Attorney 1-3 (Construction Unit)

Section 47 - Legal
47/85739/Atty1-3/7.20.25-MV

At DOTD, our mission is to innovatively develop and sustain safe and reliable infrastructure comprising highways, multimodal transportation assets, micro-mobility systems, and public works. We are proud to serve the people of Louisiana with integrity, innovation, and a deep commitment to equity.

About this Job: 
The DOTD Legal Section is comprised of three units, including 1. The Property Litigation Unit; 2. The Construction Law Unit; and 3. The General Law Unit. This highly specialized position is responsible for providing legal counsel to the Department regarding application of laws of property and expropriation as well as public bid for construction contracts. This position requires a license to practice law in Louisiana

Please visit our DOTD Career Center for more information about our agency:http://wwwsp.dotd.la.gov/Inside_LaDOTD/Divisions/Mgmt_Finance/HR/Pages/Career_Center.aspx

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Job Duties:

• Advice and Counsel, Opinions and Negotiations.
  • This position requires professional legal work in providing consultation and representation for the DOTD on all matters which are assigned to the Legal Section. The incumbent is responsible is the oversight of cases for the Department involving expropriation law. In addition, this position provides legal assistance regarding litigation, litigation tactics and strategy, with knowledge and skill in applying Louisiana Revised Statutes, particularly Title 38 and Title 48, pertaining to this area of law. These are specialized segments of the field of law. The cases handled constantly involve highly technical points of law, complete legal and factual situations, large sums of public funds, and complex legal precedents of far-reaching consequences which are important to the functioning of a governmental body. 
  • Real Estate Section. This incumbent provides professional legal work in advising the DOTD Real Estate Section in connection with its acquisition of property for DOTD. In cases wherein the property cannot voluntarily be acquired by Real Estate and is sent to the Legal Section for expropriation, then appraisals, title documents, and negotiator's summary reports must be checked to ensure that all of the legal requirements are met. 
  • Construction Section. The incumbent provides legal advice on issues pertaining to competitive bids, bid protests, construction and highway contract claims, project specifications, and LP A project Opinion Requests and is responsible for evaluating information submitted by contractors as needed to assist the Office of Engineering in making a determination. The incumbent communicates with contractors and their representatives to obtain additional information and/or to discuss the determinations made by the Office of Engineering associated with competitive bids, bid protests, construction and public works contracts, construction and highway contract claims, project specifications, and LPA projects. The incumbent communicates the results of communication with contractors and their representatives to DOTD's Office of Engineering personnel and maintains records of bid dispute determinations made by the Office of Engineering, including all relevant supporting documentation. The incumbent provides additional support to DOTD's Office of Engineering by reviewing indemnification language in construction and public works contracts and LP A contracts; and by coordinating the negotiation and execution of construction and public works contracts and LP A contracts as requested by the Office of Engineering. 
  • Work is independently carried on under supervision by the Attorney Supervisors. The incumbent may also supervise outside counsel assigned specific cases by the General Counsel.
• General Advice and Counsel:
  •  Generally provides legal advice and counsel to department officials and engineers as required and directed by the General counsel; includes legal research, opinions, con drafting and review, legislation, administrative regulations, and review of lien and bankruptcy documents. Also assigns and monitors work of legal administrative assistant and paralegal. 
  • Responsible for providing consultation and representation for the department on matters referred to the General Counsel. Incumbent consults with section heads of the department and other section officials, and also consults with the representatives of other departments and officials of parish and municipal governments and public organizations for the purpose of giving and obtaining assistance, information, cooperation, understanding and the modernization of laws and procedures as they apply to the department.

Position-Specific Details:

Appointment Type:  Probational, Promotional, or Job Appointment or Detail to Special Duty
Career Progression:  This position may be filled as an Attorney 1, 2 or 3. The level at which the vacancy is filled will be determined by the qualifications of the candidate selected.
Compensation: 
 **Special Entrance Rate (SER)**
 Attorney 1 - $2,166.40/biweekly
 Attorney 2 - $2,318.40/biweekly
 Attorney 3 - $2,561.60/biweekly

** Progressive Premium Pay for hours actually worked**
 0 months to less than 2 years - $1.00/hour
 2 years to less than 4 years - $1.50/hour
 4 years or greater - $2.00/hour

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.

For further information about this vacancy contact: 
Melissa Willard 
Administrative Program Specialist – Legal 
225-242-4667 
melissa.willard@la.gov

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is an equal employment opportunity employer and serves as a model employer for individuals with disabilities. DOTD does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, disability, age, or pregnancy, and prohibits harassment of any type.

Information on the Louisiana Workforce Commission, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services is available: https://www.laworks.net/workforcedev/lrs/lrs_rehabilitation.asp