Closing Date: 6th March, 2026
Description:
About this Job:The Department of Environmental Quality/Office of the Secretary has a vacancy.
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality's (LDEQ) mission is to provide service to the people of Louisiana through comprehensive environmental protection in order to promote and protect health, safety, and welfare.
Join the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality as an Attorney
Help safeguard Louisiana's air, water, and land. We're seeking experienced attorneys to handle regulatory matters, enforcement actions, and environmental policy development. Make a meaningful impact on the health and sustainability of communities across the state.
Minimum Qualifications:
Possession of a current Louisiana license to practice law.
Job Specification
The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.
Job Duties and Other Information
Job Duties:
Enforcement: Provides comprehensive legal support to the Office of Environmental Compliance and the Office of Environmental Assessment, with a focus on enforcement, regulatory review, and litigation. The attorney reviews and prepares compliance orders, settlements, administrative actions, and pleadings to ensure legal sufficiency under Louisiana environmental law. Responsibilities include negotiating with federal agencies, managing adjudicatory hearings and consent decrees, advising on proposed regulations, and representing the Department in administrative and judicial proceedings. The role also involves preparing legal opinions, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders, and ensuring timely filing of liens, contracts, and other legal documents related to remediation and underground storage tank sites.
Permits Attorney: Provides legal representation and guidance to the Office of Environmental Services and the Department on legal matters involving permits issues. Researches legal issues and provides legal opinions. Represents the Department in various adversarial matters before administrative tribunals, state and federal district courts, and state and federal appellate courts. These adversarial hearings include disputes concerning permit decisions, regulatory development, and miscellaneous matters. Drafts pleadings and appellate briefs.
Position-Specific Details:
Appointment Type: Either a probationary appointment, job appointment (a temporary appointment not to exceed four years), or promotion of a permanent classified employee. If the position is filled as a job appointment, it could be converted to a probationary appointment should funding become available.
Domicile: East Baton Rouge
Career Progression: Attorney 1-Attorney 3, depending on the level of experience of the selected applicant.
Compensation: This position offers a Special Entrance Rate (SER) listed below. This is the minimum compensation that may be offered. The job title and salary offered will be determined based on qualifications and experience.
Attorney 1- $30.33 per hour or $2,426.40 Biweekly
Attorney 2- $32.45 per hour or $2,596.00 Biweekly
Attorney 3- $36.51 per hour or $2,920.80 Biweekly
Overview of the five major offices within the agency: It provides information on the mission, function, and organization, along with a biography for each member of management.
How to Apply:
No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.
To apply for this vacancy, click on the “Apply” link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.
Information to support your eligibility for this job title must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education). Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.
Please make every effort to attach a copy of your transcript to your application if possible (PDF format preferred). The selected candidate will be required to submit original documentation upon hire.
For any degree obtained outside of the United States, you must attach an equivalency evaluation statement from a current National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) member if you are using education to qualify.
Contact Information:
For further information about this vacancy, contact:
This agency participates in the E-Verify system for verification of citizenship and employment authorization.
Louisiana is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities. Equal Opportunity Employer.
The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.
Job Duties and Other Information
Job Duties:
Enforcement: Provides comprehensive legal support to the Office of Environmental Compliance and the Office of Environmental Assessment, with a focus on enforcement, regulatory review, and litigation. The attorney reviews and prepares compliance orders, settlements, administrative actions, and pleadings to ensure legal sufficiency under Louisiana environmental law. Responsibilities include negotiating with federal agencies, managing adjudicatory hearings and consent decrees, advising on proposed regulations, and representing the Department in administrative and judicial proceedings. The role also involves preparing legal opinions, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders, and ensuring timely filing of liens, contracts, and other legal documents related to remediation and underground storage tank sites.
Permits Attorney: Provides legal representation and guidance to the Office of Environmental Services and the Department on legal matters involving permits issues. Researches legal issues and provides legal opinions. Represents the Department in various adversarial matters before administrative tribunals, state and federal district courts, and state and federal appellate courts. These adversarial hearings include disputes concerning permit decisions, regulatory development, and miscellaneous matters. Drafts pleadings and appellate briefs.
Position-Specific Details:
Appointment Type: Either a probationary appointment, job appointment (a temporary appointment not to exceed four years), or promotion of a permanent classified employee. If the position is filled as a job appointment, it could be converted to a probationary appointment should funding become available.
Domicile: East Baton Rouge
Career Progression: Attorney 1-Attorney 3, depending on the level of experience of the selected applicant.
Compensation: This position offers a Special Entrance Rate (SER) listed below. This is the minimum compensation that may be offered. The job title and salary offered will be determined based on qualifications and experience.
Attorney 1- $30.33 per hour or $2,426.40 Biweekly
Attorney 2- $32.45 per hour or $2,596.00 Biweekly
Attorney 3- $36.51 per hour or $2,920.80 Biweekly
Overview of the five major offices within the agency: It provides information on the mission, function, and organization, along with a biography for each member of management.
- Office of the Secretary
- Office of Management and Finance
- Office of Environmental Services
- Office of Environmental Compliance
- Office of Environmental Assessment
How to Apply:
No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.
To apply for this vacancy, click on the “Apply” link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.
Information to support your eligibility for this job title must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education). Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.
Please make every effort to attach a copy of your transcript to your application if possible (PDF format preferred). The selected candidate will be required to submit original documentation upon hire.
For any degree obtained outside of the United States, you must attach an equivalency evaluation statement from a current National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) member if you are using education to qualify.
Contact Information:
For further information about this vacancy, contact:
- Kierra Smith
- Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
- P.O. Box 4303, Baton Rouge, LA 70821
- 225-219-3850
This agency participates in the E-Verify system for verification of citizenship and employment authorization.
Louisiana is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities. Equal Opportunity Employer.
