She was First Assistant County Attorney in charge of all criminal and civil litigation for the County of El Paso.  Sheriff Samaniego asked her to be his legal adviser in 1986 when she left the County Attorney’s office, and was  responsible for all civil litigation involving Sheriff Samaniego’s personal liability, and all disciplinary matters involving arbitration proceedings regarding contract issues. She negotiated the contract between Sheriff Samaniego and the union regarding all disciplinary matters affecting the department.

When Sheriff Jimmy Apodaca took office as Sheriff Samaniego’s successor, he made Ms. Pacheco his chief legal counsel, and  she  continued to represent the Sheriff in all civil litigation and all disciplinary matters regarding the department in both arbitrations and civil service appeals.   She went on to open her private practice in 2009.
Christine Pacheco has been in private practice since 1986 handling personal injury, criminal, family and probate matters.