Attorney, Education - Rural Justice Initiative, South/SW, TX

Disability Rights Texas•San Antonio, TX

1h•Onsite

About The Position

Disability Rights Texas (DRTx) is hiring an Education Attorney for its Rural Justice Initiative (RJI), a collaborative effort to expand access to civil legal services for low-income Texans in designated rural communities and legal-desert counties. This project-funded position serves the South/Southwest Texas region and focuses on legal issues involving the services and treatment of students with disabilities in public schools. The attorney receives requests for assistance, determines eligibility, interviews clients, reviews records, conducts legal research, develops case strategies, negotiates outcomes, and provides legal advice and representation. Representation may include administrative hearings and state or federal court proceedings. The attorney also provides direction and technical assistance to advocates and private attorneys, and develops and delivers education and training on the legal rights of students with disabilities. The position requires a regular and meaningful local presence in the assigned service area. Applicants must reside within or sufficiently near Kinney, Atascosa, Duval, Brooks, Zapata, Zavala, Frio, Kleberg, Starr, Medina, La Salle, Jim Hogg, or Willacy County. The attorney must be reasonably available for in-person client services, outreach, legal clinics, partner meetings, and court and administrative proceedings throughout the area, and must travel regularly in rural Texas. This is a time-limited, five-year position funded specifically for the Rural Justice Initiative. Continued employment depends on the project continuing, funding remaining available, and organizational need. The position does not guarantee employment beyond the project period or available funding. DRTx may modify the position, geographic assignment, duties, or staffing structure to meet project and organizational needs.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
Licensed to practice law in Texas and in good standing.
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 this 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 such knowledge within a reasonable period.
Strong legal analysis and case-strategy development skills.
Strong legal research, writing, negotiation, and oral advocacy skills.
Ability to explain legal concepts effectively to clients, community members, attorneys, and non-attorney partners.
Ability to build professional relationships and credibility with individuals and organizations in rural communities.
Ability to work independently while communicating and collaborating effectively with supervisors and colleagues located elsewhere in the state.
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, judgment, and follow-through.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, substantial travel, client responsibilities, and project deadlines.
Must reside 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 public transportation or other 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 maintain Texas law licensure and comply with applicable continuing legal education requirements.
Ability to collaborate with attorneys and staff employed by other Rural Justice Initiative partner organizations.
Ability to work effectively with people from diverse socioeconomic, geographic, cultural, linguistic, and disability backgrounds.
Commitment to providing high-quality legal services to low-income Texans with disabilities and 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 legal 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 client-services policies and procedures for interviews, 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 about DRTx services and legal rights.
Develop case strategies based on sound legal concepts and precedent, finding 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.
Prioritize and manage multiple responsibilities in a timely manner.
Build personal credibility within and outside the organization as an effective partner and advisor.
Maintain thorough and complete records.
Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with clients, community stakeholders, and employees at all organizational levels.
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.