The Habeas Staff Attorney will work within the ACLU of New Mexico Legal Department to investigate, develop, and litigate habeas cases and related legal advocacy, with a particular emphasis on protecting the rights of people in immigration detention. This position will be dedicated primarily to habeas litigation, immigrant rights legal advocacy, and community education work, including serving as the ACLU-NM’s primary point person for coordinating and conducting immigrant rights “Know Your Rights” trainings. This position will also be an integral part of the New Mexico Habeas Project, a collaborative effort to which ACLU-NM contributes alongside immigrant rights organizations and legal service providers across the region.

Approximately 75% of this position’s work is expected to focus on habeas litigation, immigration detention, immigrant rights advocacy, and related community education. The position may also have opportunities to support litigation, legal advocacy, policy advocacy, public education, and integrated advocacy work across ACLU-NM’s primary issue areas, including immigrant rights, criminal legal reform, prison and jail conditions, policing, Indigenous justice, voting rights, reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ equality, privacy, free speech, due process, equal protection, government transparency, and the defense and enforcement of the New Mexico Civil Rights Act.

The Habeas Staff Attorney will work with ACLU-NM legal, policy, communications, and development staff, as well as community partners, coalition members, national ACLU staff, other ACLU affiliates, cooperating attorneys, and directly impacted communities.

This position is offered as a two-year fixed-term role, with the possibility of extension contingent on the availability of additional grant funding. This position does not carry an expectation of permanent employment.

The ACLU of New Mexico is the state affiliate of the ACLU, the nation’s premier civil rights and civil liberties organization. The purpose of ACLU of New Mexico is to protect and advance justice, liberty and equity as guaranteed by the constitutions of New Mexico and the United States. As the largest civil liberties organization in the state with thousands of members, we tirelessly pursue large-scale impact that affects real people's lives. We work to make justice, liberty and equity realities for all people in New Mexico, with particular attention to the rights of people and groups who have historically been disenfranchised. For more information please visit www.aclu-nm.org

The ACLU of New Mexico has offices in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and Santa Fe and maintains a flexible hybrid work environment to best support the needs of our staff and the work. Most employees work from the office an average of 4-12 hours per week.

• Investigate, develop, and litigate habeas cases and related matters involving people in immigration detention, including legal research, factual investigation, client counseling, drafting pleadings and briefs, discovery, motions practice, evidentiary hearings, and oral argument.
• Work with partner organizations to advance the objectives of the New Mexico Habeas Project including recruiting pro bono attorneys, developing training materials, drafting legal research memos, developing guidance and templates for habeas litigation, tracking habeas caselaw, and mentoring pro bono attorneys.
• Identify and develop new litigation and legal advocacy projects to protect the rights of people in immigration detention and to challenge unlawful detention, abusive conditions, due process violations, and other civil rights and civil liberties violations.
• Follow up with individuals who submit complaints to the ACLU of New Mexico or otherwise seek assistance, including conducting interviews, gathering records, drafting affidavits or declarations, and conducting research to determine whether further action by the ACLU of New Mexico is warranted.
• Conduct legal research and draft legal memoranda, pleadings, motions, briefs, amicus briefs, demand letters, public records requests, administrative complaints, public comments, and other written advocacy materials.
• Work with detained individuals, their families, community partners, and advocates in a client-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally humble manner.
• Serve as the ACLU-NM’s primary point person for coordinating and conducting immigrant rights “Know Your Rights” trainings, including developing training materials, working with community partners, and helping train others to conduct these trainings.
• Support legal and policy advocacy related to immigration detention, immigration enforcement, due process, access to counsel, detention conditions, and the rights of immigrant communities in New Mexico.
• Partner with the National ACLU, other ACLU affiliates, allied organizations, community groups, and cooperating attorneys to bring proactive litigation and advocacy.
• Collaborate with and provide legal technical assistance and strategic support to community groups, advocates, and directly impacted communities.
• Work with ACLU-NM policy advocates to support legislative and administrative advocacy, including legal and policy analysis, public comment, testimony, and education for policymakers.
• Act as a public spokesperson in the media and other settings in conjunction with ACLU-NM litigation, legal advocacy, and public education efforts.
• Recruit and work with ACLU-NM volunteer attorneys and cooperating attorneys who are interested in serving as co-counsel or otherwise supporting civil rights litigation and immigrant rights advocacy.
• Recruit and oversee the work of law clerks, interns, and volunteers as needed.
• Coordinate and collaborate with other ACLU-NM departments in carrying out the ACLU’s integrated advocacy approach.
• Assist the Legal Director, Deputy Legal Director, and Senior Immigrant Rights Attorney in the preparation of reports, grant proposals, donor updates, and other materials as needed.
• Contribute to the promotion of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.
• As needed, contribute to fundraising efforts, including donor relations and participation in key events.
• Assist with litigation and advocacy in other ACLU-NM priority issue areas as needed, including immigrant rights, criminal legal reform, prison and jail conditions, policing, Indigenous justice, voting rights, reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ equality, privacy, free speech, due process, equal protection, government transparency, and the New Mexico Civil Rights Act.
• Other duties, special projects, and tasks as assigned.

