Lead Attorney (DOH/OGC#13437)

Posting Details

This is a continuous posting and may close at any time. Applicant lists may be screened more than once.

The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) is the primary public health governmental agency of the state of New Mexico. The Department of Health is composed of various organizational units with different functions and activities. The NMDOH Office of General Counsel is the office of in-house attorneys who represent the agency and advise agency staff in their work. While the main Office of General Counsel is located in Santa Fe, NM there is opportunity to work partly out of the NMDOH offices in Albuquerque, NM.

This Assistant General Counsel position provides dedicated legal support to the Public Health Division's (PHD) Center for Healthy and Safe Communities (CHSC), advising a broad portfolio of public health programs that serve families, communities, and vulnerable populations across New Mexico. This role offers the opportunity to apply legal skills directly to public health practice¿supporting disease prevention, maternal and child health services, WIC operations, harm reduction efforts, and statewide infectious disease programs. The ideal candidate brings strong legal analytical abilities along with interest in public health systems, community-based programs, and the intersection of law, health equity, and population well¿being.

Why does the job exist?

This position serves in the NMDOH Office of General Counsel as one of several attorneys and provides representation for the agency and to ensure CHSC programs operate within state and federal legal frameworks while advancing public health goals, health equity, and service delivery across the state. Because CHSC oversees numerous statewide health programs¿many of which involve clinical services, data collection, federal funding, and community partnerships there is a critical need for dedicated legal support to:

Interpret regulations governing public health practices, service delivery, and funding.

Enable programs to implement evidence based interventions without unnecessary legal barriers.

Support compliance, accountability, and transparency in public health operations.

Assist programs in addressing health disparities and improving outcomes for New Mexico families and communities.

How does it get done?

The Assistant General Counsel achieves this mission by:
Providing legal opinions and recommendations based on legal research and analysis.

Analyzing, drafting, and editing rules, policies, legislative proposals, legal memoranda, and other materials.

Representing the agency in adjudicative hearings, as necessary, and rulemaking proceedings.

Advising program leadership on legal issues related to their operations, including prevention of chronic disease, improvement of maternal and child health, WIC operations, infectious disease control, improving adolescent health, and harm reduction.

Reviewing program policies, operational plans, data-sharing practices, contracts, and partnerships to ensure compliance and mitigate risk.

Supporting rulemaking and legislative work, including statutory interpretation and analysis of bills impacting CHSC programs.

Representing the agency in adjudicative hearings and rulemaking proceedings.

Helping programs implement innovative models of care, public health interventions, and community partnerships within legal boundaries.

Providing training and routine guidance to CHSC staff regarding privacy requirements, reporting obligations, grant conditions, and regulatory standards.

Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams; including epidemiologists, clinicians, nutritionists, community health workers, and administrators;to integrate legal considerations into program design and delivery.

Assisting the General Counsel with other matters as directed.

Who are the customers?

The Assistant General Counsel serves a wide array of internal customers within the Department of Health and CHSC.

Ideal Candidate

The Assistant General Counsel serves a wide array of internal customers within the Department of Health and CHSC.

Minimum Qualification

Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law and two (2) years of experience in the practice of law. Must be licensed as an attorney by the Supreme Court of New Mexico or obtain a limited law license within six (6) months of hire (See Rule 15-304 NMRA). Individuals pursuing the limited law license may not engage in the practice of law until the limited law license has been granted.

Employment Requirements

Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in an office setting with exposure to visual/video display terminal (VDT) and extensive computer and cellular telephone usage. Must be able to lift 25 pounds. Use of state vehicle is required.

Supplemental Information

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Agency Contact Information: Jacob Clark (505) 827-2997 Email

For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.

Bargaining Unit Position

This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.