The legal counsel in the Department of Human Resources Legal Office act
as in-house legal counsel for the State and County Departments of Human
Resources. The Legal Office consists of the State Legal Office and six
branch offices-- Birmingham Legal Office, Mobile Legal Office,
Montgomery Regional Legal Office, Tuscaloosa Legal Office, Anniston
Legal Office, and the Robertsdale Legal Office. The offices are staffed
with DHR Staff Counsel and support personnel. The Department of Human
Resources Legal Office does not provide representation, consultation, or
legal services to the general public.
The mission of the Legal Office is to defend and prosecute cases on
behalf of the Department of Human Resources and to provide legal
assistance to Department of Human Resources that will enable the
Department to effectively carry out its programs. The function of the
Legal Office is twofold: representation and consultation for the
Department of Human Resources (DHR).
The State Legal Office represents the Department and its employees in
State and Federal trial and appellate courts. The attorneys provide
consultation to DHR's own outside counsel (district attorneys and
special appointees), court officials, and other public officials
regarding legal matters that have an impact on the Department and those
individuals that the Department serves.
The attorneys provide legal guidance to DHR staff in matters pertaining
to departmental programs, personnel issues, legislative and regulatory
matters, housing and contract issues, and other areas as appropriate.
The State Legal Office also provides administrative support to the
sixty-seven county departments by obtaining authorization for the use of
local counsel (attorneys in private practice who are approved by the
Attorney General to represent the department) and processing the legal
fees for their representation. The Office also processes legal fees
charged to the Department, which are submitted by courts, expert
witnesses, court reporters, etc. The Office assists in the promulgation
and filing of administrative rules of the agency with the Legislative
Reference Service. The Department's Alabama Administrative Procedure Act
Secretary is a staff member of the State Legal Office.
More Information
Anniston Legal Office
The Anniston Legal Office is primarily responsible for the legal
representation of the Calhoun, Cleburne, Randolph, and Clay County
Department of Human Resources Offices in child abuse and neglect,
dependency, and termination of parental rights cases, in addition to
other miscellaneous court cases. The DHR Legal Offices do not provide
legal service to the general public. All representation is limited to
the Department of Human Resources and its employees.
Birmingham Legal Office
The Birmingham Legal Office is primarily responsible for the legal
representation of the Jefferson County DHR in child welfare and child
support functions. The Birmingham Legal Office does not provide legal
service to the general public. All representation is limited to the
Department of Human Resources and its employees. These attorneys appear
daily on behalf of DHR in approximately 15 state and federal courts in
Jefferson County, and in other courts in Alabama.
The child support section of the Birmingham Legal Office represents the
Jefferson County DHR in paternity actions, petitions for child support,
modifications of child support, contempt for failure to pay child
support in accordance with court orders, and related matters including
medical coverage. If you are interested in applying for child support
services, contact your local county Department of Human Resources.
The child welfare section of the Birmingham Legal Office represents the
Jefferson County DHR in child abuse and neglect, dependency, and
termination of parental rights cases, in addition to other miscellaneous
court cases in the Jefferson County Family Court.
Mobile Legal Office
The Mobile Legal Office is primarily responsible for the legal
representation of the Mobile County DHR in child support functions. The
Mobile Legal Office does not provide legal service to the general
public. All representation is limited to the Department of Human
Resources and its employees. The Mobile Legal Office represents the
Mobile County DHR in paternity actions, petitions for child support,
modifications of child support, contempt for failure to pay child
support in accordance with court orders, and related matters including
medical coverage. If you are interested in applying for child support
services, contact your local county Department of Human Resources.
Montgomery Regional Legal Office
The Montgomery Regional Legal Office is primarily responsible for the
legal representation of the Montgomery, Autauga, Dallas, and Macon
County Department of Human Resources Offices in child abuse and neglect,
dependency, and termination of parental rights cases, in addition to
other miscellaneous court cases. The Montgomery Regional Legal Office
does not provide legal service to the general public. All representation
is limited to the Department of Human Resources and its employees.
Robertsdale Legal Office
The Robertsdale Legal Office is primarily responsible for the legal
representation of the Baldwin County Department of Human Resources in
child abuse and neglect, dependency, and termination of parental rights
cases, in addition to other miscellaneous court cases. The Robertsdale
Legal Office does not provide legal service to the general public. All
representation is limited to the Department of Human Resources and its
employees.
Tuscaloosa Legal Office
The Tuscaloosa Legal Office is primarily responsible for the legal
representation of the Tuscaloosa County DHR in child abuse and neglect,
dependency, and termination of parental rights cases, in addition to
other miscellaneous court cases in the Tuscaloosa County Courts. The
Tuscaloosa Legal Office does not provide legal service to the general
public. All representation is limited to the Department of Human
Resources and its employees.
Contact Information
Phone Number: (334) 242-9330