Job Description

Posting number: MHA 060326 ERG

Department: Gov-Mental Health Advocacy Services

Job classification: ATTORNEY 1

Posting type: Open

Categories: Legal, Attorney

Summary

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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 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.

Examples of duties

Possession of a current Louisiana license to practice law.

Qualifications

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

Supplemental information

Job Duties:

• 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:

Appointment Type: 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.

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

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.

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 government's 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