Advocate, DRO - Rural Justice Initiative, North/NW, TX

Disability Rights Texas•Plainview, TX

17h

About The Position

Disability Rights Texas (DRTx) is recruiting a Rural Justice Initiative (RJI) Advocate for the North/NW Texas region. This project-funded, time-limited position supports DRTx’s participation in the Rural Justice Initiative, a collaborative effort to expand access to civil legal services for low-income Texans in designated rural communities and legal-desert counties. The position is funded specifically for five years, and continued employment depends on the continuation of the project, available funding, and organizational need; it is not intended to be permanent beyond the project or funding period. The Advocate provides supervised, non-litigation advocacy and case support to people with disabilities. Work includes client intakes and interviews, eligibility and service-needs assessments, complaint investigation, reviewing records, identifying resources, making referrals, and providing authorized short-term assistance. The Advocate drafts correspondence, complaints, and case notes; manages an assigned caseload; coordinates with clients, attorneys, legal aid providers, and community partners; and documents project activity and service gaps. The role also supports accessible rural legal education, outreach, clinics, and community-based services in coordination with RJI leadership and outreach staff. The position works under the direction of an Advocate Supervisor and under attorney supervision and approval for assigned advocacy matters. The Advocate must live within or sufficiently near the assigned service area, maintain a meaningful local presence, and be reasonably available for in-person outreach, clinics, partner meetings, and other project activities throughout the designated counties.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Education, Psychology, Rehabilitation Counseling, Disability Studies, Social Services, or a related field and two years of relevant experience working with individuals with disabilities; alternatively, four years of equivalent related experience.
One year of experience in a field related to outreach work involving a variety of social service programs.
Knowledge of laws, regulations, and programs affecting individuals with disabilities, or ability to acquire that knowledge within a reasonable period.
Ability to analyze information, identify issues, and support development of effective solutions.
Ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences using varied communication methods, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a dynamic work environment.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and follow-through.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and with case-management systems.
Effective oral and written communication skills.
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 outreach events and community activities within the assigned service area.
Ability to work effectively with people from diverse socioeconomic, geographic, cultural, linguistic, and disability backgrounds.

Nice To Haves

Experience in public interest, legal aid, disability rights, special education, public benefits, or other civil legal services.
Existing professional or community ties to the assigned RJI service area.
Experience working in advocacy, legal services, or disability-related programs.
Experience delivering presentations or conducting community outreach.
Familiarity with public systems and laws affecting people with disabilities that are relevant to the issue team.
Spanish bilingual proficiency in written and spoken communication, as required for this position.

Responsibilities

Conduct client interviews and gather information to assess eligibility, case priority, and service needs.
Investigate complaints, analyze facts, and obtain and review records to identify legal and advocacy issues for attorney assessment.
Develop and implement advocacy steps under the direction and approval of the assigned attorney.
Manage an assigned caseload, including documentation, follow-up, and case coordination.
Maintain client contact in accordance with client policies and procedures.
Communicate with clients, staff, and external stakeholders about case status and advocacy efforts.
Maintain accurate and timely case-management documentation, including required RJI activity, referrals, county coverage, and grant-reporting data.
Provide supervised non-litigation advocacy support, information, referrals, and authorized short-term assistance; identify resources and programs, assist with applications, and coordinate negotiation, mediation, and services as authorized.
Deliver information, referrals, and short-term assistance to individuals not receiving extended services under attorney supervision.
Support and deliver accessible rural legal education, outreach, and community-based service activities in coordination with RJI leadership and designated outreach staff.
Apply relevant laws, regulations, policies, and program requirements in service delivery under attorney supervision.
Prioritize workload and manage multiple responsibilities to meet deadlines and service expectations.
Collaborate with RJI team members and other departments to support effective service delivery.
Participate in ongoing training and professional development concerning disability rights and related issues.
Identify and document recurring barriers to rural legal access, including distance, transportation, broadband connectivity, communication accessibility, and limited availability of legal services, and elevate patterns to RJI leadership.
Coordinate referrals and follow-up with legal aid providers, schools, libraries, disability organizations, and other community partners using approved confidentiality and referral procedures.
Participate in accessible legal clinics and community-based client appointments within assigned counties.
Follow RJI case assignment, attorney approval, consultation, escalation, conflict-checking, and case-closure procedures, and obtain specialized issue-team consultation when directed.
Assist in tracking project outputs and service gaps, including county-level coverage and referral pathways, under DRTx policies and approved RJI reporting measures.
Perform other job-related duties consistent with the scope and level of the position and the purposes of the Rural Justice Initiative.