Advocate Job Descriptions at the Disabilities Rights Center

12/1/03

The Disabilities Rights Center, Inc. (DRC) is a private non-profit organization providing legal services to eligible individuals with disabilities. The DRC has an active litigation docket in Federal and State courts, and has been involved with many special education cases having a significant impact on the rights of persons with disabilities. The DRC also provides legislative and administrative rule-making advocacy; information about, and referral to, other agencies, organizations, and individuals that provide services to persons with disabilities; and training on legal issues. While the DRC receives grants from a variety of sources to fulfill its mission, most of its support comes from four primary sources. Under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. §6012), Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights Act (29 U.S.C. §794e), Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (42 U.S.C. § 1320b-21), and the Protection and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals Act (42 U.S.C. §10801), each state must have a system to protect and advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities. To accomplish that end, these systems must have the authority to pursue legal, administrative, and other appropriate remedies on behalf of such persons. The Disabilities Rights Center, Inc. (DRC) is the designated protection and advocacy system for New Hampshire.

ADVOCATE POSTIONS

INTAKE STAFF ATTORNEY: New cases or intakes are initially handled by the Intake Team. The Intake Team consists of the Supervising Intake Attorney, two Intake Attorneys and an Intake Coordinator. The Intake Attorneys have overall responsibility for ensuring that the necessary initial factual development and legal research is done on each intake, that as appropriate brief legal services are provided to eligible clients, and that recommendations are made to the Litigation Staff Attorneys when it is determined that a case should be accepted. The Intake Staff Attorney may also be available to serve as co-counsel on cases being handled by Litigation Staff Attorneys.

LITIGATION STAFF ATTORNEY: Litigation staff attorneys work under the supervision of the Legal Director and are responsible for a caseload of clients referred to him or her by the Intake Team. Litigation staff attorneys will be responsible for every aspect of representation of clients, including but not limited to maintaining the appropriate attorney-client relationships, drafting and filing necessary pleadings or other documents including administrative and/or federal or state court complaints, factual development of cases, legal research, trial preparation and presentation, and prosecution of appeals.

INTAKE COORDINATOR: The Intake Coordinator works with the Intake Team under the direct supervision of the Supervising Intake Attorney. The Intake Coordinator is responsible for the necessary initial factual development for each intake. The Intake Coordinator is also responsible for providing information and referral to callers under the supervision and direction of the Intake Staff Attorney.



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		12/1/03 The Disabilities Rights Center, Inc. (DRC) is a private non-profit organization providing legal services to eligible individuals with disabilities. The DRC has an active litigation docket in Federal and State courts, and has been involved with many special education cases having a significant impact on the rights of persons with disabilities. The DRC also provides legislative and administrative rule-making advocacy; information about, and referral to, other agencies, organizations, and individuals that provide services to persons with disabilities; and training on legal issues. While the DRC receives grants from a variety of sources to fulfill its mission, most of its support comes from four primary sources. Under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. §6012), Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights Act (29 U.S.C. §794e), Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (42 U.S.C. § 1320b-21), and the Protection and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals Act (42 U.S.C. §10801), each state must have a system to protect and advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities. To accomplish that end, these systems must have the authority to pursue legal, administrative, and other appropriate remedies on behalf of such persons. The Disabilities Rights Center, Inc. (DRC) is the designated protection and advocacy system for New Hampshire. ADVOCATE POSTIONS INTAKE STAFF ATTORNEY: New cases or intakes are initially handled by the Intake Team. The Intake Team consists of the Supervising Intake Attorney, two Intake Attorneys and an Intake Coordinator. The Intake Attorneys have overall responsibility for ensuring that the necessary initial factual development and legal research is done on each intake, that as appropriate brief legal services are provided to eligible clients, and that recommendations are made to the Litigation Staff Attorneys when it is determined that a case should be accepted. The Intake Staff Attorney may also be available to serve as co-counsel on cases being handled by Litigation Staff Attorneys. LITIGATION STAFF ATTORNEY: Litigation staff attorneys work under the supervision of the Legal Director and are responsible for a caseload of clients referred to him or her by the Intake Team. Litigation staff attorneys will be responsible for every aspect of representation of clients, including but not limited to maintaining the appropriate attorney-client relationships, drafting and filing necessary pleadings or other documents including administrative and/or federal or state court complaints, factual development of cases, legal research, trial preparation and presentation, and prosecution of appeals. INTAKE COORDINATOR: The Intake Coordinator works with the Intake Team under the direct supervision of the Supervising Intake Attorney. The Intake Coordinator is responsible for the necessary initial factual development for each intake. The Intake Coordinator is also responsible for providing information and referral to callers under the supervision and direction of the Intake Staff Attorney. Home \| About the DRC \| Issue Areas \| If You Need Legal Assistance \| Information About Your Rights \| Legislative/Rulemaking Action Center \| Get Involved! \| News \| Donate to the DRC \| En Espanol \| Links \| Contact Web Administrator page last updated: 5/5/08

DISABILITIES RIGHTS CENTER ADVOCATE JOB DESCRIPTIONS

DISABILITIES RIGHTS CENTER
ADVOCATE JOB DESCRIPTIONS