MANAGING ATTORNEY – Advocacy and Investigations
Milwaukee, WI - USA
Job Summary
About This Position
The Managing Attorney will provide team leadership and coordination to our short-term advocacy and investigations work toincludeadvocacy plan development andimplementation:attorney and advocatesupervision; grantmanagement;and advocacy quality assurance. The incumbent willoversee andengage in legalindividualand systemic advocacy and provide outreach and training on behalf of people with disabilities.
This role ensures the delivery of high-quality legal and advocacy services supports the professional development of team members and advances strategies that drive systemic change for the communities we serve.
Full Time Equivalent: 1 FTE (40Hours/week)
Reports to: Director of Legal and Advocacy Services
Rate: $88000 to $101000 per year
Location: DRW has offices in Milwaukee and Madison. This position can be assigned to either of these office locations depending on the applicants residence. Hybrid options are available. Applicant must be a Wisconsin resident.
Job Hours:The majority ofhours should be completed during core office hours weekdays from8 a.m. to 5 evening and weekend hours may berequired.
Application Instructions: Submit resume and cover letter detailing your qualifications and experience as they relate to the minimum and preferred qualifications.
Application Deadline: Preferred consideration will be given to applicants who apply by May 16. Position will remain open until filled.
Key Responsibilities
Team Oversight (40%):
- Work with short-term advocacy investigations and monitoring teams to develop potential activities that support the mission and priorities of DRW. Collaborate to identify issues and strategize to ensure the most impactful use of DRWs resources to meet the legal needs of people with disabilities and advance systemic change.
- Oversee the allocation of time and funding to ensure that i) all activity falls within the bounds of the DRW Mission and ii) the resources are used cost-effectively to make progress toward DRW Priorities.
- Develop and sustain strong working relations with each staff member by:
- individualized relationships with each team member to achieve the right balance of support teamwork monitoring guidance and room to move autonomouslyensure compliance with all relevant state and federal grant requirements ongoing effort to promote the professional development of each team member (and ensure that each team member is adequately trained) appropriate ongoing supervision and support of all students and volunteers (if any)
- Supervise advocates and attorneys.
- Coordinate professional development activities to ensure attorneys and advocates have the skills to perform effective and ethical practice.
Legal and Advocacy Work (20%):
- Maintain a limited caseload of strategic or high-profilecases. Directly engage in a substantial level of advocacy activity which could include theprovision of information and advice; speaking; training; handling some individual cases; collaboratingwithlitigation team for a major case; and/orparticipatingin various aspects of DRW systems advocacy.
- Performlegal oversight ofadvocacyinvestigationand monitoringprograms to ensuregoals are met and advance DRWs individual and systemicadvocacy.
Collaborative Work (20%):
- Collaborate to develop cohesive strategies to address overall agency-wide advocacy strategy especially on cross-disability issues.
- Create and maintain a process to identify and document trends for future program enhancements.
- 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 to draft portions of various grant reports throughout the year. Contribute to budget planning and resource allocation for the Team in collaboration with Directors of Finance and Legal & Advocacy Services.
- Ensure positive relations between DRW and the key funders/stakeholders while continuing to protect the overall integrity and quality of DRWs advocacy.
General (5%)
- Adhere to all DRW policies and procedures including but not limited to work hours timesheets file maintenance confidentialityand security.
- Participate in DRW activities such asall-staffmeetings and committees.
- May be other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
- Juris Doctorate and licensed to practice law in Wisconsin or eligible
- Eight years progressive leadership and management experience.
- Experience or direct contact or both with persons of culturally diverse background.
- Proven ability to communicate effectively with internal and external employees and entities including excellent listening verbal and professional written communication skills.
- Effective computer skills include communicating via email word processing and spreadsheets and use of Teams SharePoint HRIS system and Outlook.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a management team. Manage your own workload which includes prioritizing work as needed and multitasking and pivoting between multiple projects simultaneously.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience/direct contact with persons with a disability or social justice movements either in a paid or unpaid capacity.
- Knowledge of public policy.
- Effective supervisory skills.
- Experience with grant management.
- Ability to write and/or speak Spanish Hmong or ASL as well as English is desired.
Work Environment and Physical Demands
Ability to remain stationary often standing or sittingforlong periods.
Ability to traverse bendandreach to access files andoperateoffice equipment.
Perform repetitive motions that may includewrists handsor fingers.
Occasionally lift or move objects up to 20 pounds.
Someindependenttravelisrequired(20%).
Benefits
Disability Rights Wisconsin places an unparalleled value on the well-being of our staff. The following benefits are offered for permanent employees who work 20 or more hours per week:
- Generous employer contribution for individual and family health insurance plus a Health Reimbursement Account for uncovered health care costs.
- Employer-provided Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
- 401(k) Retirement Plan with Employer Contribution
- Flex Spending Account
- Access to affordable quality:
Dental Vision Coverage
Additional Life Insurance for employee and spouse and children
Critical Illness Insurance
Identity Theft
Pet Insurance
Public Student Loan Forgiveness
Employment at our organization may qualify you for federal student loan forgiveness programs. We do not directly pay for nor forgive federal student loans. However our status as a not-for-profit organization under Section 501 (c) (3) makes us an eligible employer. There may be other determining factors for one to qualify.
For more information read the Federal Student Aids Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) page:
paid time off policies include:
10 Fixed and 4 Floating Holidays
Leave time for:
o Medical and Caretaking
o Vacation
o Personal
Bereavement Leave
Additional benefits include the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Commuter Choice and Sabbatical Leave.
Equal Employment Opportunity Act (EEO) and Affirmative Action (AA)
We are an equal-opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin veteran or disability status following Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the American with Disabilities Act (ADA)
and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). Our organization is committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive environment.
Date of Job Description: February 2026
Required Experience:
IC
About Company
Who is Disability Rights Wisconsin? Disability Rights Wisconsin is Wisconsin’s Protection and Advocacy system. The agency is charged with protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities and keeping them free from abuse and neglect. Employing a variety of means, our advocates an ... View more