Attorney 1,2,3

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:

• Fulfills duties of loyalty, confidentiality, advocacy, and competent representation to clients.
• Advises clients about their rights.
• Identifies and seeks to obtain appropriate resources for clients.
• Engages in communication with clients, including, but not limited to, face-to-face meetings.
• Avoids creating and attempts to reduce delays in CINC proceedings and advocates for timely permanence for the child.
• Advises the child about the case, the child's rights, the court system, the proceedings, counsel's role, expectations of the legal process, the risks and benefits of possible courses of action, and other relief; determines the client's desires and preferences in a developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive manner.
• Advocates for the desires and expressed preference of the child and follow the child's direction throughout the case in a developmentally appropriate manner. To the extent that a child does not or will not express his/her desires and preferences about particular issues, determines and advocates for the child's best interest.
• Engages in regular and meaningful communication with the child, including, but not limited to, face-to-face meetings with the child at the child's placement and/or other locations outside of the courthouse.
• Travels by personal vehicle to court, to meet with clients, to staff meetings, and to other required locations. Submits timely requests for travel reimbursement.
• Conducts thorough, continuing and independent investigations and discovery, including but not limited to: Reviewing social service, psychiatric, psychological, drug and alcohol, medical, law enforcement, school, court, DSS, provider and other records of the child.
• Interviews individuals involved with the child; reviews relevant evidence; and attends treatment, placement, and administrative hearings; other proceedings involving legal issues; and school conferences or staffing as needed.
• Attends treatment, placement, administrative hearings, and school conferences or staffing as needed.
• Presents evidence, direct and cross-examines witnesses, offers exhibits, and provides independent evidence as necessary. Decides whether to call the child as a witness and ensures that the child is prepared to testify.
• Attempts to ensure the client's presence at significant court hearings, except when counsel affirmatively waives the child's presence.
• Seeks to ensure continued representation of the child at all child-related conferences and hearings.
• Discusses the end of legal representation with the child and determines what contacts, if any, will continue between the child and his/her counsel.
• Provides mental patients with legal representation at all stages of their confinement.
• Advises and confers with hospital staff on patient rights and violations of these rights. Counsels clients refusing medication and provides representation in administrative review proceedings.
• Collects data required by the IV-E program, documents changes in client status per IV-E, compiles and organizes IV-E indicators and reasons for client changes, and updates support staff weekly on changes regarding every client on caseload. Assists support staff in the correct and accurate recordation of data, and reviews final information prior to submission. Responds within 24 hours to the data collection specialist when requests for updates are made.
• Complies with Supreme Court of Louisiana requirements to practice law in Louisiana, including, but not limited to, education requirements to represent children in abuse and neglect cases.
• Keeps in good standing concerning professional ethical requirements.
• Complies with the Louisiana Supreme Court's Special Rules for Cases Involving the Protection of Children.
• Provides guidance, assistance, supervision and lead worker responsibilities to support staff and attorneys of lower rank, as directed.
• Develops strategy for implementation of systems improvements in the protection of patient rights and the rights of children.

Position-Specific Details:
Appointment Type: This vacancy may be filled by job appointment, which is temporary in nature, not to exceed 48 months. If filled as a job appointment, the position may be converted to a probational appointment, provided a vacant position becomes available and funding is available.

Career Progression: This vacancy participates in a career progression group and may be filled from this recruitment as an Attorney 1, 2, or 3.

Compensation: Depends on the qualifications of the selected applicant.

This position is responsible for providing legal representation for abused and neglected children and also for children and/or adults with mental disabilities and substance abuse disorders, in the Baton Rouge Region and surrounding area. This position is full-time. Establishing or continuing an outside practice is prohibited while being employed in this agency.

Candidate must possess a valid driver's license. Travel is required.

Applicants with experience working with juveniles and persons with mental illness and/or disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Louisiana is a "State as a Model Employer" for People with Disabilities.

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.

A criminal history check may be conducted on all new hires as well as employees changing positions including promotions, demotions, details, reassignments and transfers.

Also, prospective employees may be subject to pre-employment drug testing. New hires will be subject to employment eligibility verification via the federal government's E-Verify system.

*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.

Applicants qualifying based on college training or receipt of a baccalaureate degree will be required to submit an official college transcript to verify credentials claimed prior to appointment. Please make every effort to attach a copy of your transcript to your application. The transcripts can be added as an attachment to your online application. The selected candidate will be required to submit original documentation upon hire.

For further information about this posting, please contact:
Erica R. Gay
HR Specialist
Division of Administration/Office of Human Resources
email: Erica.Gay@la.gov