Attorney 1 - 4

The mission of the Louisiana Department of Health is to protect and promote health and to ensure access to medical, preventive, and rehabilitative services for all residents of the State of Louisiana.

Learn more about the Louisiana Department of Health

Step into a high-impact senior attorney role with the Louisiana Department of Health, where your legal expertise directly shapes public health policy and practice statewide. Serving as trusted counsel to the Office of Public Health and the State Health Officer, you will navigate complex legal frameworks, advise on critical public health laws and the State Sanitary Code, and provide strategic guidance across multiple programs. This is a unique opportunity to influence meaningful decisions, protect community health, and operate at the forefront of public service in a dynamic, consultative environment.

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

Job Duties:

• Provide legal advice and counsel to OPH offices and bureaus, excluding Vital Records and the Bureau of Engineering, including guidance to the Center for Community Preparedness and the WIC program 
• Advise on enforcement of the State Sanitary Code and statutory responsibilities of the State Health Officer, including sanitary inspections and programs such as SEET, Onsite Sewerage, Retail Food, and Food and Drug (including consumable hemp registration) 
• Research, analyze, and interpret public health laws; draft and recommend statutory and regulatory changes to support agency authority and operations
• Independently manage and litigate cases in administrative, state, and federal courts, including preparing pleadings, conducting discovery, and presenting cases at trial and on appeal 
• Initiate legal actions, including seeking injunctive relief, to enforce compliance orders and address imminent public health risks 
• Review Compliance Orders statewide to ensure consistency, validity, and enforceability 
• Review and advise on Cooperative Endeavor Agreements, MOUs, and public records requests 
• Evaluate and draft legislation, policies, rules, and regulations; provide legal analysis of proposed legislative actions and represent the agency in meetings, hearings, and task forces 
• Collaborate closely with OPH leadership, including the Assistant Secretary, State Health Officer, Chief Sanitarian, Program Manager of the Section of Environmental Epidemiology and Toxicology (SEET), and the Director of the Center for Community Preparedness to support legal and programmatic initiatives

Location: Office of the Secretary / Bureau of Legal Services / East Baton Rouge Parish

Appointment Type: This position may be filled as a Probationary appointment, Promotional appointment, or Job appointment (temporary appointment that may last up to 48 months)

Cost Center:  3071070203

Position Number(s): 190943

Career Progression:  This position may be filled as an Attorney 1, 2, 3, or 4 determined by the qualifications of the candidate selected. This position provides the opportunity to advance within this job series.

Compensation:  This position is eligible for the following Special Entrance Rates (SER):

Attorney 1 – $30.33 hr / $2,426.40 bi-weekly
Attorney 2 – $32.45 hr / $2,596.00 bi-weekly

Attorney 3 – $36.51 hr / $2,920.80 bi-weekly

Attorney 4 – $39.07 hr / $3,125.60 bi-weekly

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 the position 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. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.

Contact Information:

Deanda Thymes

Deanda.Thymes@la.gov

LA Department of Health (LDH)

Division of Human Resources

PO Box 4818

Baton Rouge, LA 70821

225-342-6477

This organization participates in E-Verify, and for more information on E-Verify, please contact DHS at 1-888-464-4218. 

LDH supports Louisiana’s commitment to being a State as a Model Employer (SAME) by promoting the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities. 

Information on the Louisiana Works, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services is available here.

LDH is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to recruit a highly productive and diverse workforce, and will provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and prospective employees. Employment decisions shall be based strictly on merit and without regard to religious or political beliefs, sex, race, or any other non-merit factor.