Attorney Supervisor

Overview

The Mental Health Advocacy Service has a vacancy. This job title has an assigned pay grade of AS-624. This position is responsible for providing legal representation for children and/or adults with mental disabilities and substance abuse disorders, in New Orleans and surrounding area. Supervision of other employees. This position is full-time. Establishing or continuing an outside practice is prohibited while being employed in this agency.

Candidate must possess a valid driver's license. Travel is required. 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.

Possession of a current Louisiana license to practice law plus four years of experience as a practicing attorney. The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

• CASEWORK AND LITIGATION

• Fulfills duties of loyalty, confidentiality, advocacy and competent representation to clients.
• 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 attorney's representation.
• Advises clients about their rights.
• Identifies and seeks to obtain appropriate resources for clients.
• Engages in communication with clients, including, but not limited to, face-to-face meetings.
• Attempts to reduce delays in Child In Need of Care (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.
• 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 is/her desires and preferences about particular issues, determines and advocates for the child's best interest.
• Engages in regular and meaningful communication with the child, including but 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. 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, DSS, 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).
• 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. Decides whether to call the client as a witness and ensures that the client is prepared to testify.
• Attempts to ensure client's presence…