This is a one year project funded by The Greater Houston Community Foundation to provide legal counsel and zealous advocacy to individuals with disabilities impacted by Hurricane Harvey in the areas of housing, access to health and personal support services, community supports, and education.
Job Summary
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The attorney will provide legal services and determine eligibility for Disability Rights Texas client services. This includes interviewing clients, reviewing records, conducting legal research, negotiating outcomes, and representing clients in administrative hearings and in state and federal judicial proceedings. The attorney assists non attorneys with legal strategy and advice and also provides education and training sessions about the legal rights of people with disabilities for people with disabilities, parents, advocates, and professionals/service providers and the community. Further, this attorney will play a key role in coordinating the project’s implementation and lead efforts to ensure DRTx helps people with disabilities fully exercise their FEMA appeal rights, confront landlord discrimination based on disability, avoid inappropriate institutionalization, obtain accommodations from service system providers, and receive educational services to which they are entitled.
Responsibilities and Duties
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Work in concert with others to implement the project and report on the project's success.
Provide legal services and advice to individuals which may include legal advocacy, negotiation, mediation, litigation 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 case strategy 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 the project and DRTx.
Benefits and Perks
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Paid insurance: health, dental, life, long term care, long term disability.
Vision discount plan
Tax-free spending and savings accounts for healthcare related and dependent day care expenses
Tons of paid time off: 12+ days of accrued paid vacation per year, at hire, increasing with tenure; 12+ days of accrued paid sick time per year, at hire; 2+ days of paid personal time per year, at hire; 15 paid holidays per year, including the the period of December 24 - January 1; up to 6 weeks of paid parental leave for the birth, adoption or foster care placement of a child and up to 4 weeks of paid bereavement leave for the death of certain family members
401(k) retirement account including a contribution made by DRTx, regardless of what an employee does or does not contribute pre-tax or roth
Flexible schedules, compressed work weeks, and opportunities to work via telecommuting are available for certain positions
Certain employees may be eligible for student loan repayment assistance and forgiveness programs
Qualifications and Skills
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Law Degree and active Texas law license
Two (2) years previous related experience representing persons with disabilities
Project coordination and team leadership skills
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.
Ability to regularly travel throughout Harris County.