Assistant City Planner Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $93,935.71 - $136,743.36 Annually
Location : 700 N. Main St., Las Cruces, NM
Job Type: Full-time Regular
Job Number: F049 07-26 LD
Department: Legal
Opening Date: 07/23/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Nature of Work
Represents the City in municipal court prosecutions, administrative hearings, and appeals in District Court.
Work Situation Factors
Position involves competing demands, performing multiple tasks, working to deadlines, occasional work beyond normal business hours, and responding to customer issues. Regular attendance is an essential function of this job to ensure continuity of services. Position is subject to drug testing in accordance with applicable State and Federal regulations and City of Las Cruces policies.
Environmental Factors
Work is performed in a standard office environment.
Physical Factors
Light physical demands; mostly desk work. Frequent to constant use of a personal computer.
First consideration may be given to current City of Las Cruces employees who fully meet the minimum requirements.
Meeting or exceeding the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation to participate in the process.
First review of applications will take place on August 10, 2026, and periodically thereafter.
This position is graded at RX30.
Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides legal assessments and recommendations; conducts factual and legal analysis to determine whether legal issues should be prosecuted or defended based on the facts of law and evidence.
• Conducts conferences with opposing parties concerning settlement of cases; conducts legal research to gather and compile legal instruments and documents; identifies and evaluates records and other information; prepares and presents legal documents, analyses, and City code revisions as required.
• May assist, or first-chair, federal court litigation, provide legal opinions and briefs, draft policy, prepare and present ordinances to City Council, and assist in legal training of city employees.
• Drafts and revises ordinances, resolutions, and other legal measures; guides and assists other legal staff to provide coaching, counseling, and professional assistance on legal skills and professional responsibilities; assists legal staff in the development of case strategy, legal theories, and other technical issues; assists the City Attorney in other matters as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
Juris Doctor Degree AND three (3) years of experience in a civil law practice; at least one (1) year of public law experience preferred. A combination of education, experience, and training may be applied in accordance with City of Las Cruces policy.
Licenses/Certification(s)
Must be a member of the New Mexico State Bar Association, licensed to practice law in the state of New Mexico, and remain active with all New Mexico Bar annual requirements. Valid driver's license may be required or preferred. If applicable, position requires an acceptable driving record in accordance with City of Las Cruces policy.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of: State of New Mexico criminal and civil statutes, rules, case law, administrative orders, policies and procedures, and applicable Federal rules and regulations; Federal, State and local laws, rules and regulations affecting planning, water and land use, public utilities, community development and leases; legal precedents and court decisions impacting municipal government; court procedures, rules of evidence, protocols and strategies; legal research methods, techniques, sources, databases and other research tools; legal case management procedures and techniques; principles and protocols for the evidentiary gathering of information, documents, financial records and other data that may be used in court and legal hearings; City Attorney's protocols and strategies of negotiation and litigation; principles of the development, refinement and presentation of legal strategies; City ordinances, codes, policies, resolutions, and agreements; business and personal computers, and technical software applications.
Ability to: Analyze, appraise and organize facts, evidence and precedents and to present such materials in a clear and logical form, both verbally and in writing; present oral and written information in a clear and concise manner; effectively present cases in court; establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with public officials, outside agencies, City staff, and other participants in the justice process.
Skills in: Researching and identifying precedence in case law; negotiating agreements; litigating cases in a legal hearing and courtroom setting; reviewing and assessing legal issues and documents; effectively assessing, interpreting and applying criminal and civil laws to information, evidence and other data compiled; utilizing and evaluating electronic legal research and on-line systems; assessing and prioritizing multiple tasks, projects and demands; interpreting technical instructions and analyzing complex variables.
To view a summary of benefits offered by the City of Las Cruces,
01
Are you a current City of Las Cruces employee? (If you fail to include this information under the work experience section of your application, you may be disqualified from the process).

• Yes
• No

02
Do you have the required Juris Doctor degree? (If you fail to include this information under the education section of your application, you may be disqualified from the process.)

• Yes
• No

03
I understand and accept that if my response is "YES" to the question above, I agree to provide proof of the required degree and/or transcript (official or unofficial) if recommended for the position.

• Yes
• No

04
This position requires three (3) years of experience in a civil law practice. Choose the applicable option based on your level of experience. (If you fail to include this information under the Work Experience section of your application, you may be disqualified from the process.)

• Less than three (3) years
• Three (3) to five (5) years
• More than five (5) years

05
Do you have, at a minimum, one (1) year of public law experience? (If you fail to include this information under the work experience section of your application, you may be disqualified from the process.)

• Yes
• No

06
Are you a current member of the New Mexico State Bar Association, licensed to practice law in the state of New Mexico?

• Yes
• No

07
I understand and accept that a valid driver's license may be required or preferred. Do you meet this preference?

• Yes
• No

08
If you answered "yes" to the previous question above, please indicate the type of license, license number, expiration date, any restrictions or endorsements, and the state that issued the license. If none, type N/A.
Required Question