Supervising Attorney
Multnomah County Civil Commitment Program
Imagine for a moment, a world where every single person feels equal to another and every person feels a sense of belonging in their communities, places of work and among others.
At Disability Rights Oregon, this is more than just a dream. This is our life’s work. We envision a world in which people with disabilities have equal opportunity, full participation in our communities, and the ability to exercise meaningful choice. Every day, we strive to make Oregon a more welcoming place for people with disabilities.
Disability Rights Oregon is seeking a Supervising Attorney for our Multnomah County Civil Commitment program who thrives in a team environment and has the drive and determination to advocate for the rights of people in civil commitment proceedings in Oregon.
The Supervising Attorney leads the Multnomah County Civil Commitment Program, providing direct legal representation and advocacy for individuals facing civil commitment proceedings in Multnomah County, Oregon. This includes courtroom representation, protection of clients’ legal rights, safeguarding due process, and providing information and guidance to support self-advocacy. The role also includes supervision and direction of advocacy work carried out by five full-time staff members: two Staff Attorneys and three Administrative support employees.
What you can expect to accomplish:
Provide timely, ethical, and high-quality direct legal representation and advocacy to clients facing involuntary civil commitment, consistent with team priorities, goals, and objectives.
Represent clients in court proceedings.
Provide consultation, technical assistance, legal education, and training to program staff, client/consumer groups, and other appropriate stakeholders.
Conduct client intake interviews to determine eligibility for DRO advocacy services, identify legal issues, and provide appropriate information and referrals.
Develop cases through client and witness interviews, and by requesting, obtaining, and reviewing relevant records; conducts legal and factual research as needed.
Participate in case reviews and collaborate with the team to develop and implement advocacy strategies.
Ensure strict adherence to client confidentiality requirements.
Maintain comprehensive knowledge of applicable laws, policies, and services relevant to clients and actively share expertise with team members.
Contribute to the development, implementation, and evaluation of program goals, priorities, and strategic initiatives.
Conduct supervision, case reviews, and performance evaluations for assigned staff; leads hiring, onboarding, and training of supervised personnel.
Maintain current knowledge of relevant laws, services, and service delivery systems; conduct legal research to support casework and program needs.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with team members, service providers, client groups, opposing counsel, court personnel, and other stakeholders.
Oversee the development, implementation, and achievement of program goals in collaboration with leadership.
Supervise, mentor, and provide guidance and support to direct reports, law clerks, and volunteers.
Participate in agency outreach, monitoring, and compliance activities; maintains working knowledge of all DRO programs and services.
Support accurate and timely case management, including case documentation, closures, and reporting to funders.
Collaborate with the Legal Director, Deputy Legal Director, Managing Attorney, and other leadership to ensure effective use of agency resources and coordination of cross-program initiatives.
What we are looking for:
A juris doctorate from an accredited law school.
Active membership in Oregon State Bar or ability to obtain membership through reciprocity or taking the Oregon State Bar Exam at the next available opportunity.
Five to 10 years of experience in public defense, administrative law, alternative dispute resolution, or legal advocacy on behalf of individuals with disabilities.
Experience supervising staff, preferred.
Demonstrated litigation experience.
Broad knowledge of quality services for people with disabilities or people facing guardianship.
Experience in guardianship law, civil rights law, disability law, and/or other public interest law.
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
Demonstrated ability to provide people with disabilities the opportunity for self-determination and empowerment
Ability to use trauma-informed intervention skills to advocate persistently.
Demonstrated aptitude and interest in working collaboratively, particularly with state agencies.
Strong communication skills, using patience and negotiating ability.
Job requires specialized computer skills. Must be adept at using various applications, including database, spreadsheet, report writing, project management, graphics, word processing, presentation creation/editing, communicate by e-mail, use scheduling software, Google Apps, Microsoft Office Suite, and PC operating systems. Effectively uses a computer to research.
What we offer (besides a rewarding job!):
35 Hour Workweek
Flexible cafeteria benefit plan to use for employer-sponsored Medical and Dental insurance
14 paid holidays including floating holidays
Vacation time starting at 12 days in your first year (and going up to 16 days in your second year with continuous increases capping at 30 days per year)
15 days paid sick leave per year
Employer-funded retirement account
Cafeteria/flexible spending accounts
Competitive compensation
Employer-paid life insurance, long-term disability insurance, and short-term disability insurance
Malpractice insurance, paid association dues, and professional development opportunities
Where is this position located?
This position is hybrid-eligible, within the Portland metropolitan area in Oregon. It requires regular travel within Multnomah County and in-person court appearances as needed.
Pay Equity
To ensure pay equity among our staff, DRO pays employees strictly based years of relevant experience. For this position, the salary for an employee with five to 10 years is between $65,500–$69,150, 11 to 15 years between $70,050–$73,750, 16 to 20 years between $74,750–$78,750, 21 to 25 years between $79,750–$84,150.
Interested?
We can’t wait to hear from you! For consideration, please complete our online application.
We encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply.
Disability Rights Oregon is committed to creating a diverse workforce to strengthen our organization and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. The individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, and talent that our employees invest in their work helps shape the culture here at Disability Rights Oregon. We strive to have a workforce that represents the communities we serve.
We strongly encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply. All employment decisions at Disability Rights Oregon are based on job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, genetic information, age (18 and over), veteran status, uniform service member status, unemployment status, sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender-related identity and gender expression), marital status, family status, or an individual having been a victim of sexual abuse, including domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking.
If you meet key qualifications for the job and believe you would be the best fit, we encourage you to apply. Use your cover letter to explain how you will accomplish parts of the job for which you have less experience. If you are unsure whether you meet the qualifications of this position, please apply.
Bargaining Unit Position: No
