attorney to enforce traffic violations and provide general counsel support to various Departments and programs, including, but not limited to, Animal Welfare and automated speed enforcement. The City is also seeking an attorney to handle appeals of land use decisions.
Land Use and Enforcement Division: The City is seeking an attorney to provide legal services to the City’s Planning Department and represent it in its enforcement of the City’s ordinances related to land use, housing and building standards, and nuisance abatement.
Air Quality Attorney: The City is seeking an attorney for the Real Estate and Operations Division. This attorney will serve as general counsel to the City’s Environmental Health Department (“EHD”) regarding Air Quality issues throughout Bernalillo County including at federal and state facilities.
General Counsel to APD: The City is seeking an attorney to advise APD regarding policies, procedures and training, review and negotiate contracts, review uses of force, draft legal opinions, review and draft legislation and administrative instructions. Additional duties may be assigned based on experience.
Utilities/PRC: The City is seeking an attorney to represent it in matters regarding franchise and right of way agreements, public utilities, broadband and telecommunications, and will appear before the Public Regulation Commission (“PRC”).
Labor/Employment Attorney: The City is seeking an attorney to represent it in litigation related to employment and labor law in New Mexico State and Federal Courts, before the City of Albuquerque Personnel Board, and before the City of Albuquerque Labor Board.
Litigation Division: The City is seeking attorneys to join its in house Litigation Division, which defends claims brought against the City.
Attention to detail and strong writing and interpersonal skills are essential. Preferences include: experience with litigation, contract drafting and review, government agencies, government compliance, and policy writing. Salary based upon experience. For more information or to apply please send a resume and writing sample to Angela Aragon at amaragon@cabq.gov.
Three (3)+ years’ experience as licensed attorney; experience with government agencies. Candidates must be an active member of the State Bar of New Mexico in good standing.
City of Albuquerque-Office of the City Attorney
The Alternative Dispute Resolution Office (ADR) offers three diverse programs to promote effective, equitable, and efficient conflict resolution; both within the city government and the greater Albuquerque community. ADR’s primary mission is to diffuse conflict at the earliest possible stage by building stakeholder consensus and avoiding litigation. As a result, the City of Albuquerque has been widely recognized for its’ successful ADR practices. ADR service offerings include the Employee Mediation Program; the Land Use Facilitated Meeting Program; and the Community Mediation Program.
The Compliance Division was established to effectuate the Albuquerque Police Department’s (APD) compliance with court oversight cases and settlements to ensure that APD and the City comply with federal, state, and local laws. The Compliance Division primarily supports the efforts being undertaken by APD to achieve full and effective compliance with the Court Approved Settlement Agreement (CASA) entered into with the United States Department of Justice. The Compliance Division works with APD to craft policies, training, and practices that meet t...he legal requirements of the CASA and build the operational capacity to make APD a national model of Constitutional policing. The Compliance Division also ensures that the City and APD develop policies and practices to effectuate the settlement agreement and court orders in McClendon, et al. v. City of Albuquerque, et al., No. 95 CV 24. The Compliance Division also addresses legal issues and lawsuits involving the interaction of federal immigration law and City immigration policies as they pertain to law enforcement.
The Civil Rights Office (CRO) investigates and advises on discrimination complaints and is dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights, human dignity, equal access and opportunities for all members of the Albuquerque community. CRO informs individuals of their rights in the areas of housing, employment, and public accommodations and supports them following the submission of complaints by conducting investigations, providing processes for resolution, and making referrals as appropriate. CRO also offers non-discrimination technical assistance and training for employers and landlords/tenants. Services are free of charge to individuals impacted by alleged discriminatory acts occurring within the City of Albuquerque.
The Employment and Labor Law Division provides both litigation and general advisory services in areas of employment and labor law to every City department. Litigation services include representation in both New Mexico State and Federal District Courts in the following types of cases: Human Rights Act; Title VII; Whistleblower; the Americans with Disabilities Act; or any other suit dealing primarily with employment or labor issues. This Division also represents the City before the City’s Labor-Management Relations Board and Personnel Board. General assistance and advice are provided to every City department on the following topics: employee disciplinary matters or alleged misconduct; compliance with the Human Rights Act, Title VII, and the Americans with Disabilities Act; compliance with the City’s Labor-Management Relations Ordinance; and any other issue dealing primarily with employment or labor.
The Litigation Division works collaboratively to defend civil rights and tort lawsuits brought against the City of Albuquerque and its employees. The defense of these lawsuits includes discovery and motion practice in preparation for trial and/or settlement facilitation. We also engage in appellate practice where we author extensive briefs and participate in oral argument oftentimes on complex legal issues in defense of our positions on behalf of our clients. In defending each lawsuit, we attempt to tailor discovery questions and motions in such a manner so as to obtain a favorable outcome in the form of a dismissal, defense verdict, or reasonable settlement. Ultimately, our overall goal is to provide the best professional representation on behalf of the City of Albuquerque and its employees before a judge and/or jury.
The Municipal Affairs Division provides a broad range of general counsel legal services to the Mayor’s Office, City Council, and various City departments, boards, commissions, and agencies. The legal services provided by the Division include, but are not limited to, drafting legal opinions, reviewing and drafting ordinances and executive/administrative instructions, reviewing and drafting contracts, providing counsel on Inspection of Public Records Act requests and other open government issues, providing advice on City ordinances and State/Federal statutes and regulations, and providing general advice and counsel on day-to-day operations. The Division’s attorneys have knowledge in a wide area of law, including, contracts, procurement, elections, open government and transparency, public safety, water, utilities, franchises, energy, regulatory, airports, transportation, parks, cultural and library services, solid waste, finance and budget, and environmental.
The Property & Finance Division touches a variety of issues from litigation to contract review to prosecuting petty misdemeanor offenses. We diligently litigate land use, real estate and contractual disputes in all venues ranging from local administrative hearings to the United States Supreme Court. Our proactive attorneys and support staff provide counsel to client departments including Planning, Municipal Development, Animal Welfare, and Treasury, as well as myriad boards and commissions. Our traffic arraignment program handles first appearances for tens of thousands of traffic offenders annually, freeing police officers to spend more time on the streets. Finally, ADAPT cleans up the city’s biggest nuisance properties with a team of code enforcement specialists and attorneys.
