• Provide legal services and advice to individuals which may include legal advocacy, negotiation, mediation, litigations and handling of administrative and court proceedings.
• Respond to requests for assistance and determines eligibility for services.
• Provide direction and technical assistance to Advocates, when appropriate.
• Participate in case reviews and provide Advocates with direction on strategizing cases and legal issues, when appropriate.
• Provide technical assistance on an on-going basis to private attorneys representing persons with disabilities
• Develop materials for and conduct education and training (E&T) presentations on Disability Rights Texas's services and legal rights issues.
About the Team
The Institutional Rights and Civil Liberties (IRCL) Team serves persons with mental illness living in institutions and the community, persons with intellectual disabilities living in State Support Living Centers (SSLCs) or who have recently transitioned to the community, and persons with mental illness and/or intellectual disabilities in jails and juvenile justice facilities. Services include community integration and prevention of institutionalization, abuse and neglect investigations, advocacy around rights violations, and guardianship restoration.
• Law Degree and active Texas law license
• Three years previous related experience, preferably working with persons with disabilities
• Strong and effective written, verbal and negotiating communication skills, including the ability to do so in a concise manner regarding complex issues
• Demonstrated experience in public speaking and developing effective informative and persuasive presentations
• Demonstrated functional knowledge of complex state and federal laws, rights protection statutes and regulations.
• Willingness to take direction and independently follow through on instructions timely.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal relationship skills.
• Strong computer / technology literacy.
• High commitment to service excellence while maintaining high degree of integrity, ethics and judgement.