Social Worker

Salary : $60,091.20 - $107,972.80 Annually
Location : Carlsbad, NM
Job Type: Career Appointment, Full-Time
Job Number: 10117147
Unit: Social Worker Program
Division: Social Workers Program
Opening Date: 09/15/2026
Closing Date: 10/18/2026 11:59 PM Mountain


Objectives Summary
The Law Offices of the Public Defender(LOPD) is recruiting a Social Worker to work in Carlsbad.

LOPD Social Workers ensure the delivery of defense oriented services throughout the state in support of a criminal defense team by developing plans for addressing client life situations that, if mitigated, may increase the opportunities to improve their lives. Provide alternatives to incarceration and sentencing through the criminal justice system.
***This position qualifies for a geographical pay differential of $4.00 hourly/$8,320.00 annually ***
Our organization and mission:

As the state's largest law firm, the Law Offices of the Public Defender represents low-income people facing criminal charges in New Mexico. With dedicated teams of attorneys, social workers, investigators, paralegals, and office support, we guard individuals from injustice and work to address the underlying issues that bring clients into the criminal court system. In addition to representing individuals in criminal cases, we also advocate in our state legislature to protect the constitutional rights of all New Mexicans.
For more information about living in Carlsbad, New Mexico, click here.
Be the Difference Beyond the Courtroom - Are you interested in helping support clients through resource coordination, alternative sentencing plans, and compassionate advocacy as a team member of the Law Offices of the Public Defender's Social Work Unit? This Social Worker position could be for you!
Primary Functions:

LOPD Social Workers ensure the delivery of defense-oriented services throughout the state in support of a criminal defense team by developing plans for addressing a client's life situation that, if mitigated, may increase the opportunities to improve their lives. Provide alternatives to incarceration and sentencing through the criminal legal system.
Essential Functions

Click HERE to review a complete job description and the essential functions of this classification.

This classification may be required to report to a judicial partner's building or office. Which may include Courthouses, District Attorney Offices, Detention Centers and/or Correctional Facilities. To perform the essential functions an incumbent in this classification may be required to successfully complete a 3rd party background check conducted by a judicial partner. Knowledge of:
• Utilizing computer technology used for communication, data gathering and reporting; including the ability to work with databases and case management software
• Attention to detail and organization skills
• Ability to perform well under the pressure, have excellent time management and effective prioritization; of multiple deadlines;
• All Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point); automated spreadsheets, and databases in a Windows environment, and other standard office equipment.
• Critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze complex information
• Excellent verbal communication skills, including listening skills
• Proficiency in writing, editing, and proofreading; including coherence, grammar, punctuation, structure, spelling, tone, clarity, and organization.
• Trauma informed and responsive practices;
• Understanding of the dynamics of substance abuse, mental health issues, homelessness, interpersonal violence, and the impact on family and child development to develop service plans;
• Basic Understanding of American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria and its application to making appropriate referrals for clients to programs and services;
• Understanding of DSM-5 classification of mental health symptoms and diagnosis;
• Conducting and preparing competency screening reports to identify potential competency issues of the client and if further mental health forensic evaluation is needed;
• Conducting psychosocial assessment of clients assigned by attorneys to assist in plea negotiations, mitigating sentencing, and determining service needs. Provide pertinent information to attorney including treatment and service recommendations;
• Demonstrated understanding of the impacts of disenfranchisement and marginalization (race, class, gender and gender identity, ability-including mental health, sexual orientation) of individuals caught in the criminal legal system;
• Knowledge of local and statewide resources and services that will benefit clients specifically, substance use, mental health, housing;
• NASW Code of Ethics and its application to forensic social work;
Skills We Seek:
Analytical
• Perform advanced or specialized work that requires independence in the interpretation of policies, procedures, and the exercise of judgement in decision making.
• Analyzing processes and making recommendations for improvement;
• Analyzing the applicability of emerging trends and/or services to the Social Work Unit;
• Critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze and assess complex information;
• Identifying therapeutic, educational, vocational, social, and other resources to meet client, family, community, and justice system needs;


Planning
• Coordinating activities with other internal departments and/or external organizations;
• Preparing a variety of reports related to operational activities, including statistical analysis;
• Planning and implementing program components;

