Attorney 1,2,3

Attorney 1,2,3

Salary

Depends on Qualifications

Location

Baton Rouge, LA

Job Type

Classified

Job Number

MHA 062326 ERG

Department

Gov-Mental Health Advocacy Services

Opening Date

06/23/2026

Closing Date

7/14/2026 11:59 PM Central

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

About this Job

The Office of Mental Health Advocacy Service has a vacancy.

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

Minimum Qualifications

Possession of a current Louisiana license to practice law.

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:

• Fulfills duties of loyalty, confidentiality, advocacy, and competent representation to clients.
• Identifies and seeks to obtain appropriate resources for clients.
• Avoids creating and attempts to reduce delays in CINC proceedings and advocates for timely permanence for the child.
• Advises the child about the case, the child's rights, the court system, the proceedings, counsel's role, expectations of the legal process, the risks and benefits of possible courses of action, and other relief; determines the client's desires and preferences in a developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive manner.
• Engages in regular and meaningful communication with the child, including, but not limited to, face-to-face meetings with the child at the child's placement and/or other locations outside of the courthouse.
• Travels by personal vehicle to court, to meet with clients, to staff meetings, and to other required locations.
• 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.
• 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.
• Presents evidence, direct and cross-examines witnesses, offers exhibits, and provides independent evidence as necessary. Decides whether to call the child as a witness and ensures that the child is prepared to testify.
• Collects data required by the IV-E program, documents changes in client status per IV-E, compiles and organizes IV-E indicators and reasons for client changes, and updates support staff weekly on changes regarding every client on caseload.
• 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.
• Develops a strategy for the implementation of systems improvements in the protection of patient rights and the rights of children.

Position-Specific Details:

Appointment Type: This vacancy may be filled by a job appointment, which is temporary in nature, not to exceed 48 months. If filled as a job appointment, the position may be converted to a probational appointment, provided a vacant position becomes available, and funding is available.

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

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

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

This position is responsible for providing legal representation for abused and neglected children and also for children and/or adults with mental disabilities and substance abuse disorders, in the Baton Rouge Region and surrounding area. This position is full-time. Establishing or continuing an outside practice is prohibited while being employed in this agency.

Candidate must possess a valid drivers license as well as a valid law license in the State of Louisiana. Travel is 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.

• 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.

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 job appointment capacity? (Job appointment are temporary in nature, not to exceed 48 months in duration.)

• Yes
• No

02

Are you currently licensed to practice law in the State of 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".

04

Do you possess a valid Drivers License?

• Yes
• No

05

Please describe in detail your experience working with children and persons with disabilities. If this does not apply to you, enter 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