Attorney and Litigation Coordinator

Disability Rights Tennessee (DRT) is seeking an Attorney and Litigation Coordinator to help drive mission-centered legal advocacy for Tennesseans with disabilities and/or mental illness. In this role, you will help advance complex litigation, strengthen coordinated legal strategy, and work alongside advocates, investigators, self-advocates, decision makers, community partners, and co-counsel to create meaningful change across the state. 

 

Only resumes submitted with a cover letter will be considered. 

Who We Are 

 

DRT is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the rights of Tennesseans with disabilities.  DRT is the designated Protection & Advocacy System (P&A) and Client Assistance Program (CAP) for Tennessee.  For over 45 years, our agency has served more than 57,000 Tennesseans. DRT is funded through federal grants, state contracts, private donations, and grants.  DRT has eleven programs which provide services across the state and across issues. To learn more about DRT, visit us at DisabilityRightsTN.org or on social media. 

 

What You’ll Do 

 

Are you a mission-driven attorney who wants to use litigation, advocacy, and legal strategy to ensure safety, well-being, and disability rights across Tennessee? As DRT’s Attorney and Litigation Coordinator, you will help move complex systemic litigation forward, represent Tennesseans with disabilities and/or mental illness, support strong advocacy across programs, and collaborate with agency advocates and investigators, self-advocates, family members, and community partners, and co-counsel to create meaningful, lasting change. 

 

Keys to Success:  

 

You’ll thrive in this role if you are energized by mission-driven legal work, enjoy collaborating across teams, and bring the judgment, care, detail orientation, and follow-through needed to move advocacy and litigation forward. We are looking for someone who brings the following values, skills, and abilities: 

• You enjoy bringing order, strategy, and follow-through to complex litigation, from case planning and discovery to legal drafting, trial preparation, coordination with co-counsel, and communication with plaintiffs or potential plaintiffs. 

• You are committed to representing people with disabilities and/or mental illness through meaningful advocacy that aligns with DRT’s mission and programmatic priorities. 

• You bring clear legal analysis, sound judgment, and a collaborative spirit to advocacy, intake, referral, and service request decisions. 

• You value partnership and enjoy working closely to identify resources and referrals, and evaluate issues to support thoughtful intake, referral decision-making, and legal review. 

• You are excited to share knowledge through training, outreach, public education, and creation of public-facing materials including social media and web content. 

• You appreciate strong project management systems and are willing to contribute to workplan development, case selection criteria, service request review, monthly case reviews, professional development, and consistent use of DRT policies and procedures. 

• You are flexible, dependable, and ready to pitch in where your skills can best support the team and DRT’s mission. 

• This position requires strong independent judgment, consistent communication, attention to detail, and the ability to work effectively in a mission-driven, collaborative environment. 

 

Required Qualifications 

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school or another law school approved by the Tennessee Supreme Court. 

• Active Tennessee law license, or the ability to obtain one in a timely manner. 

• At least three years of litigation experience. 

• Strong critical thinking, legal research, case evaluation, communication, organization, and time management skills. 

• Ability to work independently, take initiative, exercise sound professional judgment, and collaborate effectively with team members across roles and programs. 

• Knowledge of the disability community and demonstrated commitment to DRT’s mission and values. 

• Ability to follow procedures and protocols, protect confidential information, and quickly learn required databases and systems. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience working with people with disabilities, disability rights issues, or public interest legal advocacy. 

What Else You Should Know 

 

• The position is full-time (37.5 hours per week) and we offer flexibility on daily schedule 

• Remote and in-office work will be required for this position. 

• The role will require routine in-state travel for meetings with clients and/or partners, as well as community education activities.  On average travel will be 20% of the average work month, and a valid driver’s license; reliable transportation and insurance are necessary. 

• This position serves the entire state. 

• Candidates must live within 60 miles of DRT’s office in Nashville, Memphis, or Knoxville.  

• Reliable home internet is required. 

• Technology and equipment will be provided by DRT.  

 

The salary for this position begins at $84,500  the exact salary for this position depends on experience, certifications, and language skills. We offer excellent benefits such as a flexible schedule, remote work, paternal leave, paid federal and state holidays, 401K, FSA, and insurance options including medical, vision, dental, life, and disability. 

 

DRT does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. We make all employment decisions based on business needs, qualifications, and individual merit.