Limited Practitioner

Objectives Summary

Bridge the gap between graduating from law school and passing the bar.

This position allows the LOPD to extend an offer to applicants prior to graduation from law school, which provides a law student the guarantee of employment after graduation and the LOPD the guarantee of an employee dedicated to indigent defense. The purpose of the limited practitioner position is to bridge the time from when a student graduates law school and is sworn in as a practicing attorney. Since the LOPD is a government agency, it is unable to hire an individual as an attorney unless they are sworn and licensed by a state bar. Individuals extended an offer are expected to join the LOPD team soon after taking the bar exam for extensive training on criminal defense, local rules and practices, and the LOPD's approach to providing

holistic representation. Once the limited practitioner is sworn in and performing at the expected level of practice, the limited practitioners will be moved into a public defender attorney position based on demonstrated performance and availability of positions.

Pay Information

Limited Practitioner's are paid $31.98 hourly/$6 6,5 18.00 annual base salary. The typical starting salary for a PD2 position is $37.7415 hourly/$78,502.00 annual base salary.

The position is designed to hire for positions in LOPD offices throughout the state.

Essential Functions

Under the supervision and direction of an assigned licensed attorney a Limited Practitioner is expected to perform some or all of the duties outlined. Assists attorneys in preparing legal documents, conducting legal research, and handling administrative tasks. Limited Practitioners may also attend court hearings, trials, and client meetings to provide support to attorneys. They help with case preparation, including reviewing discovery, drafting motions, and organizing case files. Limited Practitioners are typically third year law students or recent law school graduates gaining practical experience.

Application Deadlines

For a complete job description, click HERE.

We Accept Applications From Fall And Spring Graduates On a Rolling Basis. We Recommend Submitting Applications Based On The Following Deadlines

• Fall graduates submit applications by September 30.
• Spring graduates submit applications by February 28.

Timeline For Interview Process

In-person, zoom or telephonic interviews will be scheduled:

• September and October for fall and spring graduates. Fall graduates are encouraged to submit their applications at the beginning of their 3L year and no later than September 30.
• February and March for spring graduates.
• Interviews may also be scheduled upon receipt of application.

Minimum Qualifications

Completion of a minimum of at least two years in an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school.

Employment Requirements

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. We are not able to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.

Collective Bargaining: This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

Default FLSA: Non-exempt

The Law Offices of the Public Defender is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, spousal affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, political affiliation or religion, mental or physical disability, or serious medical condition.

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

Any students seeking a Limited Practitioner position must submit a full application.

Application Materials Being Requested

• A Current Resume
• A Cover Letter
• Current Transcripts

We encourage all applicants to consider working at any of our LOPD offices. Within the supplemental questions below you will be asked to select the locations/offices in which you are considering employment and ranking them.

The State's General Services Department Risk Management Division, Employee Benefits Bureau (EBB), is responsible for the procurement and oversight of employee benefits - including Medical, Pharmacy, Dental, Vision, Short & Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance. The State's Group Benefits Plan also offers COBRA, Flexible Spending Account Programs, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Erisa Administrative Services, Inc. (Erisa) is the State's Third Party Administrator. They provide benefits administration to all plan participants, and offer knowledgeable staff to answer your questions. To learn more about the benefits available please click here.

Benefits

In addition to the benefits listed above, the Law Offices of The Public Defender offers a retirement plan and a medical program for retirees. For more information regarding the plan you can visit the following websites:

Public Employees Retirement Association of New Mexico Website

New Mexico Retiree Health Care Authority

Total Compensation Package

As an employee of the Law Offices of the Public Defender (LOPD), you receive regular pay for your services. The other part of your total compensation is the value of the benefits LOPD makes available to you and, if applicable, your family. The Total Compensation Estimator is for illustrative purposes only and provides benefits-eligible employees an estimate of their total compensation based on selected options from the drop-downs in the estimator.

• Please click here to download the Total Compensation Estimator on our website, Join Our Team section.

This estimator is not a legal document. All benefits are governed by the actual benefit plans, which have precedence over the information reported in this calculator. Rates are not guaranteed and may change annually based on legislative decisions. If you have any questions about this estimator, don't hesitate to get in touch with Human Resources at Sign in to view email

• State and Federal Laws - Rights of Employees* Employers are required by state and federal law to post certain information concerning the rights of employees. The required posters are listed below and may be printed individually using a standard printer and paper.
• Human Rights Act Poster- PDF file
• New Mexico Job Health and Safety Protection (State OSHA)
• New Mexico Workers' Compensation Act and supply of Notice of Accident (NOA) Forms
• Human Trafficking - (English) (Español) (Navajo)
• Paid Sick Leave - (English) (Español) (Vietnamese) (Diné Navajo) - PDF
• The Whistleblower Protection Act
• Immigrant and Employee Rights Section Right to Work - (English/Español)

New Mexico state minimum wage is $12.00 per hour effective January 1, 2023. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009. More information can be read at Minimum Wages Information.

• Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law - (English), (Español)
• Job Safety and Health Protection - (English), (Español)
• Employee Polygraph Protection Act - (English), (Español)
• Family Medical Leave Act - (English), (Español)
• Pregnant Workers Fairness Act - (English), (Espanol)
• Employee Rights under USERRA - (English), (Español)

Please contact Sign in to view email for questions.

What law school did you attend and what was your graduation date (month/year)? If you are currently attending law school please provide the law school and your anticipated graduation date (month/year)?

If you are currently attending law school what year of Law School are you currently in?

• 1L
• 2L
• 3L
• N/A, I have graduated from law school.

Which LOPD office(s) are you most interested in?

• Alamogordo
• Albuquerque
• Appellate
• Aztec
• Carlsbad
• Hobbs
• Las Cruces
• Roswell
• Ruidoso
• Santa Fe

Provide a ranked list of your preferred location based on the selections you made in the previous question

Are you able to do part time or full time employment?

• Part time
• Full time

Have you previously worked for the State of New Mexico?

• Yes
• No

I understand that I must attach a cover letter, resume and unofficial transcript for my application to be considered.

• I understand
• Required Question