Project Attorney Supervisor - Rural Justice Initiative

Job Description

Job Description: Disability Rights Texas (DRTx) is excited to announce that we are now recruiting for a RJI Project Attorney Supervisor as part of our new Rural Justice Initiative (RJI). The Rural Justice Initiative Project Supervisor is a project-funded attorney position established as part of Disability Rights Texas' (DRTx) participation in the Rural Justice Initiative (RJI), a collaborative effort designed to expand access to civil legal services for low-income Texans living in designated rural communities and legal-desert counties. The Rural Justice Initiative (RJI) Project Supervisor is responsible for coordinating and managing the day-to-day implementation of Disability Rights Texas' participation in the Texas Access to Justice Foundation Rural Justice Initiative, a five-year, multiregional initiative designed to expand access to civil legal services for low-income Texans with disabilities in designated rural and legal-desert communities. The RJI Project Supervisor works to facilitate and implement the Rural Justice Initiative project by coordinating direct legal services to eligible low-income Texans with disabilities residing in designated RJI counties and communities. Unlike DRTx attorney positions assigned primarily to a single substantive issue team, this position will oversee and function as a generalist disability-rights attorney within the scope of the Rural Justice Initiative. The Project Supervisor may address a range of disability-related civil legal matters, including special education, disability discrimination and accommodations, access to public benefits and services, housing-related disability issues, and other disability-related legal matters identified through the project. Under the direction and supervision of the designated RJI Supervising Attorney, the Project Supervisor provides operational leadership for project implementation across the North, Southwest, and East regions, including coordination of regional service-delivery activities, project work plans, community engagement strategies, grant deliverables, performance monitoring, partner collaboration, and reporting. The Project Supervisor serves as the primary operational point of coordination among regional project personnel, DRTx substantive legal teams, outreach and community engagement staff, administrative personnel, and designated external partners. The position monitors implementation progress, identifies service-delivery barriers and resource needs, and recommends operational adjustments and corrective actions to the Supervising Attorney. The Project Supervisor provides legal coordination and technical assistance within their areas of competence and ensures that substantive legal matters are referred for appropriate consultation, review, or supervision under established DRTx policies. The position does not independently supersede the authority of designated personnel supervisors, substantive legal supervisors, or organizational leadership. The position may maintain a limited direct-service caseload as approved by the Supervising Attorney, provided that such responsibilities do not compromise project management, grant compliance, or implementation deliverables. The Project Supervisor exercises delegated operational authority within established DRTx policies, approved project plans, grant requirements, and supervisory direction. Responsibility for institutional grant compliance, personnel supervision, final legal oversight, and organizational commitments remains with designated DRTx leadership. Essential Functions Work with Supervising Attorney and project team to develop and execute a comprehensive RJI implementation and community outreach plan targeting individuals with disabilities in rural counties across Texas. Coordinate implementation of the approved plan, including regional work plans, timelines, milestones, staffing resources, and project deliverables Supervisory Coordination and Accountability of RJI initiative with project manager. Establish and facilitate a regular project management meeting structure, including regional implementation meetings, periodic performance reviews, and individual coordination with key project personnel. Project Evaluation and Continuous Improvement. Collaborate with Supervising Attorney, and appropriate RJI staff to develop and implement periodic evaluations of the RJI's effectiveness in expanding access to civil legal services across designated counties. Assess geographic coverage, legal-service outcomes, outreach-to-intake conversion, community referral effectiveness, client access barriers, staffing capacity, and progress toward grant objectives. Recommend improvements based on evaluation findings Lead and coordinate the day-to-day implementation of the RJI initiative, under the direction of the Supervising Attorney, and in collaboration with applicable RJI staff including coordinating regional teams, assigning or facilitating project work within delegated authority, monitoring progress, identifying operational barriers, and recommending corrective actions to achieve the project's access-to-justice goals. Track programmatic outcomes for the project and prepare all necessary reports as required by project funder. Develop and maintain systems to monitor grant deliverables, geographic service coverage, performance measures, reporting deadlines, implementation milestones, and project expenditures in coordination with designated DRTx administrative and fiscal personnel. Review project performance data, identify deficiencies, and provide regular reports and recommendations to the Supervising Attorney. Provide limited direct legal representation and advocacy to eligible clients in designated RJI counties, as approved by the Supervising Attorney and consistent with the position's primary project management responsibilities. Such representation may include advice and counsel, negotiation, administrative proceedings, or litigation within the attorney's competence and assigned responsibilities. Coordinate implementation of consistent procedures for evaluating requests for assistance, screening eligibility, identifying appropriate legal-service responses, and routing referrals in accordance with DRTx policies, project requirements, funding restrictions, and organizational priorities. Monitor referral pathways, service-delivery barriers, and regional capacity in collaboration with intake personnel and appropriate legal supervisors. Provide advice, direction and technical assistance to project team and organization staff including case strategy when appropriate. Coordinate cross-issue legal consultation, case staffing, training, and technical assistance with DRTx substantive issue teams and designated legal supervisors. Facilitate identification and resolution of service-delivery challenges while ensuring substantive legal guidance and case supervision remain with appropriately authorized attorneys. Provide legal services relating to special education rights, including matters arising under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and applicable provisions of the Texas Education Code. Provide