Description:
Job Summary:The Managing Attorney - Litigation oversees the Litigation Team to work on systemic change issues that impact a broad range of people with disabilities in Wisconsin. The Managing Attorney- Litigation will lead a team of attorneys and advocates in areas of law including employment, housing, special education, civil rights, victim rights, conditions of confinement, and access to community services. They will maintain their own case load and co-counsel with Litigation Team attorneys and/or advocates on their litigation or administrative hearing cases to help them build their own litigation expertise. The Managing Attorney – Litigation will also help to set priorities for the Team and create and support the workflow to bring cases successfully from investigation to litigation and to work on strategic direction beyond litigation to tackle issues that supports DRW's mission.
This role ensures the delivery of high-quality legal services, supports the professional development of team members, and advances litigation strategies that drive systemic change for the communities we serve.
Key Responsibilities:
- Legal Oversight – 40%
- Work with the Litigation Team to develop potential cases for systemic impact litigation. Collaborate with Managing Attorney – Intake, Referral & Short-Term Advocacy to identify issues and strategize to ensure the most impactful use of DRW's resources to meet the legal needs of people with disabilities and advance systemic change.
- Supervise advocates and attorneys who comprise the Litigation Team.
- Mentor or assist other DRW attorneys as second chair to help them build their pre-litigation, administrative hearing, and trial skills.
- Coordinate professional development activities to ensure attorneys and advocates have the skills to perform effective and ethical practice.
- Direct Legal Work - 20%
- Maintain a limited caseload of strategic or high-profile litigation.
- Conduct state and federal litigation and administrative hearings as first chair trial attorney. Work with external pro bono attorneys in larger, more complex cases.
- Collaborative Work – 20%
- Collaborate with Director of Legal & Advocacy Services, Managing Attorney – Intake, Referral & Short-Term Advocacy, and Public Policy Manager to develop cohesive strategies to address Litigation Team priority issues and responses to litigation.
- Create and maintain a process to identify and document trends for future systemic litigation.
- Develop relationships with outside attorneys and law firms to expand DRW's pro bono capacity and co-counsel network.
- Develop and maintain expertise in significant disability focus areas.
- Management and Compliance – 15%
- Ensure team compliance with ethical rules, organizational policies, and funder requirements.
- Track and report on team outcomes, deliverables, and grant objectives, including collaboration with Data & Grants Coordinator to draft portions of various grant reports throughout the year. Contribute to budget planning and resource allocation for the Litigation Team in collaboration with Directors of Finance and Legal & Advocacy Services.
- General Responsibilities - 5%
- Adhere to all Disability Rights Wisconsin policies and procedures including but not limited to work hours; timesheets; file maintenance; confidentiality and security.
- Participate in Disability Rights Wisconsin activities such as all-staff meetings and committees.
- May be other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
Required:
- Juris Doctorate law degree and licensed to practice law in Wisconsin or eligible within 6 months of hire.
- 8+ years of experience litigating individual and/or group cases with a record of taking litigation matters forward from investigation through all stages of litigation in state and/or federal courts and administrative forums, including trial, negotiation, mediation, and other forms of resolution.
- Experience and/or demonstrated interest in advocating for the legal rights of people with disabilities and/or other vulnerable populations.
- Experience working with people of culturally diverse backgrounds.
- Proven ability to communicate effectively with excellent written and verbal communication skills that include legal research and writing skills.
- Ability to travel within the state as the litigation schedule requires.
- Computer skills include email, word processing, and use of the internet, and using Microsoft Edge, Teams, SharePoint, and Outlook.
- Experience or strong interest in mentoring junior lawyers and working as part of a litigation team.
Preferred:
- Experience or direct contact with persons with a disability or in other marginalized groups or with social justice movements, either in a paid or unpaid capacity.
- Demonstrated knowledge and ability to evaluate and interpret implications of law and public policy and contribute to concise analyses and public responses.
- Proven experience with public speaking.
- Ability to write or speak Spanish, Hmong, or American Sign Language (ASL), as well as English.
- Prior experience litigating in federal court
- Prior administrative hearing experience.
- Prior personal or professional advocacy experience, which may include providing outreach, training, and/or technical assistance, and proven ability to build relationships with internal and external partners.