Carlsbad, NM – City Attorney

Are you an experienced attorney who can safeguard a fast-growing energy hub’s legal interests, guide elected officials, and lead a small but high-impact legal team? If so, apply to become Carlsbad’s next City Attorney!

We are searching for an approachable, solutions-oriented advisor who is:

Versed in municipal or governmental law
Adept at drafting and negotiating complex contracts and ordinances
A confident courtroom advocate and collaborative executive partner

Carlsbad is a dynamic, growing city of 31,999 residents nestled along the Pecos River in southeastern New Mexico’s Permian Basin U.S. Census Bureau. It is located just 25 miles from the Carlsbad Caverns and 140 miles northeast of El Paso.

Carlsbad operates under a Mayor–Council system with a professional City Administrator. The Executive Department’s Legal Division safeguards Carlsbad’s legal and ethical integrity, providing civil counsel, contract review, ordinance drafting, and representation in all judicial and administrative forums. The new City Attorney will report to the City Administrator.

The ideal candidate is an accomplished attorney with local government law experience. A persuasive communicator and ethical advisor, they build consensus across politically diverse stakeholders, translate complex legal concepts into plain English, and balance risk mitigation with pragmatic problem-solving. Calm under pressure, they thrive in the courtroom, council-chamber, and community settings; model transparency and accountability; mentor emerging legal talent; and embrace Carlsbad residency to immerse themselves in community life.

Required qualifications include:

Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school
Minimum 7 years’ legal practice, including 4 years in municipal/government law and 3 years

supervisory experience

Applicants must hold a current law license in good standing and meet the eligibility requirements for admission to the New Mexico Bar through reciprocity or admission on motion pursuant to New Mexico Rules Governing Admission to the Bar
Ability to obtain a New Mexico driver’s license & establish City residency within six months

Preferred qualifications include: