Managing Attorney, Advocacy and Investigations

Disability Rights Wisconsin•Monona, WI

5d•$94,160 - $108,070•Hybrid

About The Position

The Managing Attorney for Advocacy and Investigations provides oversight and direction to teams engaged in advocacy, investigations, and monitoring, ensuring their work aligns with DRW’s mission, priorities, and funding requirements. Through strong supervision, coaching, and professional development, this leader builds a high-performing team equipped to deliver ethical, impactful advocacy. The role also maintains a focused caseload of strategic or high-impact matters and contributes directly to legal and systems advocacy efforts. Working collaboratively across the organization, this leader helps shape agency-wide advocacy strategies, identify emerging issues, and strengthen DRW’s impact on disability rights. The position also ensures compliance with grant requirements, supports reporting and budgeting, and maintains strong relationships with funders and key stakeholders. This is an opportunity for an experienced attorney and leader to influence both individual outcomes and systemic change—advancing equity, access, and justice while supporting a dedicated team committed to DRW’s mission and values.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) and licensed to practice law in Wisconsin, or eligible for admission.
Minimum of 8 years of progressive leadership and management experience, including supervising staff and managing team performance.
Demonstrated ability to provide people with disabilities and others from historically excluded populations with opportunities for self-determination and empowerment.
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); and strong listening skills.
Demonstrated proficiency with email and calendaring (e.g., Outlook); word processing and spreadsheets; collaboration tools (e.g., Microsoft Teams, SharePoint); and case/data management systems.
Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a leadership team; manage and prioritize multiple projects simultaneously; and adjust priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Applicant must be a Wisconsin resident.

Nice To Haves

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.

Responsibilities

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.
Build and maintain effective working relationships with team members by providing individualized supervision that balances support, accountability, and autonomy; ensuring compliance with state and federal grant requirements; supporting ongoing training and professional development; and supervising and supporting advocates, attorneys, students, and volunteers.
Directly supervise advocates and attorneys, including performance management and coaching.
Plan and coordinate professional development to ensure high-quality, ethical advocacy practice.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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
Additional Life Insurance for the employee, spouse, and children
Critical Illness Insurance
Identity Theft
Pet Insurance
Public Student Loan Forgiveness: Employment at our organization may qualify you for federal student loan forgiveness programs. We do not directly pay for – nor forgive – federal student loans. However, our status as a not-for-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) makes us an eligible employer. There may be other factors that determine whether one qualifies.
Generous paid time off policies include: 10 Fixed and 4 Floating Holidays
Leave time for: Medical and Caretaking, Vacation, Personal, Bereavement Leave
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Commuter Choice
Sabbatical Leave