Attorney 1,2,3

The Office of Mental Health Advocacy Service has a vacancy.  
 
This vacancy will be filled by new hire or by promotion of a current permanent status classified employee.  

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

This position is responsible for providing legal representation for abused and neglected children and also for persons with mental disabilities and substance abuse disorders in the Monroe and surrounding areas.  

This position is full-time. Establishing or continuing an outside practice is prohibited while being employed in this agency.

Preference will be given the applicants with experience working with juveniles and persons with mental illness and/or disabilities. 

Candidate must posses a valid driver's license. Travel is required.
 
This vacancy participates in a career progression group and may be filled from this recruitment as a Attorney 1 (AS-617), Attorney 2 (AS-618), or Attorney 3 (AS-620) depending on the level of experience of the selected applicant. The maximum salary for the Attorney 3 is $112,570. Please refer to the "Job Specifications" tab located at the top of the LA Careers "Current Job Opportunities" page of the Civil Service website for specific information on salary ranges, minimum qualifications and job concepts for each level.
 
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.
 
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.  
 
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 or faxed to (225) 219-1041. 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         

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.