Attorney 1,2,3

State of Louisiana; Lake Charles (LA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Parental Leave

Insurance Coverage

Holidays and Leave

Job summary

State of Louisiana seeks an Attorney for the Office of Mental Health Advocacy Service to provide competent, confidential representation to clients, including children and mentally ill individuals. Travel is required and a valid Louisiana license is mandatory.

The role emphasizes advocacy, thorough investigations, and guidance to staff, with opportunities to influence patient rights protections and systemic improvements within a full-time state government environment.

Qualifications

• Must hold a current Louisiana license to practice law.

Responsibilities

• Provide competent, confidential, and ethical representation for all clients including but not limited to children, mental patients, disabled adults.
• Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of current law and judicial decisions to aid in providing timely assistance to clients in need.
• Attends and participates in hearings for treatment, placement, administration, as needed.
• Advocates for the desires and expressed preference of the child and follows the child’s direction throughout the case in a developmentally appropriate manner.
• Conducts thorough, continuing and independent investigations and discovery, including but not limited to: Reviewing social service, psychiatric, psychological, drug and alcohol, medical, law enforcement, school, court, DSS, provider and other records of the child.
• Provides mental patients with legal representation at all stages of their confinement.
• Provides guidance, assistance, supervision and lead worker responsibilities to support staff and attorneys of lower rank, as directed.
• Develops strategy for implementation of systems improvements in the protection of patient rights and the rights of children.
• Trains other staff members, various mental health professionals and various groups in the community on the legal rights of patients and responsibilities of treatment providers.

Skills

Legal representation

Job description

About This Job

The Office of Mental Health Advocacy Service has a vacancy.

Minimum Qualifications

Possession of a current Louisiana license to practice law.

Job Duties

Job Duties and Other Information

• Provide competent, confidential, and ethical representation for all clients including but not limited to children, mental patients, disabled adults. Assisting with obtaining appropriate resources and advising clients of their rights.
• Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of current law and judicial decisions to aid in providing timely assistance to clients in need.
• Attends and participates in hearings for treatment, placement, administration, as needed. Filing petitions, motions, answers, responses or objections as necessary.
• Advocates for the desires and expressed preference of the child and follows the child’s direction throughout the case in a developmentally appropriate manner. To the extent that a child does not or will not express his/her desires and preferences about particular issues, determines and advocates for the child’s best interest.
• Conducts thorough, continuing and independent investigations and discovery, including but not limited to: Reviewing social service, psychiatric, psychological, drug and alcohol, medical, law enforcement, school, court, DSS, provider and other records of the child.
• Provides mental patients with legal representation at all stages of their confinement. Identifying and addressing violation of patient rights.
• Provides guidance, assistance, supervision and lead worker responsibilities to support staff and attorneys of lower rank, as directed.
• Develops strategy for implementation of systems improvements in the protection of patient rights and the rights of children.
• Trains other staff members, various mental health professionals and various groups in the community on the legal rights of patients and responsibilities of treatment providers.

Position-Specific Details

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

Candidate must possess a valid driver's license. Travel is required.

Career Progression

This vacancy participates in a career progression group and may be filled from this recruitment as an Attorney 1, 2, or 3.

Applicants with experience working with juveniles and persons with mental illness and/or disabilities are encouraged to apply.

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

• 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.

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.

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. 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: [e-mail]

Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career.

As a State Employee, You Will Earn Competitive Pay, Choose From a Variety Of Benefits, And Have Access To a Great Professional Development Program

Insurance Coverage

More information can be found at https://info.groupbenefits.org/

Parental Leave

Up to six weeks paid parental leave

Holidays and Leave

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
• Mardi Gras,
• Good Friday,
• Memorial Day,
• Independence Day,
• Labor Day,
• Veteran's Day,
• Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
• Additional holidays may be proclaimed by the Governor

State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase.

Retirement

State Of Louisiana Employees Are Eligible To Participate In Various Retirement Systems (based On The Type Of Appointment And Agency For Which An Employee Works). These Retirement Systems Provide Retirement Allowances And Other Benefits For State Officers And Employees And Their Beneficiaries. State Retirement Systems May Include (but Are Not Limited To):

• Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (www.lasersonline.org). LASERS has provided this video to give you more detailed information about their system
• Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana (www.trsl.org),
• Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (www.lsers.net), among others