| Advisory Opinion request regarding whether the Code of Governmental Ethics ("Code") permits Leisa Lawson to represent the City of Alexandria in legal matters after her tenure as the Director of Civil Service for the City of Alexandria. |
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Leisa Lawson was employed as Director of Civil Service for the City of Alexandria ("the City") from June 15, 2020, until April 30, 2024. As Director of Civil Service, she was the chief administrative officer for the Alexandria Civil Service Commission ("Commission") in addition to serving as executive head of the City's Civil Service Department. The Commission is a five member body comprised of four appointees and one elected member. The Commission is her appointing authority.
During her tenure as Director of Civil Service, the City did not pay her annual Louisiana State Bar Association Membership Dues or Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board Assessment. Additionally, the City did not pay for her Mandatory Continuing Legal Education. The minimum qualifications for the Director of Civil Service position were a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university supplemented by experience in human resources or personnel administration. She was not required to posses a Juris Doctor nor was she required to possess a license to practice law in Louisiana. As Director of Civil Service, she did not represent the City or the Commission in legal matters.
Ms. Lawson is currently employed as an attorney with Chadwick, Odom, & Stokes ("COS"). She is paid a salary and benefits but does not have any ownership interest in the firm. She asks whether she would be allowed to represent the City in legal matters. COS does not currently represent the City in legal matters. Moreover COS does not represent nor does it have any intent to represent the Commission in legal matters. Should COS contract with the City, the firm's representation of the City in legal matters would be limited to matters that do not involve the Commission. Likewise, her representation would be limited to legal matters that do not involve the Commission.
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La. R.S. 42:1121A(1). No former agency head or elected official shall, for a period of two years following the termination of his public service as the head of such agency or as an elected public official serving in such agency, assist another person, for compensation, in a transaction, or in an appearance in connection with a transaction, involving that agency or render any service on a contractual basis to or for such agency. (2). No former member of a board or commission shall, for a period of two years following the termination of his public service on such board or commission, contract with, be employed in any capacity by, or be appointed to any position by that board or commission.
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Adopt the proposed Advisory Opinion.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Mallory Guillot |
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