Legal Counsel Jobs at State of New Mexico with Visa Sponsorship
Legal Counsel roles at State of New Mexico sit within state government agencies, offering work in regulatory compliance, litigation support, and public policy. The State has demonstrated willingness to sponsor qualified attorneys through work visa programs, making it a viable target for international legal professionals building a U.S. government career.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
THIS POSTING WILL BE USED FOR ONGOING RECRUITMENT AND MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME. APPLICANT LISTS MAY BE SCREENED MORE THAN ONCE.
Interviews will be conducted within two weeks of the first certified list.
The Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC) houses the Office of Guardianship (OOG). As further outlined in NMSA 1978, Section 28-16B-3, OOG is responsible for providing legal and professional adult guardianship services to income-eligible New Mexicans who may be "legally incapacitated" and in need of a guardian, and to family members applying to be appointed as guardian.
OOG services include initial petitions for guardianship appointment as well as maintenance of the office's approximately 1,060 active, ongoing cases. At any time, these cases can require OOG to move for appointment of a successor guardian, for transfer of venue or jurisdiction, or for modification or termination of the guardianship. OOG also appears in court for periodic status conferences and when complaints or grievances are filed by or on behalf of a protected person.
In addition to in-house legal and program staff, OOG contracts with professional guardianship agencies and with vendors who provide petitioning attorney, guardian ad litem, and court visitor services.
Prior to providing legal services for guardianship, OOG staff identify and provide information on alternatives to guardianship and what other least restrictive interventions may be available consistent with the person's health, welfare, and safety, and their civil rights and liberties.
Guardianship is intended to be an option of last resort, and OOG champions a person-centered approach focusing on the rights, preferences, and desires of the person under guardianship.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
OOG's legal team consists of a Legal Director, an Attorney Supervisor, two Staff Attorneys, and a Paralegal.
The Staff Attorney position provides legal, administrative, and program support to OOG. This includes representing OOG in guardianship cases by preparing pleadings; appearing at court hearings; and developing legal and litigation strategies to support and protect the autonomy of New Mexicans with disabilities. Other tasks may include providing outreach and education to community stakeholders; and training, monitoring, and working with legal and professional guardianship service providers.
In addition to already-active cases, OOG constantly receives new applications for legal and professional guardianship services. The agency is on pace to receive approximately 420 new Service Requests for legal and professional guardianship services in FY26, all of which must be evaluated for completion and to determine if the situations are appropriate for guardianship.
The Staff Attorney may assist in reviewing and screening applications to ensure the requests meet statutory requirements, that other less-restrictive alternatives have been explored, and that guardianship would be the least restrictive intervention for the alleged incapacitated person. At the Attorney Supervisor's discretion based on OOG funding and personnel resources, the Staff Attorney may then be assigned as petitioning attorney for any cases approved for guardianship services.
The Staff Attorney will be expected to develop or increase their competency in adult guardianship cases and successfully represent OOG by serving as Petitioning Attorney when needed for successor guardian cases, initial petitions, emergency petitions, termination and modification motions, 10-year review and status hearings, and other miscellaneous matters. When attending hearings and otherwise engaging with legal cases, the Staff Attorney will support the protected person, the guardian, and the Court in ensuring a person-centered approach to guardianships and assist with issues and concerns that arise after a guardian is appointed.
The Staff Attorney may also contribute to the legal team by reviewing applications and by monitoring, training, supporting, and collaborating with attorney and court visitor contractors and professional guardianship service providers. All OOG personnel, including contractors, should use a person-centered approach focusing on the rights, preferences, and desires of the person under guardianship.
The Staff Attorney will provide input for revision of OOG forms and for Attorney Supervisor's establishment of OOG processes and procedures to improve efficiency in application review, case management, work distribution, task documentation, and other systems. The Staff Attorney will implement processes and procedures as established.
The Staff Attorney may be assigned other tasks as delegated by the Attorney Supervisor, including overseeing contractors' work, ensuring deadlines are met, liaising with the courts and clerks, and otherwise providing legal, administrative, and program support. The Staff Attorney may also prepare reports as needed and participate in projects related to DDC generally.
Administrative Coverage: Provide professional front-office support by occasionally covering receptionist duties and managing high-level inquiries as needed.
CUSTOMERS
New Mexicans with disabilities, and their families; mental and healthcare providers; Medicaid and Medicare; other state agencies of New Mexico; and the general public.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law. Must be licensed as an attorney by the Supreme Court of New Mexico or qualified to apply for limited practice license.
EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License. Must possess and maintain a current Defensive Driving Course Certificate from the State of New Mexico or must pass and receive Defensive Driving Course Certification within six (6) months of date of hire as a condition of continued employment.
