Attorney

About this Job

The Mental Health Advocacy Service has a vacancy. This job title has an assigned pay grade of AS-621.

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.

This position is responsible for providing legal representation for abused and neglected children and also for persons with mental disabilitie in Caddo and surrounding parishes.

Possession of a current Louisiana license to practice law plus three 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.

Job Duties:

• 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 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.
• Engages in meaningful communication with clients, including, but not limited to, face-to-face meetings. Represents children in SIJS/child welfare cases, and are in need of assistance from a master-level attorney in SIJS law and child welfare.
• 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 follow 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.
• 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. 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, 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; 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 child as a witness and ensures that…