What are the responsibilities and job description for the Managing Attorney | Advocacy and Investigations position at National Legal Aid & Defender Association?
Position Description
Who is Disability Rights Wisconsin?
Disability Rights Wisconsin is Wisconsin’s Protection and Advocacy system. The agency is charged with protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities and keeping them free from abuse and neglect. Employing a variety of means, our advocates and attorneys use individual casework and systems advocacy to achieve positive changes in the lives of people with disabilities and their families. We are seeking employees who value this work. In turn, we treat our employees well, offering a supportive environment, talented colleagues, excellent benefits, and generous leave.
Disability Rights Wisconsin arose out of a disability civil rights movement demanding that the abuse of people with disabilities end and that people with disabilities be included in life, school, workplaces, and communities. Our core values include: Diversity, Dignity, Independence, Accessibility, Inclusion, Human Rights, and Liberation.
Our Programs Include
Team Oversight (40%):
Work with short-term advocacy, investigations, and monitoring teams to develop potential activities that support the mission and priorities of DRW. Collaborate to identify issues and strategize to ensure the most impactful use of DRW’s resources to meet the legal needs of people with disabilities and advance systemic change.
Oversee the allocation of time and funding to ensure that i) all activity falls within the bounds of the DRW Mission, and ii) the resources are used cost-effectively to make progress toward DRW Priorities.
Develop and sustain strong working relations with each staff member by:
individualized relationships with each team member to achieve the right balance of support, teamwork, monitoring, guidance, and room to move autonomously ensure compliance with all relevant state and federal grant requirements ongoing effort to promote the professional development of each team member (and ensure that each team member is adequately trained) appropriate ongoing supervision and support of all students and volunteers (if any)
Supervise advocates and attorneys.
Coordinate professional development activities to ensure attorneys and advocates have the skills to perform effective and ethical practice.
Legal and Advocacy Work (20%):
Maintain a limited caseload of strategic or high-profile cases. Directly engage in a substantial level of advocacy activity, which could include the provision of information and advice; speaking; training; handling some individual cases; collaborating with litigation team for a major case; and/or participating in various aspects of DRW systems advocacy.
Perform legal oversight of advocacy, investigation and monitoring programs to ensure goals are met and advance DRW’s individual and systemic advocacy.
Collaborative Work (20%):
Collaborate to develop cohesive strategies to address overall agency-wide advocacy strategy especially on cross-disability issues.
Create and maintain a process to identify and document trends for future program enhancements.
Develop and maintain expertise in significant disability focus areas.
Management and Compliance (15%):
Ensure team compliance with ethical rules, organizational policies, and funder requirements.
Track and report on team outcomes, deliverables, and grant objectives, including collaboration to draft portions of various grant reports throughout the year. Contribute to budget planning and resource allocation for the Team in collaboration with Directors of Finance and Legal & Advocacy Services.
Ensure positive relations between DRW and the key funders/stakeholders, while continuing to protect the overall integrity and quality of DRW’s advocacy.
General (5%)
Adhere to all DRW policies and procedures, including but not limited to work hours, timesheets, file maintenance, confidentiality, and security.
Participate in DRW activities such as all-staff meetings and committees.
May be other related duties as assigned.
Who is Disability Rights Wisconsin?
Disability Rights Wisconsin is Wisconsin’s Protection and Advocacy system. The agency is charged with protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities and keeping them free from abuse and neglect. Employing a variety of means, our advocates and attorneys use individual casework and systems advocacy to achieve positive changes in the lives of people with disabilities and their families. We are seeking employees who value this work. In turn, we treat our employees well, offering a supportive environment, talented colleagues, excellent benefits, and generous leave.
Disability Rights Wisconsin arose out of a disability civil rights movement demanding that the abuse of people with disabilities end and that people with disabilities be included in life, school, workplaces, and communities. Our core values include: Diversity, Dignity, Independence, Accessibility, Inclusion, Human Rights, and Liberation.
Our Programs Include
- Protection & Advocacy for people with disabilities (addressing abuse/neglect, discrimination, and access to services)
- Disability Benefits Specialist program (helping people access Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance)
- Family Care & IRIS Ombudsman program (supporting people to remain in community-based settings)
- Victim Advocacy services for crime victims with disabilities
Team Oversight (40%):
Work with short-term advocacy, investigations, and monitoring teams to develop potential activities that support the mission and priorities of DRW. Collaborate to identify issues and strategize to ensure the most impactful use of DRW’s resources to meet the legal needs of people with disabilities and advance systemic change.
Oversee the allocation of time and funding to ensure that i) all activity falls within the bounds of the DRW Mission, and ii) the resources are used cost-effectively to make progress toward DRW Priorities.
Develop and sustain strong working relations with each staff member by:
individualized relationships with each team member to achieve the right balance of support, teamwork, monitoring, guidance, and room to move autonomously ensure compliance with all relevant state and federal grant requirements ongoing effort to promote the professional development of each team member (and ensure that each team member is adequately trained) appropriate ongoing supervision and support of all students and volunteers (if any)
Supervise advocates and attorneys.
Coordinate professional development activities to ensure attorneys and advocates have the skills to perform effective and ethical practice.
Legal and Advocacy Work (20%):
Maintain a limited caseload of strategic or high-profile cases. Directly engage in a substantial level of advocacy activity, which could include the provision of information and advice; speaking; training; handling some individual cases; collaborating with litigation team for a major case; and/or participating in various aspects of DRW systems advocacy.
Perform legal oversight of advocacy, investigation and monitoring programs to ensure goals are met and advance DRW’s individual and systemic advocacy.
Collaborative Work (20%):
Collaborate to develop cohesive strategies to address overall agency-wide advocacy strategy especially on cross-disability issues.
Create and maintain a process to identify and document trends for future program enhancements.
Develop and maintain expertise in significant disability focus areas.
Management and Compliance (15%):
Ensure team compliance with ethical rules, organizational policies, and funder requirements.
Track and report on team outcomes, deliverables, and grant objectives, including collaboration to draft portions of various grant reports throughout the year. Contribute to budget planning and resource allocation for the Team in collaboration with Directors of Finance and Legal & Advocacy Services.
Ensure positive relations between DRW and the key funders/stakeholders, while continuing to protect the overall integrity and quality of DRW’s advocacy.
General (5%)
Adhere to all DRW policies and procedures, including but not limited to work hours, timesheets, file maintenance, confidentiality, and security.
Participate in DRW activities such as all-staff meetings and committees.
May be other related duties as assigned.