Appellate Technical Legal Editor (U) #10117222-21600, Full-time, At-Will, in Santa Fe, NM

$79,934 - $79,934/Yr

Johnson & Johnson - Santa Fe, NM

Full-time - Entry Level

Santa Fe, NM

Chemical Manufacturing

About the position

The New Mexico Supreme Court is seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Appellate Technical Legal Editor (U) for a full-time, at-will position located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This role is crucial in ensuring the accuracy and technical standards of appellate court dispositions and other legal documents. The Appellate Technical Legal Editor will be responsible for performing thorough technical reviews of appellate court opinions, ensuring that all documents conform to established legal citation standards, grammar, punctuation, and overall readability. The ideal candidate will possess a strong passion for legal writing and editing, along with a solid understanding of legal terminology and citation rules. In this position, the Appellate Technical Legal Editor will engage in a variety of tasks including proofreading, cite checking, and formatting legal documents. The editor will work closely with the legal team to verify the accuracy of information and ensure that all citations are correct according to the New Mexico Appellate Courts Technical Handbook and The Bluebook. Additionally, the role involves conducting legal research using various sources, including electronic databases and case law, to support the editing process. The successful candidate will also be responsible for training and mentoring junior staff, such as law clerks and paralegals, on citation rules and technical reviews. The work environment is primarily office-based, and the Appellate Technical Legal Editor may be required to travel occasionally. The position may also involve working nights, weekends, and holidays as needed. The New Mexico Supreme Court values a collaborative work atmosphere, and the Appellate Technical Legal Editor will be expected to interact positively with colleagues, clients, and members of the judiciary.

Responsibilities

• Perform technical reviews of appellate court dispositions and other legal documents.
• Ensure accuracy, consistency, and conformity with technical standards of appellate court documents.
• Conduct thorough proofreading, cite checking, and formatting of legal documents.
• Check factual and legal citations for accuracy and suggest revisions before publication.
• Perform legal research and technical analysis of opinions, records, decisions, and orders.
• Review cited cases to ensure they support the propositions stated in appellate court dispositions.
• Collaborate with the legal team to ensure the accuracy of all information.
• Act as a source of technical writing and editing expertise.
• Assist in the continuous review and improvement of practices and processes.
• Ensure citations are correct according to the New Mexico Appellate Courts Technical Handbook and The Bluebook.
• Train and mentor staff on citation rules and technical reviews.
• Coordinate the timely processing of documents and manage records and files as assigned.

Requirements

• Exceptional technical writing, editing, and proofreading skills.
• Superior knowledge of grammar, punctuation, spelling, and proper sentence structure.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, and G Suite applications.
• Solid knowledge and understanding of legal terminology.
• Experience reviewing legal opinions, decisions, and related appellate documents.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple writing/editing projects simultaneously.
• Proficiency with common rules and conventions of legal citation.
• Familiarity with court rules, policies, and operations.
• Experience with court case management systems such as Odyssey.
• Excellent legal research skills, including experience using electronic databases such as Westlaw and Lexis.
• Familiarity with legal citation references such as The Bluebook and Black's Law Dictionary.
• Basic understanding of organizational management and conflict resolution.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in a court or legal environment.
• Knowledge of New Mexico state laws and regulations.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both English and Spanish.

Benefits

• Medical/Dental/Vision/Rx insurance programs
• Short and Long Term Disability Insurance
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• State paid life insurance
• Supplemental and dependent life insurance
• Optional flexible spending accounts for medical, day-care, and travel expenses
• Paid time off, up to eight (8) weeks
• Paid time off and retirement buyback
• Eleven (11) paid holidays
• Up to twelve (12) weeks of paid parental leave
• Deferred Compensation 457(b) plan
• Lifetime Defined Benefits Retirement Plan
• Flexible work schedules and alternative work locations
• Free health care, Rx, and lab work at the Stay Well Health Center
• Bilingual compensation
• Training and career development opportunities
• Higher education opportunities, educational leave, and tuition reimbursement
• Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• Potential for overtime holiday or shift differential pay
• Potential for physical fitness leave