Overview
This is a 100% remote Senior Attorney position within a state government agency focused on child services. The role involves providing legal advice and representation related to administrative law proceedings, including defending agency actions in hearings before administrative law judges. The position supports a mission to protect children and strengthen families through various child welfare programs.
Responsibilities
- Defend agency actions in administrative bench hearings before administrative law judges.
- Handle cases involving child abuse/neglect substantiations, adoption assistance, guardianship assistance, foster care licensing, rate setting, and collaborative care.
- Organize and manage administrative caseloads in preparation for hearings.
- Identify and prepare witnesses for testimony, including anticipating cross-examination.
- Prepare and mark exhibits; manage offers to prove essential evidence.
- Provide discovery and exhibits to appellants, their attorneys, and the Office of Administrative Law Proceedings.
- Draft legal documents such as motions to dismiss, motions to stay, proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, briefs responding to recommended decisions, and other pleadings.
- Conduct legal research to stay current on administrative law and prepare for hearings.
- Negotiate settlements to resolve disputes or cases.
- Advise and provide legal support to agency staff on various program and legal areas.
- May train, manage, delegate to, and support legal support staff.
- May oversee, draft, review, or provide legal advice relating to contracts.
- Research, interpret, and provide legal advice on laws, rules, policies, and legal opinions related to agency operations.
- May draft and review legislation and administrative rules.
- Utilize legal resources, dockets, legal files, and official records related to legal procedures.
- Create, prepare, and distribute documents related to hearings, including orders and decisions.
- Recruit, select, onboard, and train employees; set expectations, measure progress, provide feedback, and evaluate performance.
- May handle administrative matters and hearings, maintaining decorum, ruling on evidence admissibility, and making reasoned decisions.
- Organize and manage caseloads for hearings and litigation.
- May review pleadings, motions, discovery, and draft appeals or briefs.
This position is exempt from overtime compensation and may require working more than 75 hours in a pay period without additional pay.
Requirements
- Juris Doctor (Doctorate of Jurisprudence) degree.
- Minimum of 5 years of legal experience as a practicing attorney.
- Admission to the Indiana Bar in good standing.
- Demonstrated knowledge and ability to apply relevant statutes, case law, and rules.
- Strong oral and written communication skills.
- Proficiency in using case management systems to manage dockets, case information, party information, and serve orders.
- Strong legal research, writing, and litigation skills.
- Ability to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supervising or leading legal teams.
- Ability to work effectively in a virtual environment using Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, Adobe PDF, and Canva.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- May serve as a team lead for an assigned work group.
- Provides direct supervision for two or more attorneys.
Compensation & Benefits
- Starting salary typically $85,020, commensurate with education and experience.
- Comprehensive benefits package including:
- Three medical plan options with prescription coverage, plus vision and dental plans.
- Wellness rewards program.
- Health savings account with bi-weekly state contributions.
- Deferred compensation 457(b) plan with employer match.
- Two fully-funded pension plan options.
- Generous leave policies including paid new parent leave, childbirth recovery leave, community service leave, vacation, personal, sick leave, and paid holidays.
- Education reimbursement program.
- Group life insurance.
- Employee assistance program with behavioral health coverage.
- Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
- Free parking for most positions.
- Free access to LinkedIn Learning.
Location
- This position is fully remote.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The employer is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on ability and job performance. Reasonable accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities during the application and interview process and to perform essential job functions.