Chief Child Services Attorney

State-of-Indiana; Jeffersonville (IN); On-site; USD 84,000 - 102,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plan options

Wellness rewards program

Paid leave & holidays

Education reimbursement

LinkedIn Learning access

Job summary

The State of Indiana seeks a Chief Child Services Attorney in Jeffersonville, IN to independently lead litigation for child welfare cases and oversee a team including Deputy Chief Counsel. The role impacts safety and financial aspects of the agency’s work.

Required: JD, Indiana Bar license, and strong court experience; must mentor staff, manage workloads, and collaborate with external partners. Competitive benefits provided.

Qualifications

• Doctorate of Jurisprudence required.
• Indiana Bar Admission with license in good standing required.
• Knowledge of federal/state/local laws related to agency functions.

Responsibilities

• Litigate Child in Need of Services and Termination of Parental Rights at trial court level.
• Manage discovery and lead courtroom litigation for child welfare cases.
• Supervise Deputy Chief Counsel and other direct reports.
• Recruit, onboard, train and evaluate staff; address disciplinary issues as needed.
• Coordinate with Courts, CASA/GAL and public defenders on changes affecting DCS cases.

Skills

Court proceedings communication

Delegation & supervision

Crisis management

Ethical/legal judgment

Empathy in handling diverse people

Education

Juris Doctorate

Job description

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Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering a range of opportunities across 60+ agencies. At the state, you'll find competitive compensation, a robust benefits package and a commitment to work-life balance. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana.

About the Department of Child Services:

Join a group of passionate, dedicated public servants to support one of Indiana’s most critical missions!

The Department of Child Services helps children who are victims of abuse or neglect and strengthens families through services that focus on family support and preservation. We pursue permanency for children and families through reunification, guardianship, and adoption. Our services also encompass foster care, child support, and transitional support for those adjusting to adulthood. Our culture is built upon our MVPfoundation:

Mission: Champion Indiana’s future by protecting children and strengthening families with compassion and determination.
Vision: Every child in Indiana thrives in a safe, loving, forever home.
Purpose: Ignite hope. Cultivate joy.

Role Overview:

The Chief Child Service Attorney operates with a high level of independence. Decisions are often made in crisis situations by the attorney and their team, directly impacting the safety and well‑being of the children and families served. These decisions may also carry significant financial implications for the agency.

This position is in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and will serve Clark County, and surrounding counties as needed.

Indiana accepts the Uniform Bar Exam! Follow this link to learn about the Uniform Bar Exam and state jurisdictions.

This position traditionally starts at an annual salary of $93,002.00 but may be commensurate with education and job experience. Use our Compensation Calculator to view the total compensation package.

A Day in the Life:

The essential functions of this role are:

• Display competency in all areas of litigation conducted at the local office level, including CHINS, TPR, CAPTA administrative appeals, foster care licensing hearings, subsidy matters, and ancillary matters such as guardianship, custody, and adoption.
• Child Services Attorneys are responsible for managing all phases of discovery and leading courtroom litigation in support of child welfare cases.
• Serve as a liaison between Central Office legal management and direct reports.
• Monitor staff caseloads, delegate tasks, and supervise the work of the Deputy Chief Counsel and other direct reports.
• Assist with recruitment; select, onboard, and assist in training of employees to ensure expectations are met and to promote staff development; complete performance management tasks including appraisals and reviews; work with HR and supervision to address staff disciplinary issues as needed.
• Work closely with internal case management partners such as the Regional Manager to build strong legal/case management relationships and work toward mutual permanency goals; communicate with external partners such as Courts, CASA/GAL and public defenders to build relationships and share information which impacts DCS cases such as statutory, appellate or policy changes.
• Advise Department of Child Services staff on various program and legal areas as assigned.
• Identify goals and performance metrics, and monitor metrics identified by the agency to ensure best outcomes for cases on regional caseload.
• Participate in committees, groups, or events such as Continuous Improvement and Lean events.
• Provide input to the Office of the Attorney General regarding regional appeals and appellate briefs.
• Supervise work of contract attorneys if any are assigned within the region.
• Conduct legal trainings for Family Case Managers, attorneys and others as requested; advise and consult with local office attorneys and staff in trial preparation, evidentiary issues, problematic cases and administrative hearings.
• Litigate Child in Need of Services and Termination of Parental Rights matters at the trial court level as needed; handle administrative matters and hearings before OALP as assigned.
• Generate appropriate pleadings, motions and discovery, and responses as needed.
• Provide or organize coverage for any matters that subordinates are unavailable or unable to handle.
• Recruit, select, onboard, and train employees to ensure role responsibilities and expectations are clearly understood while providing opportunities to continue professional development.
• Set expectations, measure progress, provide ongoing feedback, and evaluate the performance of employees. Ensure work adheres to quality standards, deadlines, and proper procedures.

The job profile is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time.

This position is exempt from overtime compensation for additional work hours that may be required to complete essential functions or other assigned work. Exempt employees may work more than 75 hours in a pay period without additional compensation and must report a minimum of 75 hours per pay period of work hours and/or paid leave taken to receive their base biweekly salary.

What You'll Need for Success:

Credentials:

• Doctorate of Jurisprudence.
• Indiana Bar Admission with license in good standing.
• Apply federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations related to agency functions and purposes and to assigned program areas.
• Thorough knowledge of Rules of Evidence and Indiana Rules of Court.
• Advanced Knowledge of state's court system and law enforcement agencies.
• Advanced Knowledge of legal resources and procedures.
• Advanced Knowledge of the Rules of Ethics and the Code of Professional Responsibility.
• Ability to communicate articulately for Court proceedings.
• Ability to use tact and empathy when dealing with people of diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment while managing crisis situations including those involving aggressive adults being investigated.
• Ability to delegate work, set clear direction, and manage workflow.
• Ability to effectively give feedback, provide guidance or corrective action, coach, and develop employee skillsets.
• Ability to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports:

This role provides supervision for incarcerated individuals and requires a high level of judgment and care.

Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana:

The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees that includes:

• Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans
• Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards
• Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution
• Deferred compensation 457(b)account (similar to401(k) plan) with employer match
• Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options
• A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to:
  • 150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers
  • Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave
  • Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off
  • 12 paid holidays, 14 in election years
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Group life insurance
• Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits
• Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Free Parkingfor most positions
• Free LinkedIn Learningaccess

The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process as well as perform the essential functions of a role. If you require reasonable accommodations to complete this application, you can request assistance by contacting the Indiana State Personnel Department at [e-mail] .