This project provides legal counsel and zealous advocacy to individuals with disabilities impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
This is a two year position through the Equal Justice Works Disaster Recovery Legal Corps beginning no later than May 7, 2018. The Equal Justice Works Disaster Recovery Legal Corps is a cohort of approximately twenty Legal Fellows placed at nonprofit legal services organizations in Texas and Florida for a two-year fellowship term to provide direct services, educate community members, and leverage volunteer resources in order to ensure that low-income individuals directly affected by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma have access to a range of legal services needed to stabilize and rebuild their lives.
This position is responsible for receiving rights violations complaints, providing legal services and determining eligibility for Disability Rights Texas client services within agency policies and priorities – as it generally relates to the assigned project. 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 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.
Responsibilities and Duties are as follows:
Provide legal services to community members of Harris County and City of Houston who have been directly impacted by Hurricane Harvey which may include legal advocacy, negotiation, mediation, litigations and handling of administrative and court proceedings.
Collaborate with other Equal Justice Works Disaster Recovery Legal Fellows throughout Texas and Florida, with such collaboration to be coordinated by a Lead Fellow
Collect and provide data on a quarterly basis relating to clients served, services provided, outcomes, and other information as requested by Equal Justice Works
Actively participate in mandatory substantive and skills-based training programs including: Disaster Recovery Legal Corps kick off training (early summer 2018) and learning event at the close out of the fellowship; annual three-day Equal Justice Works Leadership Development Training in Washington, DC in October/November 2018 and 2019; and the Equal Justice Conference in Louisville, Kentucky in May 2019
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.
Law Degree
Texas Law License at hire or secured within nine (9) months of hire.
Demonstrated legal skills including the ability to develop and evaluate facts and apply knowledge to client outcomes; the ability to analyze and apply legal rules and principles in order to develop case strategies; the ability to conduct legal research and apply information to case strategy; the ability to conduct an investigation and gather all pertinent facts; and being able to form logical and legal conclusions from the information.
A demonstrated commitment to public interest work and desire to assist indigent clients along with prior experience in managing independent projects or assignments
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 and out of state as required by Equal Justice Works.
Applicants must be able to start work no later than May 7, 2018. Interested persons should apply at http://disabilityrightstexas.applytojob.com/apply/8C1hkiWD3C/Equal-Justi...