Assistant Attorney General -1-6 Collections Section

State of Louisiana; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Louisiana Department of Justice seeks an Assistant Attorney General for a Career Progression Group. The role involves serving as a litigator, providing legal counsel to state agencies, and conducting legally rigorous research and drafting pleadings.

Travel up to 15% is required for state-wide appearances, conferences, and education. Qualified candidates must hold a Louisiana law license in good standing, demonstrate strong communication and interpersonal skills, and have experience in

Qualifications

• Must possess license to practice law in Louisiana and be in good standing.
• Ability to travel up to 15% for state-wide appearances and conferences.
• Preferred: litigations in federal and state courts; motions practice and presenting oral arguments in state courts.

Responsibilities

• Provides legal advice, counsel, and assistance to client state agencies; coordinates with client agencies.
• Serve as the primary or secondary litigator on all assigned cases through final disposition.
• Perform legal research and draft all pleadings, correspondence, or other documents.
• Requires attention to detail, strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and a commitment to delivering high-quality service to the State.
• Be punctual in attendance at meetings and court appearances related to the litigation of the assigned case; render legal services as needed.
• Ensure work complies with the Louisiana Constitution, Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure, Federal APA, local rules, and codes of professionalism.
• Perform any additional duties assigned by supervisors.
• Assist agencies in the investigation and litigation of civil matters related to collections for debts owed to the state.
• Convene hearings, issue subpoenas, administer oaths, hear testimony, examine witnesses, and issue decisions and orders based on evidence.

Skills

Litigation experience

Oral arguments

Legal research

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Travel up to 15%

Education

Louisiana Bar license

Good standing with Louisiana Bar

Job description

The Department of Justice, Office of Attorney General Liz Murrill, is seeking applications for an Assistant Attorney General 1-6. As part of a Career Progression Group, vacancies may be filled from this recruitment as an Assistant Attorney General 1-6 depending on the level of experience of the selected applicant(s).

Salary offered will be commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate selected.

The position will be domiciled in the Livingston Building, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, East Baton Rouge Parish. Offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory background check, reference verifications, and drug test.

Below are the most common status messages and their meanings:

• Application Received - Your application has been submitted successfully.
• Evaluating Experience - Your application is being reviewed by Human Resources to ensure you meet the minimum qualifications for this position.
• Eligible for Consideration - You are among a group of applicants who MAY be selected for this position.
• Referred to the Hiring Manager for Review - Your application has been delivered to the hiring manager. You may or may not be called for an interview.
• Position Filled - Someone has been selected for the position.
• Position Canceled - The agency has decided not to fill the position.

The Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must possess a license to practice law in the State of Louisiana.
• Must be in good standing with the Louisiana Bar Association.
• Ability to travel (including overnight travel) up to 15% mainly for state wide, state court appearances, but also for continuing education and other conferences, as required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to handle litigations in both federal and state courts;
• Experience in motions practice and presenting oral arguments, in state courts;
• Knowledge of collections laws, garnishments, state and federal court practice and procedure, and state agency collection practices;
• Possess excellent oral and written communication skills, including listening and editing;
• Skill in handling multiple tasks, prioritizing, and meeting deadlines;
• Possess strong interpersonal skills, foster teamwork, promote a positive work environment that recognizes and respects all employees, and possess good judgement.

The duties and requirements of the Assistant Attorney General shall include, but are not limited to the following:

• Provides legal advice, counsel, and assistant to client state agencies; communications and coordinates with client agencies.
• Serve as the primary or secondary litigator on all assigned cases in all phases of litigation from assignment of the case through final disposition;
• Perform legal research and draft all pleadings, correspondence, or other documents in order to accomplish the above duties;
• Requires attention to detail, strong analytical and problem solving skills, and a commitment to delivering the highest quality of service to the State of Louisiana;
• Be punctual in attendance at all meetings and court appearances related to the litigation of the assigned case, maintain regular hours, and when required render legal services and work the hours necessary to accomplish the tasks at hand;
• Perform all work in compliance with the Louisiana Constitution, Louisiana Code of CriminalProcedure, Federal Administrative Procedure Act (APA), any applicable local rules of the court, and all other codes of professionalism and ethics;
• Perform any additional duties assigned by supervisors.

Assists federal, state, and local agencies in the investigation and litigation of a wide range of civil matters related to collections for debts owed to the state. The primary responsibilities of this position include:

• Serve as the primary or secondary attorney on all assigned cases in all phases of litigation from assignment of the case through final disposition;
• Perform legal research and draft all pleadings, correspondence, or other documents in order to accomplish the above duties;
• 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;
• Prepares or reviews legal documents, including but not limited to agency contracts, collections letters, enrollment policies;
• Assists in preparing proposed legislation;
• 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 litigation.
• Conducts a continuous study of the current statues, regulations and case law related to areas of law for which hearings are assigned;
• Analyzes documents regarding outstanding balances from agency clients, in order to respond to dispute letters and/or prepare legal documents to pursue legal action;
• Requires attention to detail, strong analytical and problem solving skills, and a commitment to delivering the highest quality of service to the State of Louisiana;
• Perform any additional duties assigned by supervisors.