Advocate Supervisor - Rural Justice Initiative

Disability Rights Texas•Austin, TX

About The Position

The Advocate Supervisor is a project-funded position within Disability Rights Texas' Rural Justice Initiative (RJI), a five-year, multiregional collaboration intended to expand access to civil legal services for low-income Texans with disabilities in designated rural and legal-desert communities. Under the direction of the Project Supervisor, the role directly supervises RJI Advocates across geographic service regions and project-wide issue areas, overseeing performance, professional development, workload, casework quality, and coordination with multidisciplinary legal service teams and RJI staff. The supervisor works with assigned attorneys and the Attorney Project Supervisor to support timely and effective legal advocacy. Attorneys retain responsibility for legal advice, case strategy, and representation decisions; the Advocate Supervisor handles personnel supervision in accordance with DRTx policies and the approved RJI governance and accountability structure. The role supports project objectives and performance measures by monitoring advocate contributions, documentation, case progression, and geographic service delivery. A limited caseload may be assigned if approved by the Project Supervisor and if it does not undermine supervisory capacity. The position may include client interviews, record review, investigations, negotiations, dispute mediation, referral supervision, and assisting attorneys with administrative hearings and trials. The supervisor follows attorney direction in investigations, case strategy, issue identification, and application of rules, policies, and regulations. The role also supports community education, training, and outreach for people with disabilities, parents, advocates, and service professionals, and may attend community functions and events to share information about DRTx services and the RJI initiative. The position requires regular travel throughout rural Texas and attendance at in-person clinics, outreach events, client meetings, and community activities. Work involves computers, telephones, videoconferencing and case-management systems, and may take place in DRTx or partner offices, courthouses, administrative hearing locations, schools, libraries, clinics, community organizations, and other rural locations. Duties may be performed seated, standing, or in an alternative position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required, preferably in Social Work, Education, Psychology, Rehabilitation Counseling, Disability Studies, Social Service, or a related field.
At least five years of relevant legal experience.
At least four years of related experience with demonstrated success working with people with disabilities.
At least two years of case-management experience at a legal-services organization or similar setting.
Demonstrated ability to lead, supervise, mentor, and train others.
Ability to work collaboratively in a team to implement community lawyering and build collaboration among stakeholders and disability groups.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, substantial travel, client responsibilities, and project deadlines.
Strong written, verbal, and negotiation communication skills, including the ability to communicate concisely about complex issues to varied audiences.
Experience with public speaking and developing effective presentations.
Strong interpersonal, relationship-building, and collaboration skills, including the flexibility to manage by influence.
Functional knowledge of complex state and federal laws and regulations, and knowledge of disability rights laws, programs, initiatives, and issues affecting people with disabilities.
Ability to take direction and independently follow through on instructions.
Strong detail orientation, follow-up, organizational, and multitasking skills, including the ability to work under challenging conditions and meet deadlines.
Knowledge and skills to implement case strategies and manage individual and team workloads so services are delivered appropriately and on time.
Ability to work effectively in a team environment.
Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Enthusiasm for serving as a hands-on team leader.
Ability and willingness to travel regularly throughout rural Texas, including to communities with limited transportation options, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Ability to attend in-person clinics, outreach events, client meetings, and community activities in the assigned service area.
Ability to collaborate with attorneys and staff employed by other RJI partner organizations.
Ability to work effectively with people from diverse socioeconomic, geographic, cultural, linguistic, and disability backgrounds.
Commitment to high-quality legal services for low-income Texans with disabilities and to expanding access to justice in underserved rural communities.

Nice To Haves

Experience in public interest, legal aid, disability rights, special education, housing, public benefits, or other civil legal services.
Experience practicing in rural communities or representing clients in geographically isolated or underserved areas.
Experience developing relationships with community organizations, schools, healthcare organizations, government entities, or other community-based institutions.
Spanish bilingual proficiency, written and spoken.
Existing professional or community ties to the assigned RJI service area.

Responsibilities

Supervise, mentor, train, and provide case-handling direction and support to RJI Advocates.
Coordinate with RJI attorneys on geographic teams regarding advocate assignments and casework needs.
Monitor advocate workloads across regions and issue areas, and identify service gaps requiring reassignment or additional support.
Participate in RJI team meetings to address case coordination, capacity, and barriers to service.
Monitor advocate contributions to RJI deliverables and timely case progression.
Implement client-services policies and procedures for interviews, case records, investigations, and documentation.
Master technical information about applicable program areas and relevant statutes and policies, and serve as a content expert in the assigned issue-team area.
Develop initial and ongoing case strategies for short- and long-term cases within attorney-established parameters.
Maintain a caseload at the level set by the RJI Project Supervisor while balancing supervisory duties.
Collaborate with the Outreach Manager and community navigators to develop education and training materials and present information to the public about services and legal rights.
Travel as needed to provide case services and advocate supervision.
Prioritize and manage multiple responsibilities in a timely manner, and establish credibility as an effective organizational partner and advisor.
Evaluate team operations, resources, and technology and implement improvements to efficiency, effectiveness, and customer service.
Communicate regularly and effectively with employees, clients, and the public at individual, team, and organizational levels.
Maintain thorough and complete records and protect confidential information when required.
Support the Supervising Attorney, Project Supervisor, and Project Manager with annual budget processes and help ensure resources and expenses remain within budget parameters.
Build and maintain collaborative relationships with clients, community members, the board of directors, employees, and other internal and external stakeholders.
Apply the organization's vision and values in work-related activities and interactions.
Perform other job-related duties consistent with the position's scope and the purposes of the Rural Justice Initiative.