OPEN DATE: 5/24/2024
CLOSE DATE: 6/14/2024
JOB LOCATION: Alabama Department of Mental Health
RSA Union Building
100 North Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36130
SALARY
• Range 79 ($56,971.20 – $95,800.80 Annually).
• Salary will be commensurate with experience. Limitations apply to current State employees.
BENEFITS
• 12 paid holidays.
• 1 personal leave day accrued each January.
• 13 sick leave days.
• 13 annual leave days accrued in the first year of employment.
• Longevity bonus annually after 5 years of employment.
• Very low-cost health and dental insurance through the Alabama State Employee Insurance
Board.
• Defined retirement benefit (not impacted by economic downturns) and a pre-retirement death
benefit through the Retirement Systems of Alabama.
▪ After 1 year, the minimum amount of the pre-retirement death benefit paid to your
designated beneficiary is at least equal to your current or previous fiscal year annual
salary.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
• Graduation from approved school of law.
• 12 months or more experience in legal research work and the preparation for trial of difficult
cases.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENT
• Possession of a Certificate of Admission to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Alabama.
KIND OF WORK
• Defends cases for the Department primarily in Montgomery and South Alabama.
• Prepares or assists in preparing cases for trial by drafting pleadings in major civil or criminal
cases.
• Conducts litigation in trial and appellate courts with or without supervision as the
circumstances demand.
• Advises management employees of the Department concerning legal issues.
• Responds to and represents Department in juvenile matters.
• Prepares legal papers including contracts, court/hearing documents, and various types of
miscellaneous papers.
• Acts as legal advisor for the Department by giving opinions on difficult litigation,
investigation reports of law violations, and prepares legal documents.
• Attends Recommitment Hearings of Involuntary Committed patients to the custody of the
Department (as required by the Code of Alabama) and hearings in Alabama Circuits Courts for
the conditional release of persons previously found to be not guilty by reason of insanity.
• Represents the ADMH in administrative hearings including recommitment NGRI hearing, and
decertification’s.
• Assists the General Counsel in preparing for trial.
• Assists with other duties as assigned.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
• Knowledge of the principles, procedures, methods, and materials regarding legal research.
• Knowledge of the methods of pleading civil and criminal cases.
• Knowledge of the application of legal principles to individual cases or problems.
• Knowledge of court procedures and rules of evidence.
• Ability to analyze and organize facts, evidence, and legal precedents to render legal opinions.
• Ability to effectively handle a variety of legal matters.
• Ability to understand, interpret, and apply constitutional provisions, statutes, administrative
regulations, and precedents.
• Ability to prepare legal documents and records such as briefs, opinions, and decisions.
• Ability to communicate in a clear and concise manner, both verbally and in writing.
METHOD OF SELECTION
• Applicants will be rated based on an evaluation of their job-related training, abilities,
experience, and education, and should provide adequate work history identifying experiences
related to the duties and minimum qualifications as mentioned above.
• All relevant information is subject to verification.
• Drug screening and security clearances will be conducted on prospective applicants
being given serious consideration for employment whose job requires direct contact
with patients.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Please contact ashley.nichols@mh.alabama.gov.