Staff Attorney (PABSS)

LOCATION: New Orleans, LA Preferred (possibility for remote depended upon location).

POSITION SUMMARY:

Disability Rights Louisiana (DRLA) has an immediate opening for a Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (“PABSS”) focused Staff Attorney to join our Legal Team. Are you passionate and dedicated to advancing the rights of persons with disabilities? The ideal candidate has demonstrated a strong commitment to public interest law and social justice, an interest in learning disability rights law, an understanding of social security law, and exceptional legal and advocacy skills.

ABOUT US:

Disability Rights Louisiana is a private, non-profit, law firm that is designated as the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) agency for the State of Louisiana. DRLA is part of a nationwide network of P&A agencies that advocate, empower, and protect individuals with disabilities. One of the programs is the Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (“PABSS”), which serves Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries with disabilities who want to work by helping to remove barriers to employment.

Since 1977, DRLA’s team of attorneys and advocates have provided free legal and advocacy services to people with disabilities, of all ages, throughout Louisiana. We work at the intersection of disability discrimination and race, gender, age, and other issues that compound socio-economic inequities. DRLA prioritizes its work to make change on these multiple fronts through individual and systemic advocacy, by monitoring places where persons with disabilities live or receive services, investigating allegations of abuse and neglect; conducting outreach and training; and engaging in legislative and administrative advocacy.

DRLA’s core mission is to protect and advocate for the human and legal rights of people with disabilities of all ages across our state. We work to empower the disability community to live an integrated life, free from abuse, neglect and exploitation. To learn more, please visit www.disabilityrightsla.org.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The PABSS focused Staff Attorney is responsible for assisting in the development and execution of DRLA’s individual and systemic litigation, providing legal advice and assistance, including

direct representation in court and administrative proceedings, in accordance with DRLA’s priorities to individuals seeking assistance from the DRLA particularly for PABSS eligible matters, and maintaining an active caseload on disability-related PABSS-eligible issues in administrative, state. and federal court.

CORE JOB DUTIES:

• Assist in the development and execution of DRLA’s individual and systemic litigation:

o Assist in the identification of litigation opportunities across the state.

o Promote and assist in ongoing development of litigation on disability rights issues.

• Provide legal advice and assistance, including direct representation in court and administrative proceedings, in accordance with DRLA’s PABSS priorities to individuals seeking assistance from the DRLA. Services offered through the PABSS program include, but are not limited to: (https://www.ssa.gov/work/protectionadvocacy.html)

o Securing services from community agencies, including Employment Networks providing services under the Ticket to Work program;

o Helping people who are entitled to benefits understand Work Incentives and issues with their disability benefits;

o Protecting beneficiaries’ rights regarding conditions of employment;

o Helping beneficiaries understand and protect their employment rights, responsibilities and reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and other applicable laws;

o Protecting rights to transportation;

o Protecting access to housing assistance; and

o Obtaining vocational rehabilitation and employment related services and supports.

• Maintain an active caseload of representation on behalf of people with disabilities on disability-related PABSS eligible issues in state and federal court.
• Stay current with relevant changes in state and federal law.
• Maintain continuing legal education requirements as required by the Louisiana Bar and attend trainings to maintain and improve or refine advocacy skills and substantive knowledge.
• Provide necessary direction and supervision for non-attorney legal advocates as needed.
• Provide input in the planning and evaluation of the legal work of the agency as requested.

Requirements:

• JD from an accredited law school.
• Active Louisiana State Bar license, in good standing.
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest law and serving marginalized communities.
• One to five years of experience in public interest law and/or issues related to age or disability preferred.
• A commitment to enforcing and expanding the rights of people with disabilities across Louisiana through individual and systemic litigation.
• Strong analytical skills and a willingness to develop and implement litigation strategies to advance the law and address systemic problems.
• Strong legal research and writing skills with the ability to draft complex briefs, pleadings and motions.
• Experience with social security benefits and related issues is preferred.
• Experience conducting depositions and trial work preferred.
• Fluency in Spanish or other language preferred.
• Ability to travel is required.

Work Environment & Demands:

• Physical requirements include the ability to lift up to 25 pounds occasionally.
• May involve standing or walking for extended periods while some tasks may require bending, stooping, or reaching.
• Regular use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and various digital devices.
• Capacity to perform repetitive tasks; read, analyze, and interpret data; maintain visual attention and mental concentration for significant periods of time.

Work Authorization: Must be currently authorized to work in the United States for any employer. Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: Disability Rights Louisiana values diversity among our employees and is an equal opportunity employer. We hire without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, age (over 40), disability (mental and physical), sex, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military and veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. DRLA endorses and supports the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals.