Associate Attorney

Associate Attorney

Date Posted: Oct 5, 2026

Requisition ID: 484449

Location:

Indianapolis, IN, US, 46205

Work for Indiana

Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering a range of opportunities across 60+ agencies. At the state, you'll find competitive compensation, a robust benefits package and a commitment to work-life balance. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana.

About Indiana Disability Rights (IDR):

Indiana Disability Rights (IDR) is the designated protection and advocacy organization for the State of Indiana. We provide direct legal advocacy to people with disabilities across the state, covering a wide range of civil rights including access to education, health care, employment, community living, public access, self-determination, and freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Role Overview:

The Associate Attorney is a generalist position designed to expose newer attorneys to a wide variety of legal subjects, all in support of the agency's mission. Associate Attorneys handle real and interesting cases from day one, with the supportive mentoring and leadership of the Legal Director and four Senior Attorneys who serve as subject-matter experts in Civil Rights, Health Care, Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation, and Education and Self-Determination. Over time, the Associate Attorney develops subject-matter expertise in one or more practice areas while maintaining the breadth of experience that defines the role. This is mission-driven legal work that combines the meaningful representation of people whose rights have been violated with genuine opportunities for professional growth, and it is well suited to attorneys who want their daily work to matter.

Recent law school graduates and attorneys early in their careers are encouraged to apply.

Salary:

The salary for this position traditionally starts at $67,314.00 with 1-4 years of experience, or $85,020.00 with 5+ years of experience while admitted to a state bar association but may be greater commensurate with education or work experience. Use our Compensation Calculator (https://in.accessgov.com/spd/Forms/Page/spd/compensation-calculator/0) to view the total compensation package.

A Day in the Life:

The essential functions of this role are as follows:

• Carries an active caseload of matters assigned by the Legal Director, drawn from across the agency's four practice areas, with assignments based on caseload, geography, attorney development goals, and case complexity;

• Represents clients in state and federal court, in administrative proceedings, and in informal negotiations and mediations;

• Drafts and files pleadings, motions, briefs, and other legal documents, with consultation and review from the Legal Director and the relevant Senior Attorney as appropriate;

• Conducts discovery, including depositions, written discovery, and document review;

• Performs legal research and drafts internal and external legal memoranda;

• Consults with the relevant Senior Attorney on subject-matter questions, case strategy, and substantive legal issues arising in assigned cases;

• Consults with the Legal Director on litigation decisions, settlement, case closure, and significant case developments;

• Works closely with advocacy staff assigned to support cases, providing direction on case-related advocacy work and coordinating client communications and case strategy;

• Participates in the weekly Case Review Committee as assigned and contributes to case selection discussions across the agency;

• Represents the agency in coalitions, workgroups, and stakeholder meetings as assigned;

• Drafts publications, public-facing legal resources, and policy comments as assigned;

• Develops and presents training and community outreach materials as assigned;

• Engages with the Investigations Coordinator, Monitoring Coordinator, and Intake Coordinator on assigned matters that involve investigations, monitoring activities, or intake operations;

• Maintains contemporaneous time records, particularly for matters with potential attorneys' fees recovery;

• Maintains all case documentation in the agency's litigation management system in accordance with agency case management policy;

• Pursues professional development opportunities, including continuing legal education, training in new practice areas, and mentorship with the Senior Attorneys, to build subject-matter expertise over time.

The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time.

This position is exempt from overtime compensation for additional work hours which may be required to complete essential functions or other assigned work. Exempt employees may work more than 75 hours in a pay period without additional compensation and must report a minimum of 75 hours per pay period of work hours and/or paid leave taken to receive their base biweekly salary.

What You'll Need for Success:

Individuals in this role should minimally be able to articulate or demonstrate the following:

• A Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school;

• Current admission in good standing to the Indiana bar, or eligibility for admission within a reasonable period after hire;

• Admission, or eligibility for admission, to the United States District Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts of Indiana is preferred;

• Prior legal experience is welcomed but not required. Recent law school graduates and attorneys early in their careers are encouraged to apply;

• A demonstrated commitment to disability rights, civil rights, public interest law, or the representation of underserved communities;

• Strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills;

• Strong oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with clients, opposing counsel, judges, hearing officers, agency officials, coalition partners, and the public, both in person and in virtual environments such as video conferences and remote hearings;

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, manage a varied caseload, and meet competing deadlines;

• Willingness to learn new substantive areas of law and to seek consultation and feedback from more experienced attorneys;

• Ability to maintain client confidentiality and adhere to the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct;

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, video conferencing and virtual meeting platforms, the agency's litigation management system, and electronic court filing systems, with a willingness to adopt new technology tools as the agency evolves;

• Commitment to the responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence tools in legal practice, consistent with IDR policy and applicable professional responsibility standards;

• Possession of a valid driver's license or the ability to travel throughout the State of Indiana by alternate means. Travel throughout the State of Indiana is required to attend court and administrative hearings, mediations, depositions, client meetings, and coalition and workgroup meetings. Occasional out-of-state travel may be required for national conferences and training.

Individuals should have the ability to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana:

The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees which includes:

• Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans

• Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards

• Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution

• Deferred compensation 457(b) account (similar to 401(k) plan) with employer match

• Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options

• A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to:

• 150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers

• Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave

• Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off

• 12 paid holidays, 14 on election years

• Education Reimbursement Program

• Group life insurance

• Referral Bonus program

• Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits

• Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

• Free Parking for most positions

• Free LinkedIn Learning access

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process as well as perform the essential functions of a role. If you require reasonable accommodations to complete this application, you can request assistance by contacting the Indiana State Personnel Department at [email protected].

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