Department Contact: Anna Herrera, faithful@nmsu.edu

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Advertising Summary: New Mexico State University (NMSU) seeks a highly efficient, organized and productive attorney to serve as Associate General Counsel. The selected candidate will report to the General Counsel and work with other university attorneys, outside counsel and university administrators.

The successful candidate will be responsible for timely responding to public records disclosure requests (IPRA), subpoenas, and discovery requests. Additionally, the incumbent will work on state procurement and contracting matters, as well as property, employment and other business transactions.

Other matters may include civil rights, public entity law, academic and student affairs, litigation support, intellectual property, and other higher education issues.

This position requires excellent writing skills, good business judgment, and the ability to work under limited supervision.

NMSU is an equal opportunity employer.

Select the link for the complete job announcement and apply.

Position Details

Position Title: Associate General Counsel

College/Division: President's Office

Department: 480200-UNIVERSITY GENERAL COUNSEL

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate: $115,000 to $120,000 commensurate with qualifications.

Appointment Full-time Equivalency: 1.0

FLSA Status: Exempt

Bargaining Unit Announcement: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Contingent Upon Funding: Not Applicable

Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)

If Not a Standard Work Schedule: 

Job Duties and Responsibilities: The staff attorney in this position provides or assists in the delivery of legal services to organizational units of the institution, under limited supervision. The attorney works directly with other in-house attorneys, outside counsel, and university administrators, providing legal advice and services including compliance advice, document drafting on a broad range of legal issues, including academic and student affairs, athletics, contracts, procurement, litigation support, civil rights, international programs, employment matters an other legal issues in higher education. The attorney will also coordinate the University's responses to discovery, subpoenas, and open records requests. The attorney will maintain and update legal matter records utilizing electronic file management and research systems, including CLIO, Just FOIA, and others.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience: 
Required Education: Juris Doctorate from ABA accredited law school or equivalent accreditation; Required Experience: Five (5) years of professional experience directly related to the standard duties as outlined (with a target of at least five (5) years of higher education legal experience in one or more relevant areas).

Equivalent Qualifications: 
Five years of experience in employment law, insurance defense litigation, intellectual property, and/or complex contracting will be considered.

Preferred Qualifications: 
Higher education, employment law, government contracting, and public records disclosure experience preferred.

Special Certification/Licensure: 
Member of the State Bar or eligibility to apply to obtain approval within six months of hiring.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.

Physical Effort: No or very limited physical effort required.

Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.

Risk: No or very limited exposure to physical risk.