Relationships
• Ability to interface with all individuals in a courteous and respectful manner, and project positive support of all agency departments at all times;
• Maintaining confidentiality and professionalism;
• Working effectively with diverse academic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds of the LOPD and criminal legal partners staff;
• Public Speaking
• Interview skills

Self-Management
• Working alone or with others with or without explicit directions, and without close supervision
• Organizing and prioritizing multiple work assignments, from more than one manager, and with competing deadlines, and producing quality work
• Integrity; Motivation; Strong work ethic; Emotional Intelligence;
• Flexibility and ability to change plans with little notice
• Tracking clients progress until completion of the case
B enefits We Offer:

The Law Offices of the Public Defender offers a competitive benefits package that includes PERA retirement with employer contributions effective your first day, sick and annual leave accruals, 11 paid holidays, paid Bereavement Leave, flexible schedules which includes the option of teleworking and so much more! To see all benefits offered by the State of New Mexico, .
After successfully completing a one year probationary period our department offers flexible work opportunities, including teleworking (a.k.a. working from home) and work schedules outside the typical 8 am to 5 pm schedule. Applicants selected for a position are encouraged to discuss these options with the hiring manager early in the hiring process to ensure the specifics of any terms and conditions of an approved flexible work arrangement are clearly understood.

Employees who complete their probationary period are eligible for two hours of paid Wellness Leave every week and 12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave.

Minimum Qualifications
• Bachelor's Degree in psychology, criminal justice, or social work and four (4) years' experience in mental health and/or substance abuse counseling and treatment, or equivalent.
• Must be in good standing and have a current License to practice Social Work in New Mexico. Provisional license must be converted to full licensure with six (6) months of hire.
• Must have a driver's license and be able to certify in Defensive Driving.
• Must maintain professional social work license in good standing and renew bi-annually with the New Mexico Social Work Board of Licensing and Regulation;
Employment Requirements


Social work license is required by the Law Offices of The Public Defender.

Must possess and maintain a valid driver's License.

Employment eligibility to work with the Law Offices of the Public Defender (LOPD) in the U.S. is required. We are not able to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.

Collective Bargaining: This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement and all terms/conditions of that agreement apply and must be adhered to.

Default FLSA: Exempt (including Managers/Supervisors, Executive, Administrative, Professional Exempt Status) : In accordance with DOL FLSA and LOPD NMAC and LOPD's Compensation Agreement that is signed upon hire during onboarding, classifications identified as Exempt may be compensated for all authorized hours worked over 80 hours in a pay period. These classifications are eligible for compensatory time (paid time off accrued) at an even (1:1) rate if they request to work extra hours in advance and get approval from their supervisor. These classifications are not eligible for cash payments for extra hours worked. Compensatory time may be paid-out upon leaving the department depending on budget availability.


Geographic Pay Differential: This position may qualify for Geographic Pay Differential. Please refer to the , Geographic Differential, for more information.

The Law Offices of the Public Defender is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis on race, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, spousal affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, political affiliation or religion, mental or physical disability, or serious medical condition.

Preference may be given to multilingual applicants fluent in English and other languages.
The State's General Services Department Risk Management Division, Employee Benefits Bureau (EBB), is responsible for the procurement and oversight of employee benefits - including Medical, Pharmacy, Dental, Vision, Short & Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance. The State's Group Benefits Plan also offers COBRA, Flexible Spending Account Programs, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Erisa Administrative Services, Inc. (Erisa) is the State's Third Party Administrator. They provide benefits administration to all plan participants, and offer knowledgeable staff to answer your questions. To learn more about the benefits available please


In addition to the benefits listed above, the Law Offices of The Public Defender offers a retirement plan and a medical program for retirees. For more information regarding the plan you can visit the following websites:
Total Compensation Package


As an employee of the Law Offices of the Public Defender (LOPD), you receive regular pay for your services. The other part of your total compensation is the value of the benefits LOPD makes available to you and, if applicable, your family. The Total Compensation Estimator is for illustrative purposes only and provides benefits-eligible employees an estimate of their total compensation based on selected options from the drop-downs in the estimator.

• Please to download the Total Compensation Estimator on our , Join Our Team section.

This estimator is not a legal document. All benefits are governed by the actual benefit plans, which have precedence over the information reported in this calculator. Rates are not guaranteed and may change annually based on legislative decisions. If you have any questions about this estimator, don't hesitate to get in touch with Human Resources at
*State and Federal Laws - Rights of Employees*
Employers are required by state and federal law to post certain information concerning the rights of employees. The required posters are listed below and may be printed individually using a standard printer and paper.

