Senior Attorney-Intake/Reception Program

Position: Senior Attorney—Full Time / Exempt   

Reports To: Immigration Legal Services Director  

 

About NMILC 

The New Mexico Immigrant Law Center (NMILC) is a nonprofit legal services organization dedicated to promoting justice and equity by providing free and low-cost immigration legal services, advocacy, and education to low-income immigrant families in New Mexico. 

Position Summary 

The Senior Attorney – Intake/Reception Team role will serve as the primary legal advisor for NMILC’s intake and reception processes. While not supervising staff, this attorney will provide legal review and guidance on completed intake screenings, ensuring accuracy, identifying legal issues, and determining case eligibility for services. The role ensures that NMILC’s intake assessments are consistent, thorough, and appropriately aligned with immigration law and organizational priorities. This attorney will also provide limited representation to public benefit participants and for housing matters, especially landlord/tenant law. 

This position is well-suited for an experienced attorney who enjoys applying legal expertise in client intake settings and is committed to NMILC’s mission of expanding access to justice. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Review completed intake forms and screenings conducted by intake/reception staff. 

• Provide legal guidance and written recommendations regarding client eligibility, potential immigration relief, and case acceptance, in collaboration with the Intake and Reception Team Manager. 

• Identify emergencies, high-priority cases, and issues requiring immediate attorney attention. 

• Maintain ongoing communication with the Intake/Reception team to clarify findings and ensure accurate client referrals. 

• Develop and maintain intake-related legal guidance materials, including checklists, FAQs, and protocols for common immigration issues, in collaboration with Immigration Legal Services Practice Director. 

• Consult with the Immigration Legal Services Practice Director and managing attorneys on intake criteria, case prioritization, and program trends. 

• Track and analyze intake data to identify emerging patterns in community needs. 

• Provide limited direct services where appropriate, such as one-time legal advice sessions or referrals outside NMILC. 

• Stay informed about changes in immigration law and policy that affect intake evaluations. 

• Participate in team meetings, case roundtables, and professional development opportunities. 

Qualifications 

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school. 

• Active license and good standing with a state bar; admission to the New Mexico bar preferred or ability to waive in. 

• Minimum 4 years of experience working with immigrant community, preferably in nonprofit legal services. 

• Minimum of 6 years demonstrating proven legal expertise or exemplary skills in managing complex legal projects. 

• Knowledge of forms of immigration relief and eligibility criteria. 

• Knowledge of immigrant eligibility to public benefits, especially Medicaid, and knowledge of housing law, especially New Mexico landlord/tenant law. 

• Excellent analytical and communication skills, with the ability to explain legal issues clearly to non-attorneys. 

• Commitment to cultural humility and serving immigrant communities with compassion and respect. 

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) strongly preferred. 
  

Salary and Benefits 

This is a full-time exempt position. Salary is competitive for our field and geographic area and is commensurate with experience. Starting annual salary for the Senior Attorney position is $90,480.  NMILC currently offers a generous benefits package, including:

• 100% of Individual Employee Health, Dental and Vision Premium paid by NMILC for the Base Plan and 50% for dependents. Buy-up health plan also available.
  

• Access to Traditional and Roth 401(K) options and discretionary employer match up to 10% of base salary upon meeting eligibility requirements (determined each fiscal year based on funding projections).
  

• Pre-tax flexible spending account (FSA) for both medical and dependent care.
  

• Employer-paid life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
  

• Employer-paid short and long-term disability insurance.
  

Benefits may be subject to change at any time based on the organization’s budget.

NMILC also recognizes the value of creating an environment of positive work/life balance, acknowledging that investing in staff’s ability to take care of themselves and their families enables them to do their best work. Our paid holiday schedule is exceptional and contributes to each of us enjoying a good work/life balance. The plan currently includes:

• Company-paid federal holidays in addition to 2 weeks of winter break, 1 week for spring break, and 1 week for summer break, and other days as established in coordination with the local public-school schedule.
  

• Three week paid vacation annually;
  

• 1 earned sick leave hour for every 30 hours worked;