Attorney Advisor

Job Summary

This position is in the Office of the General Counsel, Behavioral Health Authority, with the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH).

The incumbent of this position serves as an Attorney Advisor and is responsible for handling complex and difficult behavioral health law and employment matters involving the Department of Behavioral Health’s (DBH) programs and services.

Duties include:

(a) Providing legal advice both orally and in writing to executive staff and supervisors at all DBH locations; (b) Researching laws, regulations, and cases bearing on legal issues involving DBH policies and programs; (c) Drafting and reviewing regulations, contracts, settlement agreements, memorandums of understanding, memorandums of agreement, and affiliation agreements; (d) Advising and representing DBH-Saint Elizabeths Hospital in consumer grievances and the dispute resolution process, medication review officer reviews, involuntary medication panel review;

(e) Responding to temporary restraining order (TRO) motions in DC Superior Court, including court appearances; (f) Advising and representing DBH in personnel and employee disciplinary matters, including Office of Employee Appeals cases and EO and DC Human Rights Act complaints; (g) Reviewing and responding to Freedom of Information Act requests; (h) Reviewing investigation reports and Notice of Infractions for providers and group home operators;

(i) Representing DBH before the Office of Administrative Hearings; and (j) Providing litigation support to the Office of the Attorney General on cases affecting DBH.

Candidate must have a law degree and be a member of the District of Columbia Bar in good standing, or eligible for waive into the Bar. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, this position requires one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Specialized experience is experience, which has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position to be filled.

64 New York Avenue N.E., Washington, DC 20002

Work is performed in an office setting.

OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC

8:15 AM - 4:45 PM Monday – Friday

LA-905-14

Career Service - Permanent

March 2, 2026

No known promotion potential

A person applying for a position in the Career Service, Educational Service, Management Supervisory Service, a line attorney position in the Legal Service (series 905), or an attorney position in the Excepted Service (series 905) who is a bona fide District resident AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION for the position may be awarded a 10-point residency preference over non-District applicants unless the person declines the preference points.

Applicants claiming “Residency Preference” will be required to maintain residency in the District of Columbia for a minimum of seven (7) years. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of employment. If the position you are applying for is in the Career, Management Supervisory, or Educational Service at an annual salary of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) or more, you must establish residency in the District of Columbia within one hundred eighty (180) days of the effective date of the appointment and continue to maintain residency within the District of Columbia throughout the duration of the appointment.

This position is deemed as “Security Sensitive” pursuant to Section 412 of Chapter 4 of the D.C. Personnel Regulations, in addition to the general suitability screening, individuals applying for or occupying security-sensitive positions are subject to the following checks and tests:

• Criminal background check.
• Traffic record check (as applicable).
• Consumer credit check (as applicable).
• Reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol test; and
• Post-accident or incident drug and alcohol test.

The District of Columbia Government is an Equal Opportunity

Employer:

All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, physical handicap, or political affiliation.