Description:
Work for IndianaBegin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering a range of opportunities across 60+ agencies. At the state, you'll find competitive compensation, a robust benefits package and a commitment to work-life balance. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana.
About the Department of Child Services:
Join a group of passionate, dedicated public servants to support one of Indiana's most critical missions!
The Department of Child Services helps children who are victims of abuse or neglect and strengthens families through services that focus on family support and preservation. We pursue permanency for children and families through reunification, guardianship, and adoption. Our services also encompass foster care, child support, and transitional support for those adjusting to adulthood. Our culture is built upon our MVP foundation:
- Mission: Champion Indiana's future by protecting children and strengthening families with compassion and determination.
- Vision: Every child in Indiana thrives in a safe, loving, forever home.
- Purpose: Ignite hope. Cultivate joy.
Role Overview:
The Attorney Senior guides assigned units and completes research on assigned cases. The role requires knowledge of state and federal regulations in the areas of education, foster parent licensing, residential facility licensing, immigration, and child welfare. You will draft memorandums of law in response to key issues facing the agency. You will research and advise on complex legal issues and questions, and provide guidance for alignment across federal requirements, Indiana Code, Indiana Administrative Code, and DCS policy.
This role requires analyzing and understanding legal issues through an agency-impact lens and the ability to provide agency-specific guidance on issues impacting child welfare law.
Because you will draft guidance that may be broadly available, you should have good working knowledge of programs such as Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat PDF files, and Canva. Demonstrated experience with related federal regulations and utilizing research software is desired.
This position is in the central DCS offices in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Salary:
This position traditionally starts at an annual salary of $85,020 but may be commensurate with education and job experience.
Use our Compensation Calculator to view the total compensation package.
A day in the life:
The essential functions of this role are:
- May train, manage, delegate to, and/or provide support for any legal support staff.
- Advises and provides legal support to agency staff on various program and legal areas.
- May oversee, draft, review, or provide legal advice relating to contracts.
- Researches, interprets, and provides legal advice in relation to laws, rules, policies, and legal opinions pertaining to agency operations.
- May draft and review legislation and administrative rules.
- Utilizes legal resources, dockets, legal files, and official records relating to legal procedures.
- Creates, prepares, and distributes documents related to hearings, including orders and decisions.
- Recruits, selects, onboards, and trains employees to ensure role responsibilities and expectations are clearly understood while providing opportunities to continue professional development.
- Sets expectations, measure progress, provide ongoing feedback, and evaluate the performance of employees. Ensure work adheres to quality standards, deadlines, and proper procedures.
- May handle administrative matters and hearings while maintaining appropriate decorum, hear evidence, rule on the admissibility of evidence, and/or make reasoned decisions supported by evidence.
- May be required to utilize litigation skills and experience relating to agency operations.
- Organizes and manages caseload in the preparation of hearings and/or litigation.
- May review pleadings, motions, and discovery.
- May draft appeals or briefs, or perform legal writing assignments.
The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time.
This position is exempt from overtime compensation for additional work hours yjsy may be required to complete essential functions or other assigned work. Exempt employees may work more than 75 hours in a pay period without additional compensation and must report a minimum of 75 hours per pay period of work hours and/or paid leave taken to receive their base biweekly salary.
What You'll Need for Success:
The ideal candidate in this role should minimally have:
- A Doctorate of Jurisprudence with 5+ years of legal experience as a practicing attorney.
- Indiana Bar Admission license in good standing.
- Demonstrated knowledge and ability to apply relevant statutes, case law, and rules.
- Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing.
- Ability to successfully utilize a case management system to manage a docket, case information, party information, and serve orders.
- Strong legal research, writing, and litigation skills.
- Able to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports:
- This role may serve as a team lead for an assigned work group.
- This role provides direct supervision for two or more attorneys.
Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana:
The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees that includes:
- Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans
- Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards
- Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution
- Deferred compensation 457(b) account (similar to 401(k) plan) with employer match
- Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options
- A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to:
- 150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers
- Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave
- Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off
- 12 paid holidays, 14 in election years
- Education Reimbursement Program
- Group life insurance
- Referral Bonus program
- Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits
- Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
- Free Parking for most positions
- Free LinkedIn Learning access
Equal Employment Opportunity:
The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process as well as perform the essential functions of a role. If you require reasonable accommodations to complete this application, you can request assistance by contacting the Indiana State Personnel Department at jobs@spd.IN.gov.
