The Division of Administrative Law (DAL) is Louisiana's centralized administrative hearings panel. When disputes arise between government agencies and those they regulate , due process hearings should be fair and impartial, convenient to citizens, and conducted professionally . DAL is independent from the agencies served, preserving fairness and impartiality in administrative hearings .
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:ATTORNEY:
Represent a department in highly complex and high-profile litigation before trial and appellate courts and administrative tribunals.
Represent the agency in complex procedural and substantive legal and regulatory proceedings involving multiple scientific, technical, regulatory, and legal issues combined.
To independently conduct evidentiary public hearings on issues pertaining to major program areas.
May serve as lead-worker over attorneys of lower rank. May supervise a lower ranking attorney or an administrative law judge.
Prepares and reviews the preparation and negotiation of contracts, requests for proposal, and other legal documents. Drafts and reviews the drafting of new legislation.
Advise department officials on their highest profile and complex legal problems.
Serves as chief regional/district legal counsel for a stated department/agency/office having program offices, in an assigned geographic region, and is responsible for independently providing highly technical legal direction, advice, assistance, consultation, representation, and having direct influence on the operations of the regional/district program offices.
ATTORNEY/ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES/REFEREES:
Conducts public, adversarial, evidentiary hearings throughout the state involving a constitutionally protected property right and involving various, highly complex legal issues in which cases, there is no opportunity for another evidentiary hearing; examines or cross-examines witnesses as necessary to fully develop the facts; rules on the admissibility of evidence; rules on procedural matters; administers the oath to witnesses and maintains judicial decorum.
Independently weighs the testimonial and documentary evidence presented, assesses the credibility of witnesses, and determines the facts.
Researches and interprets the applicable law and jurisprudence; applies the law to the facts found and independently reaches a decision; prepares and issues a formal written opinion containing findings of fact, conclusions of law, the rationale for the decision and the judgment, which judgment is binding on the parties unless judicial review is sought.
Develops an accurate record of the proceedings by ensuring: that the proceedings are recorded; that the exhibits offered, proffered or introduced into evidence are adequately marked for identification and are physically placed in the record; that the sound recordings are accurately labeled; and that an index of testimony is prepared indicating at what point on what tape each witness testified and the nature of the examination.
Decides whether, as a matter of law, the case should be disposed of without a hearing on the merits and orders limitations on the scope of the hearing; decides whether requested subpoenas are relevant and orders/declines the issuance of subpoenas; decides whether there is good cause shown and grants/denies requests for continuance.
Position-Specific Details:****Due to statutory requirements applicants who possess at eight years or more experience practicing law will be preferred.