Public Benefits Attorney

The New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty seeks a full-time attorney to join our Public Benefits team to address hunger and improve public assistance programs for children and families in New Mexico, including SNAP, TANF, childcare assistance, Medicaid, and other programs. 

NMCLP is a nationally recognized non-profit law firm that engages in systemic advocacy and impact litigation to advance the health, economic, and educational wellbeing of New Mexico’s families. We partner with our communities to provide advocacy and representation through the courts, the legislature and administrative agencies, community education, and media. To learn more about NMCLP, please visit our website at www.nmpovertylaw.org.

We seek an experienced attorney to work with community and family leaders to increase access to income, food, and other basic needs for New Mexicans. Our team engages in policy advocacy and litigation that seeks fairness and equitable access to benefit systems. This includes improving program outreach and application systems, reforming cash assistance programs, and removing barriers impacting immigrant and tribal communities. 

This position will provide policy advocacy including legislative efforts; community outreach and coalition-building; regulatory comments and administrative advocacy; and legal representation and impact litigation. While the position’s primary focus is public benefits, there will be opportunity to advocate on a broad variety of legal and policy issues that are priorities for our communities. The role can be tailored to attorneys with management experience or provide professional development to grow your management skills. 

Roles and Responsibilities: 

• Plan and implement litigation and legal projects, and represent clients to investigate and resolve systemic legal issues.
• Collaborate with other attorneys and/or outside co-counsel.
• Conduct outreach, participate in coalition building, and collaborate with community partners to support community-driven advocacy and systems change.
• Conduct legislative and administrative advocacy campaigns.
• Represent NMCLP in public appearances, meetings, the media, and other situations.
• Provide technical assistance, support, and training to attorneys, direct service providers, and advocates.
• Provide legal analysis, research, and writing concerning existing and proposed laws, regulations, practices, and policies, both for internal and external use.
• Participate in the identification of issues for strategic planning, and reporting and evaluation activities.
• Supervise attorneys, law students, and/or interns as needed. 
• Other responsibilities as required. 

Required: minimum two years of legal experience (7+ years for senior attorneys); passionate about public benefits reform; excellent research, writing, and advocacy skills; ‘no-stone-unturned’ thoroughness and persistence; strong leadership skills and ability to problem-solve creatively; ability to develop expertise in complex regulations and policies; commitment to economic, racial, and gender justice. 

Preferred: Spanish, Indigenous language, or other language fluency; project management experience; experience with litigation, lobbying, legislative, and government processes, budget analysis, media, and coalition building.

Things to know about the job: 

• Full-time (40 hours).

• Hybrid work model, with the primary work location based in Albuquerque NM, requiring some physical presence at the office and attendance at in-person meetings, and occasional in-state and out-of-state travel.

• We are an equal opportunity employer committed to a healthy, collaborative, and inclusive work environment for a diverse staff. We strongly encourage applications from Black, Native, and indigenous people, people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ+, and New Mexicans and individuals of multiple backgrounds and identities.
• We offer a competitive salary and a healthy benefits package: paid vacation, sick, and other leave (13 holidays including Juneteenth, Indigenous People’s Day, and your birthday), paid parental leave, 401k retirement plan, and opportunities for professional development.

• Not sure if you meet all of the qualifications listed?  We recognize that no one person will. If you are interested in this job, we encourage you to apply in confidence by emailing a resume and cover letter that describes what interests you about the mission of NMCLP to contact@nmpovertylaw.org. Position will be open until filled, with first consideration given to applications received by November 8, 2024. 
• If applying for other open attorney positions, please submit one application with both positions named in your cover letter.