Agency Description:

Disability Rights North Carolina (DRNC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the only organization that provides free legal advocacy services to people with all types of disabilities, of all ages, throughout North Carolina. We are NC’s designated Protection and Advocacy organization and recognized leader in advancing disability rights with a strong staff and supportive, dynamic work environment. DRNC is committed to building race equity into our internal and external work. DRNC is well established and positioned for growth. Learn more about DRNC here.

Job Description:

The Supervising Attorney for the Education Team will lead DRNC’s efforts to ensure equity in education across all K – 12 systems; represent students in special education, school discipline, and school discrimination matters, including youth in juvenile detention facilities; train attorneys, advocates and other stakeholders; and participate in policy initiatives related to the school-to-prison pipeline.

Responsibilities:

  • Plan, develop, and oversee execution of DRNC’s annual program priorities/targets for the Education Team
  • Provide supervision of assigned staff, manage Team caseloads, evaluate activities, and assist and consult with staff on individual cases
  • Build a cohesive, supportive team that works well together, develops objectives and priorities for the office, and maintains open communication
  • Guide the professional development of the team, including co-counseling of cases to ensure high quality representation of clients; reviewing substantive legal work; providing meaningful assessments and evaluation of advocacy efforts, caseloads and productivity; and addressing training needs
  • Ensure that activities of team members conform to the agency’s policies and procedures
  • Participate in the development and evaluation of litigation proposals
  • Collaborate and share expertise with DRNC staff working in other substantive legal areas; develop and support organizational staff and systemic activities
  • Support and mentor staff, conduct research, provide substantive law updates on issues related to education law
  • Represent individual clients consistent with DRNC’s annual targets and selection criteria, including the development and implementation of all phases of case strategies and activities
  • Analyze and interpret federal and state laws, rulings and regulations to stay abreast of legal developments in disability law and related fields
  • Analyze statutes and regulations and draft analyses in collaboration with DRNC policy staff
  • Provide technical assistance to external attorneys and advocates regarding the rights of individuals with disabilities
  • Prepare and review reports, amicus briefs, articles and special projects; draft legislation and proposed regulations
  • Prepare written materials and conduct activities for the education and training of consumers, coalition partners, professionals, DRNC staff, members of the public, and others consistent with DRNC’s annual targets
  • Cultivate and maintain relationships with subject area professionals and advocates, including state officials and agency staff, providers, advocacy organizations, pro bono attorneys, and community advocates
  • Represent DRNC at coalition meetings, public hearings, stakeholder groups, and/or task forces
  • Engage the community through outreach and education
  • Manage and comply with grant deliverables and grant goals specific to the Education Team
  • Perform supervisory and administrative functions, prepare program activity reports, and maintain complete and accurate records in DRNC’s case management system, and communicate interests/needs of the team to the Legal Director

Requirements: 

  • JD degree and admitted to practice law in North Carolina or eligible to sit for the next Bar exam; five years of legal experience required, with civil litigation experience strongly preferred
  • Significant experience in a professional capacity in the subject areas relevant to the work of the Team
  • Effective interpersonal communication skills
  • Experience in supervision and management of staff
  • Strong commitment to DRNC’s mission to advance and defend the rights of people with disabilities, particularly those who live at the intersection of other marginalized identities, and to prioritizing DRNC’s focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in all agency work

Desirable qualifications:

  • Life experience with disability
  • Experience in a legal services, nonprofit or public interest environment
  • Ability to communicate in ASL, Spanish or another non-English language
  • Strong understanding of DEI, intersectionality and the desire to reflect and imbed that understanding in all agency work
  • Understanding of trauma and its prevalence among people with disabilities, valuing and using trauma-informed approaches

DRNC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate in any aspect of employment with regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran’s status or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. Individuals who increase the diversity of our team are encouraged to apply. We participate in E-verify.

DRNC is committed to building a diverse staff and strongly encourages applications from candidates with life experience with disability, candidates of color, and other candidates with diverse identities.

Compensation Package that is competitive with other non-profits:  The hiring range is $70,000-$107,500 depending on experience. Disability Rights NC offers excellent benefits which include 100% employer-paid health, dental, vision, life and disability as well as generous paid time off and retirement plan with an employer match.

Send a detailed letter of interest explaining your qualifications and interest in the position and resume to: resumes.hr@disabilityrightsnc.org. Include Supervising Attorney Education Team in the subject line of your email. No phone calls please.

Closing Date: Priority given to resumes and cover letters received by October 1, 2023. Position will remain open until filled.