Salary : $4,694.00 - $9,211.00 Monthly
Location : Baton Rouge, LA
Job Type: Classified
Job Number: MHA 100526 ERG
Department: Gov-Mental Health Advocacy Services
Opening Date: 10/05/2026
Closing Date: 11/2/2026 11:59 PM Central

This position is responsible for providing legal representation for abused and neglected children and also for children and/or adults with mental disabilities and substance abuse disorders in the Baton Rouge Region and surrounding area.

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:

• Advises children and mental health patients of their legal rights, the court process, counsel's role, and available options in a developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive manner, while determining and honoring client preferences.
• Advocates for the expressed wishes of the child throughout the case and, when necessary, determines and advances the child's best interests.
• Conducts thorough, ongoing investigations and discovery, including review of medical, mental health, social service, educational, law enforcement, and court records, and interviews relevant individuals.
• Provides continuous legal representation by attending and participating in all court hearings, treatment and placement reviews, administrative proceedings, and school conferences relevant to the client.
• Collaborates with hospital staff, service providers, and community partners; advises on patient rights and violations; and delivers training on legal rights and provider responsibilities.
• Oversees IV-E data collection and reporting, ensures timely and accurate documentation of client status changes, supervises and supports staff as assigned, and provides guidance and training to lower-rank attorneys and support personnel.

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.

Career Progression: This vacancy participates in a career progression group and may be filled from this recruitment as an Attorney 1, 2, or 3.

Compensation: The Salary range listed on the job posting reflects the pay grade minimum and maximum for the Attorney 1 job title. The salary range pay grade minimum and maximum for the other levels of the career progression group can be viewed using the links below:
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.

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.

*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.
For further information about this posting, please contact:

Erica R. Gay
HR Specialist
Division of Administration/Office of Human Resources
email:
01

Are you interested in being considered for employment in a job appointment capacity? (Job appointment are temporary in nature, not to exceed 48 months in duration.)

• Yes
• No

02

Are you currently licensed to practice law in the state of Louisiana?

• Yes
• No

03

*****PLEASE NOTE: Experience as a licensed attorney will only be credited on and after the date (mm/yy) you gained your law license. If you do not provide the issue date, we will be unable to credit any experience listed. If you answered yes to the question above, please list your Bar Roll Number and the original issuance date of your license (mm/yy). If you answered no to the question above, please type "N/A".
04

Do you possess a valid Driver's License?

• Yes
• No

05

Please describe in detail your experience working with children and persons with disabilities. If this does not apply to you, enter N/A.
Required Question