Atlanta Legal Aid Society (“Legal Aid”) seeks a Staff Attorney to work in its Disability Integration Project, a specialty unit located in its DeKalb County office. The Disability Integration Project represents adults and children with significant disabilities who are in institutions or who are at risk of entering institutions. We advocate for our clients to receive publicly funded home and community-based services and supports so they can live full lives in the community. Our work is based on the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Olmstead v. L.C., which affirmed that the unnecessary segregation of people with disabilities is discrimination under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Currently, the staff consists of a managing attorney, a staff attorney, and a paralegal.
Responsibilities: The Staff Attorney represents individuals with mental illness, physical disabilities, intellectual and developmental disabilities in administrative hearings, juvenile court proceedings, Individual Education Plan meetings, administrative agency complaints, and federal court. In addition, the Staff Attorney employs innovative advocacy strategies to ensure true community integration for our clients, including working with state agencies to secure cross-agency benefits for clients, media advocacy, and community education. The Staff Attorney also works with law students enrolled in a legal clinic at Georgia State University School of Law.
Qualifications: A Georgia Bar license or eligibility to sit for the next bar exam is required. Applicants must possess excellent legal writing, oral advocacy, communication, and listening skills. A strong work ethic, the ability to work on a team and alone, adaptability, appreciation of diversity, and a commitment to serving people with disabilities are required. A demonstrated commitment to public service, participation in law school clinics, trial advocacy courses, familiarity with poverty law (especially Medicaid), and previous work with low-income people are strongly preferred. Litigation experience is a plus.
Application Requirements: Submit a letter of interest; resume; writing sample (advice letter, legal memorandum or brief); official law school transcript (a copy is acceptable pending your order of an official transcript); and the names, phone numbers and email addresses of three professional references (preferably individuals who have supervised or managed your work) as one (1) PDF using our online application system at atlantalegalaid.org/jobs. Only applications with all of the requested documents will be considered for an interview.
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