Staff or Sr. Staff Attorney - Child and Youth Rights Facilities and Community

Integration Team Join the National Movement to Advance Disability Rights Are you a passionate advocate for equality, justice, and inclusion of people with disabilities? The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) — the nation’s largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights of individuals with disabilities—is seeking a Staff or Senior Staff Attorney to join our dynamic legal team and join our Facilities and Community Integration Unit. This is more than a legal position—it’s an opportunity to drive systemic change. You’ll help shape national strategies that ensure people with disabilities have the freedom and support to live, work, and thrive in their own communities, in keeping with the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and other laws.

Who We Are:

At NDRN, we believe that disability rights are civil rights. We serve as the nonprofit membership organization representing the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) and Client Assistance Program (CAP) agencies in every U.S. state and territory, as well as the Native American Disability Law Center in the four corners region. Together, this nationwide network is a powerful force for equality—working to ensure that people with disabilities have equal opportunity, self-determination, and access to justice. As part of our team, you’ll: • Partner with passionate advocates and attorneys across the country to uphold and expand the promise of the ADA. • Influence national policy and litigation strategies that protect and advance disability rights. • Join a collaborative, mission-driven organization that values innovation, integrity, and inclusion. • Contribute to work that produces measurable, lasting impact in communities nationwide. At NDRN, we don’t just defend rights—we build pathways to inclusion. If you’re ready to use your legal expertise to create lasting change, your work will matter every day.

What You Will Do:

• Deliver legal technical assistance to support P&A attorneys and advocates pursue legally based advocacy activities involving the following areas: ➢ Educational rights of children and young people up to the age of 25 with disabilities who reside in facilities, including residential schools, Intermediate Care Facilities (ICFs), Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities for youth (PRTFs), group homes, juvenile justice facilities, youth held in adult prisons and jails, hospitals, treatment centers, and in foster care homes and facilities; ➢ The rights of children residing in the above facilities to be free from abuse, restraint, neglect, and fraud; ➢ Children and parents with disabilities involved in state child welfare systems, and similar public systems. • In coordination with other NDRN attorney(s) assist P&As address the rights of children with disabilities to receive educational services in institutions under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and other laws. • Develop, coordinate, and conduct remote and in-person trainings consistent to meet the identified training needs of P&A staff to enhance and expand their ability to protect the rights of children and young people with disabilities. • Create, update, and maintain relevant training and technical assistance resources. • Lead efforts of assigned Communities of Practice (CoPs) or other peer-to-peer networking outlets. • Broker expertise among the P&As and work with outside experts to promote the sharing of legal and other resources across the network. • Develop and expand collaborations with federal agencies and other national advocacy organizations. • Provide subject matter expertise to support NDRN special projects and grants. • Compile and draft reports which demonstrate the efficacy of the work of the P&A system and NDRN related the rights of youth with disabilities, and the conditions and rights of children with disabilities in institutions. • Contribute to proposal, reports, and position papers, regarding relevant regulations, policies, practices and funding opportunities designed to support the work of P&As, NDRN or which protect the rights of children and youth with disabilities. • Manage and provide direct support for NDRN’s participation in amicus briefs.

Qualifications:

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school; licensed and in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.

For Senior Staff Attorney:

• 7+ years of legal experience, including litigation and/or policy advocacy in disability rights, civil rights, juvenile or dependency law. • At least 4 years of cumulative direct experience representing clients in federal civil litigation, or in the context of juvenile criminal defense, guardian ad litem or similar role, or in policy advocacy, organizing or investigating in relation to these issues. • Strong knowledge of disability law, including Section 504, ADA, and laws governing child welfare and juvenile justice, and knowledge of IDEA and education law. • Experience working with or representing children and youth with disabilities. • Knowledge and direct experience of conditions in congregate settings including detention centers, residential schools and therapeutic programs, and in the dependency system. • Excellent legal research, writing, and advocacy skills.

For Staff Attorney:

• 3 - 6 years of legal experience, at least 2 of which should include litigation and/or policy advocacy on behalf of children in state custody including those in dependency systems, therapeutic residential settings, and criminal detention settings. • Strong knowledge of disability and education law, including IDEA, Section 504, ADA, and laws governing child welfare and juvenile justice. • Excellent legal research, writing and advocacy skills.

Location & Work Environment:

The position is fully remote from within the United States. NDRN’s office is located in Washington, D.C. Occasional travel and weekend work, as needed.

Reasonable Accommodations:

NDRN provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or

hiring process, please notify us at hr@ndrn.org.

NDRN is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, and we

prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind and fully comply with

all federal, District of Columbia, and applicable state employment laws,

including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Rehabilitation Act of

1973, as amended, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the

Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended. Individuals with Disabilities

are encouraged to apply.

A comprehensive benefits package.