Director of Legal and Advocacy Services

About the role

The Director of Legal and Advocacy Services is a key leadership position at Disability Rights Wisconsin. They are responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing policies and practices that guide the organization's legal and individual advocacy work, as well as supervising Managing Attorneys in various programs.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership and Advocacy Management (30%): Collaborate with the Executive Director, Managing Attorneys, and Public Policy Manager to develop cohesive strategies addressing DRW’s priority issues and strategic goals. Develop and oversee policies, processes, and practices guiding litigation, mediation, and advocacy efforts. Ensure compliance with Wisconsin’s Rules of Professional Conduct and grant compliance requirements. Oversee all legal services to ensure quality and consistency in legal and advocacy work. Monitor trends and emerging issues in disability rights and adjust priorities to address systemic and individual advocacy needs. Support managing attorneys on litigation strategies and ensure DRW practices assist and support attorneys and advocates in identifying and positioning cases for future systemic litigation. Collaborate with others on the Leadership Team on agency operations and financial oversight. Manage DRW’s grievance process.
• Supervision and Mentorship (20%): Directly supervise attorneys who oversee the day-to-day operations of their respective teams. Promote a supportive, collaborative, and accountable work environment for legal and advocacy staff. Conduct regular performance evaluations of supervisees and oversee performance management across advocacy and legal services staff. Work with managing attorneys to ensure proper supervision of all advocates and attorneys on staff, including performance issues and training needs. Maintain compliance records for all attorney licenses. Ensure all staff receive appropriate and ongoing training to enhance skills and effectiveness. Coordinate internal and external training opportunities to promote professional growth for attorneys and advocates. Foster a culture of continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.
• Grant Management and Compliance (30%): Ensure that all legal and advocacy work meets grant deliverables and reporting requirements. Oversee and ensure timely and accurate submission of applications and reports to state, federal, and private funders. Collaborate with the Members of the Leadership Team to develop proposals, budgets, and compliance strategies for programs.
• Policy and Procedures Development (10%): Develop, implement, and ensure compliance with policies, protocols, and best practices for legal and individual advocacy work. Uphold high ethical and professional standards for legal and advocacy staff.
• External Relations and Collaboration (10%): Represent the organization in statewide and national forums, task forces, coalitions, and external partners to advance disability rights. Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders, funders, and community partners to support and enhance systemic and individual advocacy efforts. Establish and grow relationships with outside attorneys and law firms to increase their pro bono support and co-counsel opportunities to expand DRW’s capacity to engage in significant impact litigation.
• General:
• 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.

Requirements

• Education: Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school and active bar membership in Wisconsin or eligibility for admission if not currently licensed.
• Experience: Minimum of 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in disability rights, civil rights law, or public interest advocacy. At least 5 years of supervisory experience managing attorneys and advocacy teams. Experience in grant compliance, reporting, and program management. Proficiency with case management systems, legal research tools, and Microsoft Office Suite. Proven ability to evaluate and interpret implications of law and public policy and contribute to concise analyses and public responses. Ability to work independently and as part of a team. Manage your own workload and multiple priorities, and the work of others. Court and administrative hearing experience. Demonstrated ability to provide people with disabilities or others from historically excluded populations with the opportunity for self-determination and empowerment. Proven ability to communicate effectively with clients and/or internal and external entities, which includes excellent listening, verbal, and professional written communication skills. Experience with effective public speaking.
• Preferred Qualifications: Demonstrated commitment to advancing disability rights and familiarity with laws impacting individuals with disabilities (e.g., ADA, Section 504, IDEA, Medicaid/Medicare, Crime Victim Rights). Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and team management skills. Ability to write and/or speak Spanish, Hmong, or ASL as well as English is desired. General knowledge or ability to learn about resources relevant to individuals in Wisconsin’s disability-related services/legal rights, residential, prevention of abuse/neglect systems, including Family Care, IRIS, community-based mental health programs, and adult/child protective services and crime victim services. Broad knowledge of quality services and civil rights for people with disabilities.

Qualifications

• Education: Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school and active bar membership in Wisconsin or eligibility for admission if not currently licensed.
• Experience: Minimum of 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in disability rights, civil rights law, or public interest advocacy. At least 5 years of supervisory experience managing attorneys and advocacy teams. Experience in grant compliance, reporting, and program management. Proficiency with case management systems, legal research tools, and Microsoft Office Suite. Proven ability to evaluate and interpret implications of law and public policy and contribute to concise analyses and public responses. Ability to work independently and as part of a team. Manage your own workload and multiple priorities, and the work of others. Court and administrative hearing experience. Demonstrated ability to provide people with disabilities or others from historically excluded populations with the opportunity for self-determination and empowerment. Proven ability to communicate effectively with clients and/or internal and external entities, which includes excellent listening, verbal, and professional written communication skills. Experience with effective public speaking.

Benefits

Disability Rights Wisconsin offers a comprehensive benefits package for permanent employees who work 20 or more hours per week, including:

• Generous employer contribution for individual and family health insurance, plus a Health Reimbursement Account for uncovered health care costs.
• Employer-provided Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Employer Contribution.
• Flex Spending Account.
• Access to affordable, quality dental, vision, and pet insurance.
• Additional Life Insurance for the employee, spouse, and children.
• Critical Illness Insurance.
• Identity Theft protection.
• Public Student Loan Forgiveness: Eligible employees may qualify for federal student loan forgiveness programs.

Pay

$124,000 – $142,000 annually

Schedule

Full Time Equivalent: 40 Hours/week

Location

DRW has offices in Milwaukee and Madison. This position can be assigned to any of these office locations, depending on the applicant’s residence. This position is not eligible for fully remote work. DRW has a hybrid work policy.