[Hiring] Debt Defense Litigation Attorney @hrEdge

Role Description

Bernhardt Riley is hiring a full-time Debt Defense Litigation Attorney to manage an active caseload of consumer debt lawsuits from initial appearance through resolution or trial. This is a fully remote role, although occasional in-person court appearances may be required.

We are looking for an attorney who understands that effective debt defense requires more than processing cases. The right attorney can:

• Quickly evaluate a lawsuit
• Identify leverage
• Develop the appropriate defense and settlement strategy
• Move the matter toward the best practical outcome for the client

This role also provides the opportunity to help strengthen and improve a growing practice area through better strategies, processes, technology, and team development.

Qualifications

• Active New Mexico Bar license in good standing
• Minimum three years of meaningful experience handling consumer debt litigation
• Experience must include substantive responsibility for cases—not solely hearing coverage
• Debt defense experience strongly preferred; substantial plaintiff-side consumer debt litigation experience will also be considered
• Strong working knowledge of consumer debt litigation and applicable case law
• Strong understanding of the New Mexico Rules of Civil Procedure
• Experience drafting and arguing motions
• Experience handling written discovery and discovery disputes
• Excellent legal research, writing, and analytical skills
• Ability to independently evaluate cases and develop litigation strategies
• Ability to manage disputes through settlement, mediation, arbitration, or trial
• Strong client-facing communication skills
• Ability to effectively manage an active caseload in a remote environment

Requirements

• Resourcefulness: Find answers, identify leverage, and figure out how to move difficult cases forward.
• Judgment: Understand that the technically available legal option is not always the best practical strategy for the client.
• Curiosity: Want to understand why something happened, look beyond the obvious issue, and recognize patterns across cases.
• Ownership: Take responsibility for deadlines, strategy, communication, and outcomes rather than waiting for someone else to move the matter forward.
• Decisiveness: Evaluate imperfect information, develop a reasonable strategy, and act.
• Client focus: Understand that clients often come to us anxious and uncertain, and that clear communication is an important part of excellent legal representation.
• Adaptability: Comfortable working in a firm that is actively adopting technology, automation, and new approaches to practicing law.

Benefits

• Competitive salary of $100,000+ DOE
• 401(k) with firm matching
• Health, dental, vision, and life insurance
• Paid holidays, including an additional firm-designated holiday
• Paid vacation, sick, and personal time
• Half-day Fridays for Division Leads and employees who have been with the firm for more than two years, subject to litigation demands, court deadlines, and client needs
• Gym membership reimbursement/stipend
• Annual bonus opportunities
• Professional development support, including CLEs, training, and leadership growth
• Fully remote work environment