Legal Director
ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION: The Disability Rights Center – New Hampshire (DRC) is the designated protection and advocacy agency federally mandated to advance the rights of people with disabilities in New Hampshire. The DRC is a statewide organization dedicated to eliminating barriers experienced by individuals with disabilities to the full and equal enjoyment of their civil and other legal rights. DRC provides legal representation, advocacy, advice, information, and referral to individuals with disabilities on a wide range of disability-related issues.
POSITION PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES: The Legal Director provides leadership, vision, planning, supervision, and oversight of the legal work of the DRC. The DRC’s work includes individual representation as well as class action and other systemic litigation in the areas of: mental health and developmental services, Medicaid, employment, special education, public accommodations, housing, discrimination, and other disability related legal issues. The DRC also conducts investigations of abuse and neglect and engages in monitoring activities in facilities for the protection and advocacy of individuals with disabilities as authorized by federal law. The DRC works to advance the rights of individuals with disabilities to autonomy, self-determination, and community integration. The legal director is responsible for ensuring high quality representation to clients and provides direct supervision to attorneys in the office. The legal director is a central partner on the management team and participates in the hiring of staff, setting priorities, budgeting, policy development, and other management activities.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Maintains overall planning, management and supervisory responsibility for the legal work, litigation, and investigation activities of the organization.
2. Provides orientation, training, supervision, and evaluation of attorneys, advocates, and law students.
3. Ensures high quality representation by attorneys through regular case review, advocacy skills training, access to current research materials, and other quality assurance mechanisms.
4. Provides direction and supervision to attorneys and advocates, and works collaboratively with policy, outreach, and fiscal management staff.
5. In accordance with the goals and priorities of the organization and case acceptance guidelines, determines cases to be opened for full representation and assigns cases to attorneys.
6. Monitors client intake procedures and attorney caseloads to ensure quality and program responsiveness; compliance with Federal reporting; agency priorities; and eligibility.
7. Assists the Executive Director in developing personnel policies and procedures, handling personnel matters related to the casework, and ensuring best practices in law office management and the provision of quality legal services.
8. With the approval of the Executive Director, develops, recommends and oversees implementation of organization policies and procedures related to the casework.
9. Provides regular and timely reports to the Executive Director and, as requested, to the Board of Directors.
10. Assists the Executive Director in meeting reporting requirements of federal and other funding sources.
11. Stays current with changes in state and federal law regarding disabilities and other procedural and substantive laws necessary to practice law. Maintains continuing legal education requirements required by the NH Bar, and attends training to maintain and improve or refine advocacy skills and substantive knowledge.
12. Provides education and training to attorneys, other individuals and organizations in and outside of DRC on legal issues and developments regarding rights of individuals with disabilities and related matters.
Required Qualifications: 1. J.D. from an accredited law school; licensed to practice law in the State of New Hampshire (at the time of hire or as soon as possible after hiring by taking the bar exam or through admission by waiver). 2. A minimum of 7 years litigation experience, including experience in complex civil litigation. 3. Exceptional skills in drafting complex pleadings and motions, depositions, and trial work. 4. Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to think creatively to develop litigation and non-litigation strategies to advance objectives. Preferred Qualifications: 1. Experience with class action, major impact, or other systemic litigation. 2. Minimum 3 years experience in providing direct supervision or mentorship of legal work. 3. Experience in legal services or law office management. 4. Demonstrates commitment to advancing the civil and other legal rights of individuals with disabilities, or similar civil rights or legal services representation.
Send cover letter, resume, and writing sample by e-mail to BethK@drcnh.org DRC-NH is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals. DRC-NH affords equal opportunity regardless of color, race, religion, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability (physical or mental), age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other non-merit factor. The DRC-NH welcomes and encourages applications from persons with disabilities.