Senior Attorney

Overview

Join to apply for the Senior Attorney role at State of Indiana . Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering opportunities across 60+ agencies. The State provides competitive compensation, a robust benefits package, and a commitment to work-life balance, with the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana.

About the Department

The Department of Child Services helps children who are victims of abuse or neglect and strengthens families through services focused on family support and preservation. Our services pursue permanency for children and families through reunification, guardianship, and adoption, including foster care, child support, and transitional support for those adjusting to adulthood. Our culture is built upon our MVP foundation :

Mission : Champion Indiana's future by protecting children and strengthening families with compassion and determination.

Vision : Every child in Indiana thrives in a safe, loving, forever home.

Role Overview

The Senior Attorney consults and provides legal guidance to the Central Office, County Offices, and staff on administrative law matters. You will respond to inquiries by Administrative Law Judges in the Office of Administrative Law Proceedings, defend agency actions when required before an Administrative Law Judge, and manage an administrative caseload in preparation for hearings. You will also assist with adoption, guardianship, child abuse matters, and witness preparation. We seek a detail-oriented attorney with strong time management skills and a desire to be a skilled litigator. Residency in the Northwest Indiana service area is highly preferred.

This position traditionally starts at an annual salary of $85,020 but may be commensurate with education and job experience. Use our Compensation Calculator to view the total compensation package.

A Day in the Life

Responsibilities include :

• Defend agency actions in administrative hearings before an administrative law judge (ALJ) from the Office of Administrative Law Proceedings (OALP).
• Defend the agency across matters including substantiations of child abuse / neglect (CAPTA), adoption assistance (AAP / SAS), guardianship assistance (GAP / SGAP), foster care licensing, rate setting, and collaborative care (Chafee) cases.
• Organize and manage an administrative caseload in preparation for hearings.
• Identify and prepare witnesses to testify and anticipate cross-examination.
• Prepare and mark exhibits; offer proofs when evidence may be excluded.
• Provide discovery and exhibits; draft legal documents (motions, proposed findings, briefs).
• Conduct legal research to stay current on administrative law and prepare for hearings.
• Negotiate settlements with opposing parties to resolve disputes and / or cases.
• Increase the Legal Team's effectiveness through agency alignment.

The job description is not designed to cover every activity or responsibility and may change. This position is exempt from overtime, and may require more than 75 hours in a pay period without additional compensation.

What You'll Need for Success

The ideal candidate should minimally have :

Supervisory Responsibilities

This role may serve as a team lead for an assigned work group and provides direct supervision for two or more attorneys.

Benefits of Employment

The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees, including :

The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on ability and job performance. Reasonable accommodations may be available for applicants with disabilities. For accommodations, contact the Indiana State Personnel Department at jobs@spd.IN.gov.

Notices

The content above is focused on the Senior Attorney role with the Department of Child Services in Indiana. Referrals and related postings are not part of the official description for this role.

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