Attorney 1, 2 or 3

Office of Conservation – Executive

The Executive Division coordinates and administers the various activities of the Office of Conservation. Among the primary responsibilities of the Commissioner's Office staff is the oversight of statutory responsibilities and regulations, professional service contracts, budget, personnel, information, safety, and emergency matters.

LOCATION AND POSITION INFORMATION:

This Attorney 1-3 position is located in the Executive Division within the Office of Conservation (OC). This position provides highly responsible legal services involving legal matters or issues which arise from the administration of programs by the Office of Conservation. These services include consulting with and advising the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Conservation, the Deputy Assistant Secretary and the respective Division Administrators. Additional duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Advise Office officials on legal matters related to unitization, oilfield site restoration, plugging and abandoning of wells, and pipeline operation and safety, all within the statewide authority and jurisdiction of the Office of Conservation;
• Attends and advocates the Office’s case in the enforcement of the Office of Conservation’s statutes and statewide orders;
• Assists the Injection and Mining (IMD) Division with administration of all statewide surface mining matters, including but not limited to, inspections, issuances of notices of violation, reclamation, compliance order and processing of surety bond and indemnity agreements;
• Prepares legislation and monitors bills during the legislative session relative to Office programs;
• Represents the Office of Conservation in litigation over permit and enforcement decisions made by the Office, and further acts as enforcement coordinator for the Office by preparing all necessary briefs, pleadings and memoranda, scheduling hearings and maintaining the Office’s docket of cases;
• Performs all other duties as requested.

**Note regarding the advertised pay range:  The maximum amounts listed are the maximum salary amounts a person can make at each level over their career and not the amount we are allowed to pay a new hire.

This vacancy is being announced as a classified position and is open to all qualified applicants. This position requires the selected applicant to serve a minimum probationary period of twelve (12) months. A current, permanent status state employee may be required to accept a probational appointment in lieu of promotion. Additional Vacancies may be filled from this announcement within 90 days of the closing date.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

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 applications 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 copy of your college transcript to verify the specialized degree requirement MUST be submitted by the closing date of this announcement.  This may be done by way of an attachment to your online application and/or by fax/mail. Applicants possessing an international degree must submit an equivalency evaluation statement with their application. This may be done by way of an attachment to your online application.

Transcripts can either be mailed or faxed to the Louisiana Department of State Civil Service. Fax: 225-219-1041. Mailing Address: Department of State Civil Service, P.O. Box 94111, Capitol Station, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9111. 

*Resumes WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.*

For further information about this vacancy contact:

Department of Energy and Natural Resources

PO Box 94396

Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9396

Email: DNR-Recruiting@la.gov

The Department of Energy and Natural Resources is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) agency that supports improved employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. For more information on employment-related resources available for those with disabilities, refer to the Louisiana Employment Resources Guide at http://www.laworks.net/Downloads/LRS/EmploymentResourceGuide_2018.pdf.

The Department of Energy and Natural Resources is a participant in the E-Verify system for identification and employment eligibility purposes.

Function of Work:
To assist an attorney of higher rank in the preparation of court cases and/or advisory opinions and may litigate and/or prepare advisory opinions in cases of a routine nature.

Level of Work:
Entry.

Supervision Received:
General from a higher ranking attorney, administrative law judge, or other agency administrator/executive.

Supervision Exercised:
None.

Location of Work:
May be used in all agencies.

Job Distinctions:
Differs from Attorney 2 by the level of supervision received and the level of expertise required in the preparation of legal opinions/courts cases assigned or hearings conducted.

ATTORNEY:
Litigates routine cases in trial and appellate courts and before administrative tribunals under the supervision of a higher ranking attorney.

Assists an attorney of higher rank in preparing major or complex cases for trial by drafting pleadings, interviewing witnesses, writing legal memoranda and briefs.

Enters claims for collecting monies due the state.

Assists in preparing proposed legislation.

Drafts tentative rules and regulations and reviews rules, regulations, and bulletins prepared by administrative officers for conformity to the law.

Investigates reports of violations of statutes and administrative rules and regulations.

Prepares advisory opinions for review by a higher ranking attorney.

Prepares or reviews legal documents, including contracts, licenses, deeds, and abstracts.

Researches laws applicable to the above activities.

To conduct hearings and to render decisions.

ATTORNEY--ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES/REFEREES:
Convenes hearings that are of a routine nature; issues subpoenas; administers oaths; hears testimony; considers evidence; examines witnesses; maintains order; rules on motions, objections, admissibility of evidence and procedure; prepares and issues decisions and orders based upon all evidence gathered, research of pertinent statutes, pertinent jurisprudence, and independent assessment of acts based on credibility of witnesses and evidence.

Conducts pre-trial conferences with the attorneys to resolve preliminary issues and narrow the scope of the hearing to the facts actually in dispute.

Determines if there are jurisdictional or procedural issues to be disposed of and if so, decides the most appropriate manner (i.e. a limited hearing, an order to brief the issue, an order to amend the pleadings, a status conference, etc.) to address these issues.

Secures, compiles, and maintains all records of adjudications. Ensures that accurate records are maintained in the proceedings that evidence is properly marked and included in the case record, and that audio recordings are accurately marked and properly indexed and stores.

Conducts a continuous study of the current statues, regulations and case law related to areas of law for which hearings are assigned.