All Attorney classifications must be and remain licensed as an attorney, in good standing, by the Supreme Court of New Mexico, or licensed as an attorney and in good standing by the highest court of another state and eligible pursuant to the limited license provisions (See Rules 15-301.1 and 15-301.2 NMRA).
WORKING CONDITIONS
Position will be performed primarily in an office setting, with exposure to Visual/Video Display Terminal (VDT), extensive personal computer and telephone usage, and extended periods of sitting. Must be able to work effectively with diverse client population including individuals with physical, cognitive, and psychiatric disabilities and limitations. In-state travel, including occasional overnight travel. Must be able to lift 25 lbs.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Do you know what Total Compensation is? Click here
Agency Contact Information: Shasta Inman 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.
INTRODUCTION
THIS POSTING WILL BE USED FOR ONGOING RECRUITMENT AND MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME. APPLICANT LISTS MAY BE SCREENED MORE THAN ONCE.
Interviews will be conducted within two weeks of the first certified list.
The Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC) houses the Office of Guardianship (OOG). As further outlined in NMSA 1978, Section 28-16B-3, OOG is responsible for providing legal and professional adult guardianship services to income-eligible New Mexicans who may be "legally incapacitated" and in need of a guardian, and to family members applying to be appointed as guardian.
OOG services include initial petitions for guardianship appointment as well as maintenance of the office's approximately 1,060 active, ongoing cases. At any time, these cases can require OOG to move for appointment of a successor guardian, for transfer of venue or jurisdiction, or for modification or termination of the guardianship. OOG also appears in court for periodic status conferences and when complaints or grievances are filed by or on behalf of a protected person.
In addition to in-house legal and program staff, OOG contracts with professional guardianship agencies and with vendors who provide petitioning attorney, guardian ad litem, and court visitor services.
Prior to providing legal services for guardianship, OOG staff identify and provide information on alternatives to guardianship and what other least restrictive interventions may be available consistent with the person's health, welfare, and safety, and their civil rights and liberties.
Guardianship is intended to be an option of last resort, and OOG champions a person-centered approach focusing on the rights, preferences, and desires of the person under guardianship.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
OOG's legal team consists of a Legal Director, an Attorney Supervisor, two Staff Attorneys, and a Paralegal.
The Staff Attorney position provides legal, administrative, and program support to OOG. This includes representing OOG in guardianship cases by preparing pleadings; appearing at court hearings; and developing legal and litigation strategies to support and protect the autonomy of New Mexicans with disabilities. Other tasks may include providing outreach and education to community stakeholders; and training, monitoring, and working with legal and professional guardianship service providers.
In addition to already-active cases, OOG constantly receives new applications for legal and professional guardianship services. The agency is on pace to receive approximately 420 new Service Requests for legal and professional guardianship services in FY26, all of which must be evaluated for completion and to determine if the situations are appropriate for guardianship.
The Staff Attorney may assist in reviewing and screening applications to ensure the requests meet statutory requirements, that other less-restrictive alternatives have been explored, and that guardianship would be the least restrictive intervention for the alleged incapacitated person. At the Attorney Supervisor's discretion based on OOG funding and personnel resources, the Staff Attorney may then be assigned as petitioning attorney for any cases approved for guardianship services.
The Staff Attorney will be expected to develop or increase their competency in adult guardianship cases and successfully represent OOG by serving as Petitioning Attorney when needed for successor guardian cases, initial petitions, emergency petitions, termination and modification motions, 10-year review and status hearings, and other miscellaneous matters. When attending hearings and otherwise engaging with legal cases, the Staff Attorney will support the protected person, the guardian, and the Court in ensuring a person-centered approach to guardianships and assist with issues and concerns that arise after a guardian is appointed.
The Staff Attorney may also contribute to the legal team by reviewing applications and by monitoring, training, supporting, and collaborating with attorney and court visitor contractors and professional guardianship service providers. All OOG personnel, including contractors, should use a person-centered approach focusing on the rights, preferences, and desires of the person under guardianship.
The Staff Attorney will provide input for revision of OOG forms and for Attorney Supervisor's establishment of OOG processes and procedures to improve efficiency in application review, case management, work distribution, task documentation, and other systems. The Staff Attorney will implement processes and procedures as established.
The Staff Attorney may be assigned other tasks as delegated by the Attorney Supervisor, including overseeing contractors' work, ensuring deadlines are met, liaising with the courts and clerks, and otherwise providing legal, administrative, and program support. The Staff Attorney may also prepare reports as needed and participate in projects related to DDC generally.
Administrative Coverage: Provide professional front-office support by occasionally covering receptionist duties and managing high-level inquiries as needed.
CUSTOMERS
New Mexicans with disabilities, and their families; mental and healthcare providers; Medicaid and Medicare; other state agencies of New Mexico; and the general public.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law. Must be licensed as an attorney by the Supreme Court of New Mexico or qualified to apply for limited practice license.
EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License. Must possess and maintain a current Defensive Driving Course Certificate from the State of New Mexico or must pass and receive Defensive Driving Course Certification within six (6) months of date of hire as a condition of continued employment.
All Attorney classifications must be and remain licensed as an attorney, in good standing, by the Supreme Court of New Mexico, or licensed as an attorney and in good standing by the highest court of another state and eligible pursuant to the limited license provisions (See Rules 15-301.1 and 15-301.2 NMRA).
WORKING CONDITIONS
Position will be performed primarily in an office setting, with exposure to Visual/Video Display Terminal (VDT), extensive personal computer and telephone usage, and extended periods of sitting. Must be able to work effectively with diverse client population including individuals with physical, cognitive, and psychiatric disabilities and limitations. In-state travel, including occasional overnight travel. Must be able to lift 25 lbs.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Do you know what Total Compensation is? Click here
Agency Contact Information: Shasta Inman 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.
See all 27+ Legal Counsel at State of New Mexico jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Legal Counsel Jobs at State of New Mexico Jobs
Tailor credentials to New Mexico bar requirements
New Mexico requires active bar admission or eligibility for most in-house Legal Counsel roles. If you're on OPT, confirm your J.D. and bar exam timeline aligns with your work authorization window before applying, since state agencies rarely extend contingency offers pending licensure.
Target agencies with active procurement or litigation units
New Mexico's Department of Finance, Environment Department, and Health Department regularly post Legal Counsel vacancies tied to regulatory enforcement. Agencies with ongoing litigation or federal grant compliance tend to have more consistent hiring cycles and clearer sponsorship precedent than smaller offices.
Flag OPT STEM extension eligibility early
A J.D. from a STEM-designated program doesn't qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, so your initial 12-month OPT window is your primary runway. Communicate your authorization end date to HR at the application stage so the agency can assess whether H-1B sponsorship fits their timeline.
Understand how state H-1B filings differ from private sector
State government employers are cap-exempt for H-1B purposes, which means New Mexico can file your petition outside the April lottery and at any time of year. This removes the biggest bottleneck most H-1B candidates face and makes your timeline more predictable from offer to start date.
Confirm sponsorship intent during the offer stage
State agencies route HR decisions through central human resources offices, not individual hiring managers. Before accepting an offer, confirm in writing that the central HR team has approved visa sponsorship and that the agency has retained outside immigration counsel or has an established USCIS filing process.
Use Migrate Mate to filter Legal Counsel openings
State government Legal Counsel postings close quickly and don't always appear on general job boards. Use Migrate Mate to filter open roles at State of New Mexico by visa sponsorship type, so you're applying to positions where sponsorship is already confirmed rather than cold-calling HR.
Legal Counsel at State of New Mexico jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Legal Counsel at State of New Mexico JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does State of New Mexico sponsor H-1B visas for Legal Counsels?
Yes. State of New Mexico has sponsored H-1B visas for Legal Counsel roles. As a state government employer, New Mexico is cap-exempt, meaning it can file H-1B petitions with USCIS at any point in the year without entering the annual lottery. This is a meaningful advantage for candidates who missed the April H-1B registration window or are transitioning off OPT.
How do I apply for Legal Counsel jobs at State of New Mexico?
Roles are posted through New Mexico's official state jobs portal. Applications typically require a resume, J.D. verification, bar admission status, and a writing sample. You can also browse Legal Counsel openings at State of New Mexico filtered by visa sponsorship eligibility on Migrate Mate, which lets you identify positions where sponsorship has been offered before you apply.
Which visa types are commonly used for Legal Counsel roles at State of New Mexico?
H-1B is the most common work visa for Legal Counsel positions at State of New Mexico, given that the legal specialty occupation standard is well-established for J.D.-holding attorneys. F-1 OPT and CPT are used for candidates still within their student work authorization window, typically recent law school graduates completing practical training before transitioning to an H-1B petition.
What qualifications are expected for Legal Counsel roles at State of New Mexico?
Most Legal Counsel positions require a J.D. from an accredited law school and active admission to the New Mexico State Bar, or eligibility to sit for the bar exam. Relevant experience in administrative law, regulatory compliance, or government litigation is typically preferred. Some senior roles may require prior state or federal agency experience, particularly for positions tied to enforcement or procurement divisions.
How do I navigate the visa sponsorship process once I receive an offer from State of New Mexico?
Once you have a written offer, New Mexico's central HR office coordinates the sponsorship process. For H-1B, your employer files a Labor Condition Application with the DOL before submitting the I-129 petition to USCIS. Because state agencies are cap-exempt, there's no lottery wait. Confirm that HR has immigration counsel in place and clarify whether premium processing is available to shorten the USCIS review period.
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