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New Mexico state minimum wage is $12.00 per hour effective January 1, 2023. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009. More information can be read at

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Please contact for questions.
01


Please indicate the highest level of education you have completed. If you have responded that you have an education higher than a high school diploma or GED, you must attach a copy of your official/unofficial transcript(s) that clearly state the type of degree and date awarded/conferred, institution name, and applicant name and is in a format that cannot be modified.

• Doctorate
• Master's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Associates Degree or Technical/Vocational Certificate
• High School Diploma or GED
• Less than a High School Diploma or GED

02


How many total years of experience do you have documented in the Work Experience section of your application related to this Job Classification?Please NOTE: If the years of experience that you indicate below cannot be found in the Work Experience section of this application, your application may not be eligible for further consideration. It is recommended that you attach documents that support your work experience at this time. If you are attempting to attach documents, but are unable to, you should email View email address on click.appcast.io, with the documents and your contact information. Or if selected for an interview, you should bring the documents to your interview.

• 10 years of experience
• 9 years of experience
• 8 years of experience
• 7 years of experience
• 6 years of experience
• 5 years of experience
• 4 years of experience
• 3 years of experience
• 2years of experience
• 1 year of experience
• 6 Months
• 3 Months
• None

03


Social Worker
Which of the following do you possess:

• Currently licenced at the Master's level or higher
• Currently licensed at the Bachelor's level
• Eligible to apply for licensure which requires graduation from an accredited Social Work program
• None of the above

04


Social Worker
Please provide licensure details below for ALL STATES in which you are licensed to practice including: License number, location issued, and expiration date. PLEASE NOTE if this information is not provided, your application may not be recognized as being qualified for this position. It is recommended that you attach documents/information that supports your licensure details (as requested above) at this time. If you are attempting to attach the documents to support the details of your licensure, but are unable to, you should email View email address on click.appcast.io, with the attachments and your contact information. Or if selected for an interview, you should bring the attachments/documents to your interview.
05


Social Worker
Do you have experience consulting on case analysis findings and made recommendations?

• Yes
• No

06


Briefly describe when and how you obtained this experience. Please note if you answered "No" to the previous question, type "n/a" as your response to this question.
07


Social Work
Do you have experience with court procedures and legal codes?

• Yes
• No

08


Briefly describe when and how you obtained this experience. Please note if you answered "No" to the previous question, type "n/a" as your response to this question.
09


Social Work
Please choose the level that best describes your case management and recidivism experience.

• Advanced
• Intermediate
• Beginner
• Not Familiar

10


Social Worker
Do you have experience working with people with mental health or substance abuse issues?

• Yes
• No

11


Briefly describe when and how you obtained this experience. Please note if you answered "No" to the previous question, type "n/a" as your response to this question.
12


Social Work
Do you have experience referring individuals for Therapy or Counseling Services?

• Yes
• No

13


Briefly describe when and how you obtained this experience. Please note if you answered "No" to the previous question, type "n/a" as your response to this question.
14


Social Work
Do you have experience in finding alternative placements to incarceration?

• Yes
• No

15


Briefly describe when and how you obtained this experience. Please note if you answered "No" to the previous question, type "n/a" as your response to this question.
16


For current State of New Mexico employees: I understand that the Law Offices of the Public Defender will only accept up to 40 hours of annual leave and all sick leave. Furthermore, upon transfer, I will begin a new probationary period regardless of a break in service from my current state agency.

• I Understand

17


I understand that my responses to the questions regarding years of experience and education will be confirmed. I have included my related work experience in the Work Experience Section of my application with a detailed description of my related duties. If I am attempting to attach documents, but unable to, I should email View email address on click.appcast.io., with the documents and my contact information. Or if selected for an interview, I may bring the documents to my interview.

• I Understand

18


Please choose the level that best describes your fluency in any language(s) other than English. I understand that I may be asked to certify my language proficiency upon hire and that I may be required to provide translation services if selected for this job.

• Advanced
• Intermediate
• Beginner
• Not Familiar

19


If you chose Beginner or above in the previous question, please identify in the text box what language(s) you are fluent in. Note: If you selected Not Familiar in the previous question please write, N/A in the text box below.
Required Question