• J.D. degree and minimum of two years of civil litigation experience preferred. Relevant experience with habeas litigation, immigration detention, immigration law, constitutional law, civil rights litigation, or federal court practice is also preferred, but not required.
• Member of the State Bar of New Mexico or willingness to become admitted to the New Mexico Bar within one year of hire.
• A strong and demonstrated commitment to civil liberties, civil rights, racial justice, immigrant rights, and the mission and goals of the ACLU.
• Commitment to client-driven advocacy and to working with people who are detained, incarcerated, criminalized, or otherwise directly impacted by government systems.
• Commitment to and familiarity with issues affecting immigrant communities, detained people, communities impacted by incarceration and policing, and communities facing racial, economic, and social injustice.
• Ability to file and litigate cases independently and collaboratively; excellent problem-solving skills; ability to juggle multiple ongoing projects and exercise good judgment under stressful situations.
• Excellent legal research, writing, analytical, and oral advocacy skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, including the ability to explain complex legal concepts to lawyers and non-lawyers.
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse communities and cultures, including community partners, directly impacted people, advocates, lawyers, policymakers, and members of the public.
• Leadership and organizational skills in working with volunteer lawyers, cooperating attorneys, law clerks, interns, and coalition partners.
• Ability to take initiative, think strategically, share responsibility and credit, and work independently as well as within a team.
• Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance.
• Awareness of, and willingness to engage in, the difficult and transformative work of challenging systems of oppression, institutional and structural racism, and implicit bias.
• Cultural and social humility in the office with colleagues, in interactions with clients, and with community partners.
• Spanish language proficiency is required.

No one person will have all the qualities enumerated above. We strongly encourage you to apply if you are interested and feel you could be successful in this role.

This is a full-time, exempt position with an annual salary range of $80,578-$109,018 depending on experience. We offer excellent benefits, including employer-paid health, dental and vision insurance for employees; long-term disability and life insurance; 401(k) retirement plan with an employer contribution and match of up to 5.5%; and vacation accrual that starts at 18 days per year in addition to sick leave and family and medical leave.

All applications are confidential. Email your cover letter (two page max) and resume to [email protected] with " Habeas Staff Attorney " in the subject line. Attachments must be in Word or PDF format. Your cover letter should address how you meet the qualifications above and, optionally, how your background could contribute to the diversity of our staff and work.

Resumes without a cover letter will not be accepted.

Equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging are core values of the ACLU and central to our work. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible.
Applications accepted until the position is filled; review begins June 26, 2026.

This description is not comprehensive or contractual. The ACLU of New Mexico may modify it at any time without notice.