legal assistance, as appropriate within DRTx priorities and RJI project parameters, regarding other disability-related civil legal issues, which may include disability discrimination, reasonable accommodations, housing, public benefits, Medicaid, access to government programs and services, and disability-related disaster issues. Conduct legal research, analyze facts, identify applicable federal and state laws and regulations, and develop appropriate legal strategies and interventions. Independently and competently prepare legal documents, including pleadings, briefs, memoranda, administrative complaints, discovery, correspondence, settlement documents, and other legal materials. Prepare or coordinate development of project management documents, operational guidance, implementation reports, and legal-service protocols within delegated authority and established DRTx review procedures Interview clients, witnesses, community members, and other stakeholders and review relevant records and evidence. Coordinate, monitor and evaluate legal services through community-based clinics, mobile or regional outreach activities, and other service-delivery models established through the Rural Justice Initiative. Work with designated regional staff, Outreach leadership, legal supervisors, and community partners to establish schedules, appropriate staffing, referral processes, geographic coverage, and performance measures. Participate directly as needed. Lead project-level coordination of regional relationship-building and partnership activities involvingcommunity-based organizations, schools, libraries, healthcare providers, disability organizations, faith-based organizations, legal aid providers, and other trusted institutions serving the assigned rural communities. Coordinate with DRTx Outreach leadership to ensure community engagement activities support the approved project strategy and create meaningful pathways to legal assistance. Work collaboratively with Rural Justice Initiative partner organizations, DRTx attorneys and Advocates, Community Justice Workers, community navigators, intake personnel, pro bono attorneys, and other project personnel. Serve as a primary operational liaison for coordinating RJI implementation activities, partner referrals, cross-organization communication, and resolution or escalation of operational challenges, subject to designated organizational authority. Provide legal guidance, technical assistance, training, and mentorship to project staff, community partners, pro bono attorneys, and other legal service providers as appropriate. Identify and coordinate training, technical assistance, cross-training, and professional development needs of RJI staff and project partners. Work with designated DRTx substantive issue-team leadership to ensure appropriate legal expertise, quality assurance, and technical support are available for generalist rural legal practice. Provide legal guidance and mentorship within the attorney's areas of competence and delegated responsibility. Develop and deliver community education, Know Your Rights presentations, legal clinics, and other educational programs designed to increase awareness of disability-related legal rights and available legal resources. Ensure these activities align with the approved RJI community engagement plan, regional priorities, accessibility requirements, and established outcome measures. Identify emerging legal needs, recurring barriers, service gaps, and systemic issues affecting low-income people with disabilities within assigned rural communities and communicate those issues to project leadership. Support project efforts to build sustainable local legal capacity, including development of referral relationships, pro bono partnerships, community access points, and other resources capable of improving access to justice in rural communities. Maintain accurate, timely, and complete case and project records and collect information necessary to satisfy DRTx and Rural Justice Initiative grant reporting, evaluation, and performance requirements. Coordinate and participate in project training, cross-training, case rounds, coalition activities, and other professional development designed to build expertise in disability-related and special education law Work with designated DRTx legal supervisors to establish an RJI training plan that addresses special education, disability rights, rural generalist legal practice, legal ethics, intake and referral procedures, and emerging legal issues. Monitor completion of required training and identify ongoing technical assistance needs. Travel regularly throughout the assigned rural service area and periodically to other locations in Texas for client representation, hearings, trials, clinics, outreach, training, project meetings, and other work-related activities. Apply relevant laws, regulations, professional rules, DRTx policies, grant requirements, and ethical standards in all aspects of the work. Manage workload and competing priorities independently while meeting case deadlines, project deliverables, and organizational expectations. Additional Duties Perform other job-related duties as assigned that are consistent with the scope and level of the position and the purposes of the Rural Justice Initiative. Required Qualifications Education and Licensure Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school. Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas and in good standing. Experience Minimum of five (5) years of relevant legal experience. Experience providing legal services, advocacy, or representation to low-income or underserved populations, or demonstrated ability to develop such expertise. Demonstrated ability to independently manage legal matters and provide client representation. Knowledge and Skills Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor and train others. Ability to create collaboration among stakeholders and other disability groups. Ability to develop working knowledge across multiple areas of disability-related civil law rather than practicing exclusively within a single substantive area. Knowledge of federal and Texas laws affecting people with disabilities, or the ability to acquire such knowledge within a reasonable period. Ability to analyze complex legal issues and develop effective case strategies. Strong legal research, writing, negotiation, and oral advocacy skills. Ability to communicate legal concepts effectively to clients, community members, attorneys, and non-attorney partners. Ability to develop professional relationships and establish credibility with individuals and organizations in rural communities. Ability to work independently while maintaining effective communication and collaboration with supervisors and colleagues who may be 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. Other Requirements Ability and willingness to travel regularly throughout rural Texas, including travel to communities where public transportation and other transportation options may be limited, with or without reasonable accommodation. Ability to attend in-person court proceedings, administrative hearings, clinics, outreach events, client meetings