Managing Attorney, Advocacy and Investigations
About the role
Disability Rights Wisconsin is the state’s Protection and Advocacy system, working to uphold disability rights and ensure freedom from abuse and neglect. Through legal advocacy, individual representation, and systems change, our advocates and attorneys advance dignity, access, and justice across Wisconsin.
Responsibilities
Team Oversight (40%): Partner with short-term advocacy, investigations, and monitoring teams to define and implement activities aligned with DRW’s mission and priorities. Identify emerging issues and develop strategies that maximize impact and advance systemic change. Allocate staff time and funding to ensure all work aligns with DRW’s mission; and uses resources efficiently to achieve priority outcomes.
Legal and Advocacy Work (20%): Engage in direct advocacy, including advising, training, public speaking, case handling, and systems advocacy. Collaborate with the litigation team on complex or major cases as needed. Provide legal oversight of advocacy, investigation, and monitoring activities to ensure quality, compliance, and effectiveness. Maintain a limited caseload of strategic or high-impact cases.
Collaborative Work (20%): Partner across programs and teams to develop and implement cohesive, agency-wide advocacy strategies, with attention to cross-disability issues. Establish and maintain systems to identify, track, and analyze trends to inform program improvements. Maintain and build subject-matter expertise in key disability issue areas.
Management and Compliance (15%): Ensure team adherence to ethical standards, organizational policies, and grant requirements. Monitor, evaluate, and report on team performance, deliverables, and grant outcomes. Contribute to grant reporting, budgeting, and resource planning in collaboration with Finance and Legal & Advocacy leadership. Maintain strong, professional relationships with funders and stakeholders while safeguarding the integrity of DRW’s advocacy.
General Responsibilities (5%): Follow all DRW policies and procedures, including timekeeping, documentation, confidentiality, and data security. Participate in organizational meetings, committees, and initiatives. Perform other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Education/Licensure: Juris Doctor (JD) and licensed to practice law in Wisconsin, or eligible for admission.
Leadership Experience: Minimum of 8 years of progressive leadership and management experience, including supervising staff and managing team performance.
Equity and Empowerment: Demonstrated ability to provide people with disabilities and others from historically excluded populations with opportunities for self-determination and empowerment.
Communication Skills: Proven ability to communicate effectively in professional settings, demonstrated through: Clear and concise written work (e.g., reports, legal documents); Effective verbal communication (e.g., presentations, meetings); Strong listening skills.
Technical Proficiency: Demonstrated proficiency with: Email and calendaring (e.g., Outlook); Word processing and spreadsheets; Collaboration tools (e.g., Microsoft Teams, SharePoint); Case/data management systems.
Work Management: Demonstrated ability to: Work independently and as part of a leadership team; Manage and prioritize multiple projects simultaneously; Adjust priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Skills
Experience (paid, volunteer, or lived) with disability communities and/or social justice movements.
Working knowledge of public policy, including experience analyzing or applying policy in practice.
Experience managing or administering grant-funded programs, including compliance and reporting.
Professional proficiency in Spanish, Hmong, or American Sign Language (ASL), in addition to English.
Benefits
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 Coverage.
Pay
$94,160 to $108,070 annually.
Schedule
The majority of hours should be completed during core office hours, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Some evening and weekend hours are required.