Attorney 4

Salary $35.50 - $69.66 Hourly Location Monroe, LA Job Type Classified Job Number

MHA 051226 ERG

Department Gov-Mental Health Advocacy Services Opening Date 05/12/2026 Closing Date 5/26/2026 11:59 PM Central About this Job The Mental Health Advocacy Service has a vacancy. This job title has an assigned pay grade of AS-623. This position is responsible for providing legal representation for abused and neglected children and also for persons with mental disabilities in the Monroe and surrounding parishes. Our mission is to ensure that our clients' voices are heard and that they receive every right and remedy afforded 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 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:

As a licensed attorney with specialized knowledge of Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) cases and child welfare matters, provide case consultations, management, and legal representation on child abuse and neglect cases. Informs other parties and counsel of the agency's 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. 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, the hospital or facility, 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, LDH, DCFS, provider, and other records of the child. Contact 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; attends treatment, placement, and administrative hearings; other proceedings involving legal issues; and school conferences or staffing as needed. 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. 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. Complies with the Louisiana Supreme Court's Special Rules for Cases Involving the Protection of Children. All other duties assigned

Position-Specific Details:

Appointment Type:

This vacancy will be filled by a new hire. Anyone is eligible to apply. 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.

Other information:

Driving and traveling will be required.

How To Apply:

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy. 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 government's 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 or faxed to (225) 219-1041. 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 is a "State as a Model Employer" for People with Disabilities. 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 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