Attorney, Education - Rural Justice Initiative, East, TX

Disability Rights Texas•Beaumont, TX

About The Position

Disability Rights Texas is recruiting an Education Attorney for its Rural Justice Initiative (RJI), serving East Texas. This project-funded, time-limited position supports expanded access to civil legal services for low-income Texans in designated rural communities and legal-desert counties. The position is funded for five years; continued employment depends on the continuation of the project, funding availability, and organizational need, and is not guaranteed beyond the project period. The attorney receives complaints and provides legal advice and representation concerning the services and treatment of students with disabilities in public schools. Work includes interviewing clients, reviewing records, documenting eligibility, conducting legal research, negotiating outcomes, and representing clients in administrative hearings and state and federal judicial proceedings. The attorney also provides legal assistance and direction to Advocates when appropriate, offers ongoing technical assistance to private attorneys representing students with disabilities, and develops and delivers education and training about the legal rights of students with disabilities. The role is assigned to the East Texas region. The attorney must reside within or sufficiently near the designated service area to maintain a regular local presence and be reasonably available for in-person client services, outreach, clinics, partner meetings, and legal proceedings. Regular travel throughout the rural service area is required. Work may take place in offices, courthouses, hearing locations, schools, libraries, community organizations, clinics, and other community locations. The position regularly uses computers, telephones, videoconferencing and case-management systems.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
Licensed to practice law in Texas and in good standing; able to maintain Texas law licensure and comply with continuing legal education requirements.
At least three years of relevant legal experience.
Experience providing legal services, advocacy, or representation to low-income or underserved populations, or demonstrated ability to develop such expertise.
Ability to independently manage legal matters and provide client representation.
Ability to develop working knowledge across multiple areas of disability-related civil law rather than practicing exclusively in one substantive area.
Knowledge of federal and Texas laws affecting people with disabilities, or ability to acquire that knowledge within a reasonable period.
Strong legal analysis, research, writing, negotiation, and oral advocacy skills.
Ability to communicate legal concepts effectively to clients, community members, attorneys, and non-attorney partners.
Ability to develop professional relationships and establish credibility in rural communities.
Ability to work independently while communicating and collaborating effectively with supervisors and colleagues who may be located elsewhere in Texas.
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, judgment, and follow-through.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, substantial travel, client responsibilities, and project deadlines.
Residence within or sufficiently near the assigned geographic service area to meet local-presence and community-engagement requirements.
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 court proceedings, administrative hearings, clinics, outreach events, client meetings, and community activities in the assigned service area.
Ability to work collaboratively with attorneys and staff at other Rural Justice Initiative 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 increasing access to justice in underserved rural communities.

Nice To Haves

Spanish bilingual proficiency, written and spoken.

Responsibilities

Provide legal services and advice to students with disabilities and their parents, including advocacy, negotiation, mediation, litigation, and handling administrative and court proceedings.
Respond to requests for assistance and determine eligibility for services.
Provide direction and technical assistance to Advocates when appropriate.
Follow agency policies and procedures for client interviews, case records, investigations, case advocacy, and case files.
Develop and maintain a caseload consistent with agency policies and meet litigation expectations.
Provide ongoing technical assistance to private attorneys representing students with disabilities.
Develop materials and deliver selected education and training presentations on the organization's services and legal-rights issues.
Develop case strategies using appropriate legal concepts and established precedents, and seek creative solutions and outcomes.
Maintain effective communication with employees, clients, and the public at individual, team, and organizational levels.
Travel as needed to provide services and participate in project activities throughout the assigned service area.
Prioritize tasks and manage multiple responsibilities and project deadlines.
Maintain thorough and complete records.
Establish personal credibility and develop collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including clients, community members, and employees.
Apply the organization's vision and values in work-related activities.
Perform other job-related duties consistent with the position's scope and the purposes of the Rural Justice Initiative.