Attorney 4

Attorney 4

Salary

$35.50 - $69.66 Hourly

Location

Lafayette, LA

Job Type

Classified

Job Number

MHA 092926 ERG

Department

Gov-Mental Health Advocacy Services

Opening Date

09/29/2026

Closing Date

10/13/2026 11:59 PM Central

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

About this Job

The Mental Health Advocacy Service has a vacancy. This job title has an assigned pay grade of AS-623.

Our mission is to ensure that our clients' voices are heard and that they receive every right and remedy afforded to them under law.

Our goal is to provide high-quality legal counsel and representation to our clients, address systemic issues that affect the rights of more than one client and require a remedy, act as a clearinghouse for information relative to adults and children with mental health diagnoses and children in need of care, and provide training to various individuals/agencies.

This position will fulfill duties of loyalty, confidentiality, advocacy, and competent representation to clients. Conducts a continuous study of applicable law and judicial decisions.

Minimum Qualifications

Possession of a current Louisiana license to practice law plus three years of experience as a practicing attorney.

Job Specification

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

Job Duties and Other Information

Job Duties:

• Conducts a continuous study of applicable law and judicial decisions. Obtains copies of all pleadings and notices. Participates in discovery, negotiations, conferences, and hearings.
• Informs other parties and counsel of the agencys representation. Advises clients about their rights, including but not limited to the patient's bill of rights and other statutory rights found in the Louisiana Children's Code, Medicaid law, and other applicable bodies of law. Identifies and seeks to obtain appropriate resources for clients.
• Engages in meaningful communication with clients, including, but not limited to, face-to-face meetings. Represents children in SIJS/child welfare cases who are in need of assistance from a masters-level attorney in SIJS law and child welfare.
• Advises the child about the case, the childs rights, the court system, the proceedings, counsels role, expectations of the legal process, the risks and benefits of possible courses of action, and other relief; determines the clients desires and preferences in a developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive manner. Advocates for the desires and expressed preferences of the child and follows the childs direction throughout the case in a developmentally appropriate manner.
• Travels by personal vehicle to court, to meet with clients, to staff meetings, and to other required locations. Submits timely requests for travel reimbursement. 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, LDH, DCFS, provider, and other records of the child. Contacts lawyers for other parties, Court Appointed Special Advocates, parents, guardians and/or caretakers of the child (with the permission of their attorneys and the client).
• Coordinates and consults with the MHAS Social Worker(s) on staff, as needed and directed. Interviews individuals involved with the child; reviews relevant evidence; and attends treatment, placement, and administrative hearings; other proceedings involving legal issues; and school conferences or staffing as needed. Attends treatment, placement, administrative hearings, and school conferences or staffing as needed. Files petitions, motions, answers, responses, or objections as necessary.
• Attends and participates in all hearings and conferences with the court relevant to the child.
• Participates in mediation and settlement negotiations. Presents evidence, direct and cross-examines witnesses, offers exhibits, and provides independent evidence as necessary.
• Attempts to ensure clients presence at significant court hearings, except when counsel affirmatively waives the childs presence.
• Seeks to ensure continued representation of the child at all child-related conferences and hearings. Discusses the end of legal representation with the child and determines what contacts, if any, will continue between the child and his/her counsel.
• Complies with Supreme Court of Louisiana requirements to practice law in Louisiana, including, but not limited to, education requirements to represent children in abuse and neglect cases. Keeps in good standing concerning professional ethical requirements. Complies with the Louisiana Supreme Courts Special Rules for cases involving the Protection of Children. All other duties assigned.

Position-Specific Details:

Appointment type: This vacancy will be filled as a part-time classified WAE, which is temporary in nature, not to exceed 1245 hours in a 12-month period.

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

Driving and traveling will be required.

How To Apply:

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.

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 governments E-verify system.

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. 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

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

More information can be found at https://www.civilservice.louisiana.gov/Parental-Leave/Default.aspx

Holidays and Leave - State employees receive the following paid holidays each year:

• New Years Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
• Mardi Gras,
• Good Friday,
• Memorial Day,
• Independence Day,
• Labor Day,
• Veterans 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
• Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana (www.trsl.org),
• Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (www.lsers.net), among others

01

Are you interested in being considered for employment in a WAE position? Applicants applying to this announcement should be aware that this is a part-time WAE (when actually employed) position, and shall not exceed 1245 hours in a 12-month period.)

• Yes
• No

02

Do you possess a current, valid license to practice law in Louisiana?

• Yes
• No

03

If you answered yes to the question above, please list your Bar Roll Number and the original issuance date of your license (mm/yy). If you answered no to the question above, please type "N/A".

Required Question

Employer State of Louisiana

Address 1201 N 3rd St

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70802

Phone (866) 783-5462

Website http://agency.governmentjobs.com/louisiana/default.cfm