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.

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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