About Disability Law Colorado

Disability Law Colorado (DLC) is a statewide, nonprofit legal organization dedicated to advancing the rights of Coloradans with disabilities. DLC works to achieve fairness and justice for people with disabilities through advocacy, litigation, policy leadership, education, and outreach. As Colorado’s designated Protection and Advocacy System (P&A), we use our federal authority to serve clients with disabilities—everywhere from nursing homes to prisons, schools to voting booths. DLC operates nine federally mandated programs for people with disabilities. For more information about DLC, please visit: www.disabilitylawco.org.

Position Overview

As a key member of the Legal Team, the Disability Rights Attorney works on issues such as disability discrimination in healthcare, decision-making, and access to services to live in the least restrictive setting. The Disability Rights Attorney will handle multiple cases and advocacy projects with appropriate supervision depending on experience, including leading individual client representation, administrative practice, appellate advocacy, technical assistance, systemic advocacy, outreach, training, and policy advocacy. This work also includes monitoring facilities including, but not limited to, jails, prisons, Regional Centers, group homes, Community Centered Boards, and psychiatric hospitals. It will also include investigating complaints of abuse, neglect, and rights violations.

Reporting Relationships

The Disability Rights Attorney reports directly to one of two Co-Legal Directors. The Disability Rights Attorney has no direct reports and collaborates across the organization.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provides legal services to clients with disabilities, including self-advocacy assistance, advice, negotiation, representation in administrative complaints, litigation in state and federal court, and administrative and policy advocacy.
• Stays up to date on legal developments in the areas of healthcare – including Medicaid, guardianship and alternatives to guardianship, and Olmstead (the right to live in the least restrictive environment).
• Conducts investigations and monitoring.
• Conducts outreach and training, and produces self-advocacy materials, to increase the capacity of individuals with disabilities to be self-advocates, advance awareness about disability rights issues, and inform the public about DLC’s services.
• Analyzes and evaluates barriers to community living presented by clients and community partners.
• Writes organized and concise public reports, reports to other oversight and enforcement agencies, and internal reports regarding findings, conclusions, and recommendations resulting from investigations or monitoring activities.

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Member in good standing of the Colorado Bar or admission before beginning this role.
• Ability to work independently in a hybrid or remote environment, as well as under general supervision and on a team.
• At least six months of experience practicing law or serving as a legal intern or law clerk.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information.

Compensation and Benefits

The hiring range for this position is $72,000 to $105,000 annually, depending on experience. (For reference, $88,500 represents five years of experience in a similar position.) Disability Law Colorado offers competitive salaries; generous leave, including a sabbatical policy; and an excellent benefits package, which includes a 403(b) retirement savings plan and medical, dental, vision, life, and short term and long-term disability insurance. DLC employees also enjoy a 36-hour workweek as full-time employment, as well as flexible hours.

Application Process

We encourage candidates with disabilities and others with lived experience and diverse backgrounds to apply. Candidates should submit a cover letter outlining their interest and qualifications, along with their resume, to [email protected] with the subject line: Disability Rights Attorney by January 10, 2025, for priority consideration.

For questions or support with the application process, please contact Esther Brieno at [email protected].