Attorney 1,2,3

Baton Rouge, United States

Salary

Depends on Qualifications

Location

Baton Rouge, LA

Job Type

Classified

Job Number

MHA 091625E ERG

Department

Gov-Mental Health Advocacy Services

Opening Date

09/16/2025

Closing Date

9/30/2025 11:59 PM Central

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 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.

Make a real impact as an Attorney 1 by giving children and vulnerable clients a strong voice in the legal system. In this role, you’ll advocate for clients’ rights, represent children in need of care, and protect patient rights in mental health proceedings. You’ll conduct investigations, file motions, present cases in court, and collaborate with agencies and providers to ensure fair outcomes. This is a hands-on opportunity to build your legal skills while advancing justice, protecting rights, and shaping brighter futures.

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:

Represents clients in judicial commitment proceedings.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Travels by personal vehicle to court, to meet with clients, to staff meetings, and to other required locations. Submits timely requests for travel reimbursement.

Position-Specific Details:
Appointment Type: This vacancy may be filled by 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.
Location: New Orleans Region and surrounding area.
Career Progression: This vacancy participates in a career progression group and may be filled from this recruitment as a Attorney 1, 2 or 3.

This position is full-time. Establishing or continuing an outside practice is prohibited while being employed in this agency.

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

Candidate must posses a valid driver's license. Travel is 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.

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.

Contact Information:

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 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

Similar jobs