Departmental Specialist - Legal Affairs - State Hospital Legal Specialist

The MDHHS mission is to provide opportunities, services, and programs that promote a healthy, safe, and stable environment for residents to be self-sufficient. We are committed to ensuring a diverse workforce and a work environment whereby all employees are treated with dignity, respect and fairness. For more information, please visit our MDHHS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan.

This position functions as the legal specialist on the inpatient psychiatric hospital placement crisis for seriously mental ill individuals and serves as legal liaison between Legal Affairs Administration and the State Hospital Administration’s (SHA) state psychiatric hospitals. This position is responsible for assisting the Attorney General’s Office on legal matters related to state hospitals. This position assists hospital administration in prioritization of hospital admissions;

attends care flow meetings to address legal issues preventing hospital discharges; and processes cases that the Department refers for diversion. This position works with external stakeholders (courts, prosecutors, defense counsel, jails) to help facilitate diversion of individuals from the criminal process and allow the department to prioritize admissions. This position provides guidance and outreach regarding the forensic and probate mental health process (Incompetent to Stand Trial (IST) or Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI);
Recipient Rights;
Joint Commission accreditation; professional licensure; MIOSHA; probate court involuntary treatment process and orders; show cause/contempt proceedings; collective bargaining; and facility management), the importance of orders aligning with statute, and options outside of the forensic (IST/NGRI) and probate process, and presents at conferences regarding the forensic and probate process.

• apply for this position online via NEOGOV; click on Apply in the job posting for instructions on submitting your electronic application. Hard copy applications are not accepted.
• meet the Selective Position Requirement (SPR):
  Possession of Juris Doctorate degree from an ABA-accredited law school. Licensed to practice law in any jurisdiction of the United States, and not disbarred or suspended from practicing law in any jurisdiction of the United States.
• relevant experience and/or education referred to in supplemental questions must be documented in resume, transcript and/or application to allow for accurate screening.
• attach a resume identifying specific experience and dates of employment. Dates of employment should include month and year and hours per week.
• attach a cover letter.
• if applicable, attach a copy of an official transcript(s). We accept scanned copies of official transcripts. We do not accept web-based, internet, or copies of unofficial transcripts. Official transcripts provide the name of the institution, confirmation that a degree was awarded and on what date, and the registrar's signature.

Failure to complete any of the above items may result in your application not being considered. See instructions for attaching files here:
Instructions

Possession of a bachelor's degree in any major.

Four years of professional experience, including two years equivalent to the experienced (P11) level or one year equivalent to the advanced (12) level.

In addition to the minimum education and experience requirements, all applicants must meet the following Selective Position Requirement (SPR):
Possession of Juris Doctorate degree from an ABA-accredited law school. Licensed to practice law in any jurisdiction of the United States, and not disbarred or suspended from practicing law in any jurisdiction of the United States.

The physical location of this position is 235 S. Grand Ave, Lansing, MI. Based on operational needs and within established limits, remote work and alternate or hybrid work schedule requests for this position may be considered.

Selected candidates who have been approved to work remotely or a hybrid schedule must complete that work within Michigan. Candidates should confirm work location and schedule at the time of interview.