Managing Attorney, Victim Advocacy Program

Disability Rights Wisconsin•Monona, WI

6d•$88,600 - $101,200•Remote

About The Position

The Managing Attorney is responsible for the management and oversight of the Victim Advocacy Program (VAP), which provides direct advocacy to survivors of crime with disabilities and promotes systemic changes in how victim response systems work with survivors with disabilities. The Managing Attorney must develop a strong leadership presence within the VAP team, including mutual respect, the right balance of authority and decisiveness, participatory decision-making, openness to new ideas, and adequate delegation. The Managing Attorney will promote a positive and supportive work environment within the VAP team and develop strong working relationships with each team member. The Managing Attorney is responsible for grant, contract, and budget management as well as programmatic quality oversight and staff supervision. The Managing Attorney will also maintain a small role directly providing grant deliverables. The Managing Attorney maintains a leadership role at DRW through participation in the DRW Management Team. This position requires statewide travel.

Requirements

8+ years of experience working as an attorney;
Law degree and licensed to practice law in Wisconsin, or the ability to become licensed within six months;
Experience in supervising or assisting attorneys, law students, and/or non-attorney advocates;
Litigation background in area(s) of law directly relevant to this project (family, immigration, restraining order, Title IX, and/or victim rights law);
Excellent listening, verbal, and written communication skills;
Effective computer skills include communicating via email, word processing, and spreadsheets, and the use of Teams, SharePoint, HRIS system, and Outlook.

Nice To Haves

Experience in providing advocacy and/or support to survivors of crime and/or people with disabilities or mental illness;
Fluency or strong proficiency in American Sign Language, Hmong, or Spanish

Responsibilities

Provide ongoing supervision to Advocacy Specialists and Staff Attorneys in VAP. Attend regular supervision meetings, review intakes and ongoing case work, written material, and training materials. Provide attorney back-up and consultation on cases and intakes handled by the VAP.
Develop and sustain strong working relations with each staff member by: individualized relationships with each team member to achieve the right balance of support, teamwork, monitoring, guidance, and room to move autonomously
oversee team ensure compliance with all relevant state and federal grant requirements
ongoing effort to promote the professional development of each team member and ensure that each team member is adequately trained and has the skills to perform effective and ethical practice
conduct annual evaluations & performance monitoring
Participate in staffing-related activities & employee relations activities
Coordinate and manage all administrative aspects of the grants funding the VAP, including reporting, compliance, and quality assurance activities.
Identify and apply for new funding opportunities, as needed, in the areas of victim services and disability rights.
Develop and ensure an intake process that identifies eligible clients for the VAP.
Develop and participate in an outreach strategy to disseminate information about the program to both victim service and disability service providers. Create promotional materials for distribution.
Work with VAP and the Director of Legal and Advocacy Services on creating Team priorities to meet grant and agency goals.
Participate in meetings, committees, work groups, hiring, and more in furtherance of DRW or VAP program goals.
Assist in the development and updating of the VAP portion of the DRW webpage.
Other duties may be necessary to achieve the objectives of the VAP.
Provide advocacy and direct representation to VAP clients. This could involve, but is not limited to:
Providing assistance to assist VAP clients with self-advocacy;
Intervening with service providers, county, state, or government officials, landlord, employers, or others as necessary to effectively advocate for VAP clients;
Assist individuals in preparing and filing complaints, grievances, and appeals; or
Representing individuals in legal proceedings.
Provide information and referral on cases that are not eligible for direct representation.

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 additional factors that determine eligibility.
For more information, read the Federal Student Aid’s Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) page:
studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service
Generous paid time off policies include:
10 Fixed and 4 Floating Holidays
Leave time for:
Medical and Caretaking
Vacation
Personal
Bereavement Leave
Additional benefits include the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).