Training Staff Attorney

Date Posted: Apr 17, 2024

Requisition ID: 441539

Location:

Brownstown, IN, US, 47220

Work for Indiana

Grow your career with the State of Indiana! With more than 50 executive branch agencies, the State of Indiana is a diverse workforce offering employees stimulating and challenging projects across a broad scope of career opportunities. As a State of Indiana employee, you impact the well-being of Indiana’s communities every day.

At the State of Indiana, we don’t just talk about diversity and inclusion - Our goal is to create a welcoming, accessible, and equitable workplace, with a workforce that is representative of the State of Indiana population. As a proud equal opportunity employer, reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process, as well as perform the essential functions of a role.

Next Level benefits at the State of Indiana are here! Be sure to review our expanded benefit package offerings below.

About the Department of Child Services:

Join a team that engages with families and children to improve lives in meaningful and significant ways. DCS engages authentically with children who are victims of abuse or neglect and strengthens families through services that focus on family support and preservation. The Department also administers family preservation and prevention services, foster care, and child support throughout the State of Indiana. You will relentlessly pursue permanency for children and families through reunification, guardianship, adoption or support youth in making a successful transition to adulthood. While this job is difficult and may have long and sometimes unconventional hours, this is more than a job—it is a calling to improve your community and neighbors. Will you join us in supporting our Mission, Vision, and Values?

Mission: The Indiana Department of Child Services leads the state’s response to allegations of child abuse and neglect and facilitates child support payments. We consider the needs and values of all we serve in our efforts to protect children while keeping families together whenever possible.

Vision: Children will live in safe, healthy and supportive families and communities.

Values: We at the Indiana Department of Child Services empower our team, in collaboration with state and local partners, to make decisions in the best interest of every child in our care by embracing:

• Child Safety

• Permanency

• Collaborative partnerships with foster and adoptive families

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

• A culture of safety and transparency

• A commitment to continuous improvement

Salary:

This position traditionally starts at an annual salary of $85,020. Salary for this position may be commensurate with education and job experience.

Role Overview:

In this position, you will serve as a coach in a structured program for DCS attorneys, specifically short-term intense coaching for new hire staff attorneys andprofessional development and/or performance driven one on one coaching for members of the legal department. The candidate will work with supervisionand other litigation division management to help develop and implement curriculum for new DCS attorneys, work with attorneys in need of remedialassistance, and provide intermediate/advanced in-service training related to trial skills/trial advocacy, the Indiana Code and child welfare statutes andregulations, the Indiana Rules of Evidence, Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure, Indiana Rules of Professional Responsibility, DCS legal policies and procedures.This position could be assigned to work with DCS attorneys in Regions 12 (Henry, Wayne, Rush, Fayette, Union and Franklin), 13 (Owen, Monroe, Brown, Greene and Lawrence), 14 (Johnson, Shelby, Bartholomew, Jackson, Jennings), 15 (Decatur, Ripley, Dearborn, Ohio, Jefferson, Switzerland), 16 (Knox, Pike, Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh and Warrick), 17 (Davies, Martin, Dubois, Crawford, Orange, Spencer and Perry), and 18 (Washington, Scott, Clark, Floyd, Harrison). Actual regional assignments will be assigned at a later date but will be in the above regions. Travel to assigned regions/counties is required on a regular basis, as well as travel to other assigned trainings across the State. Current State of Indiana administrative policy allows for remote work up to 15 hours per week.These duties and privileges are subject to change.

A Day in the Life:

The essential functions of this role are as follows:

• May train, manage, delegate to, and/or provide support for any legal support staff;

• Advises and provides legal support to agency staff on various program and legal areas;

• May oversee, draft, review, or provide legal advice relating to contracts;

• Researches, interprets, and provides legal advice in relation to laws, rules, policies, and legal opinions pertaining to agency operations;

• May draft and review legislation and administrative rules;

• Utilizes legal resources, dockets, legal files, and official records relating to legal procedures;

• Creates, prepares, and distributes documents related to hearings, including orders and decisions;

• Recruits, selects, onboards, and trains employees to ensure role responsibilities and expectations are clearly understood while providing opportunities to continue professional development;

• Sets expectations, measure progress, provide ongoing feedback, and evaluate the performance of employees. Ensure work adheres to quality standards, deadlines, and proper procedures;

• May handle administrative matters and hearings while maintaining appropriate decorum, hear evidence, rule on the admissibility of evidence, and/or make reasoned decisions supported by evidence;

• May be required to utilize litigation skills and experience relating to agency operations;

• Organizes and manages caseload in the preparation of hearings and/or litigation;

• May review pleadings, motions, and discovery;

• May draft appeals or briefs, or perform legal writing assignments.

The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time.

What You'll Need for Success:

The ideal candidate in this role should minimally have

• A Doctorate of Jurisprudence with 5+ years of legal experience as a practicing attorney;

• Indiana Bar Admission license in good standing;

• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to apply relevant statutes, case law, and rules;

• Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing;

• Ability to successfully utilize a case management system to manage a docket, case information, party information, and serve orders;

• Strong legal research, writing, and litigation skills.

Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports:

This role may serve as a team lead for an assigned work group.

This role provides direct supervision for two or more attorneys.

Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana:

The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees which includes:

• Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans

• Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards

• Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution

• Flexible work scheduling options, including the potential for hybrid remote work for employees whose work may be performed outside state facilities

• Deferred compensation 457B account (similar to 401k plan) with employer match

• Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options

• A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to:

• 150 hours of paid new parent leave

• Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave

• Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off

• 12 paid holidays, 14 on election years

• Education Reimbursement Program

• Group life insurance

• Referral Bonus program

• Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits

• Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

• Free Parking for most positions

• Free LinkedIn Learning access

  Equal Employment Opportunity:

  The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruit, select, develop, and promote employees based on individual ability and job performance. Our policy is to provide equal employment opportunity to all people in all aspects of employer-employee relations without discrimination because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, or veteran status. We will comply with the spirit as well as the letter of all applicable state and federal laws.

  If you are a qualified individual with a disability and require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, you can request assistance by contacting the Indiana State Personnel Department at [email protected].

  The State of Indiana has established a culture that welcomes equity, inclusion, and opportunity for all employees and applicants. We encourage you to apply if you feel you have the transferrable skills to be successful in this position and we look forward to reviewing your application.

  Current Employee? Click here (https://performancemanager8.successfactors.com/sf/careers/jobsearch?bplte_company=indianaoff) to apply.