JOB TITLE: Senior Attorney

PRACTICE GROUP: Equal Access and Housing

REPORTS TO: Managing Attorney

LOCATION: Remote (Must live in California), Sacramento, Berkeley, Los Angeles, or San Diego

EMPLOYMENT STATUS:  Exempt, Full time, Regular, 37.5 hours week

SALARY RANGE (DOE):  $89,435.80 – $130,958.10 annually (Band 12. Based on experience and internal equity analysis)

WHO WE ARE

Disability Rights California (DRC) defends, advances, and strengthens the rights and opportunities of people with disabilities.

DRC works for a world where all disabled people have power and are treated with dignity and respect. In this world, people with disabilities are supported, valued, included in their communities, afforded the same opportunities as people without disabilities, and make their own decisions.

DRC values all forms of human diversity. We are committed to a culture of belonging where all people are welcome. In order to be effective advocates for all people with disabilities, we must address discrimination in all its forms, including the unique challenges faced by people who experience the intersection of multiple systems of discrimination.

Equal Access and Housing Practice Group 

The Equal Access and Housing Practice Group is a diverse, statewide team of passionate attorneys and advocates developing and implementing impactful strategies – short-term direct services, rights education, litigation, policy advocacy, and community support to end discrimination against people with disabilities and increase access. Our current priorities include:

• challenging discrimination in public and private programs;
• confronting the criminalization of people experiencing homelessness;
• protecting and increasing affordable, accessible housing; and
• addressing the intersectional needs of people with disabilities.

We are committed to progressive social change for diverse people with disabilities and strive to build a culture of cooperation and mutual support.

PURPOSE OF POSITION

The Equal Access and Housing Practice Group seeks a senior attorney who will lead, mentor, and work collaboratively on various advocacy initiatives to end discrimination against people with disabilities and increase access. Applicant should have demonstrated experience in leading impact litigation, community advocacy, individual affirmative advocacy, and a passion for sharing their experience and knowledge with colleagues. The goal of our team’s work is to provide individualized help to improve housing stability and access to private and public programs for people with disabilities while meeting federal and state grant requirements.  

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the job responsibilities.

The Senior Attorney works under the direct supervision of the Managing Attorney and in collaboration with other Disability Rights California attorneys, advocates, and social workers in our legal, advocacy, and outreach efforts.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential functions are the job responsibilities an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodations. The Senior Attorney’s core responsibilities will be to:

• Develop, lead, and/or participate in litigation—including class action lawsuits, complex litigation, and/or appeals—that is responsive to the needs of individuals with disabilities.
• Represent individual clients in negotiations, mediations, administrative proceedings, and judicial proceedings.
• Supervise and/or mentor the work of attorneys, advocates, fellows, clerks, and/or interns/externs, as assigned.
• Prepare and/or coordinate training materials, publications, reports, or special projects, or make presentations about legal work as necessary.
• Provide technical assistance and substantive training to other Disability Rights California staff in areas of expertise, and participate in the identification and development of substantive and skills-based training for staff.
• Collaborate with other agencies and organizations to address new or recurring problems and issues in the provision of services to clients.
• Participate in other duties as assigned.

Senior Attorney Supervisory Responsibilities

May directly supervise one or more attorneys or advocacy staff in the practice group and shall carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the agency's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include to interview, hire, and train employees; plan, assign, and direct work; regularly evaluate performance and provide ongoing feedback; work with HR to take correction actions when needed; address complaints and resolve problems.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Juris Doctor degree (JD) and admitted to the California State Bar plus seven (7) years of experience practicing law or internal candidates who have worked at DRC for two continuous years and have six years of legal experience.
• Excellent advocacy skills (research, writing, analytic, and oral).
• Demonstrated ability to lead multiple and complex advocacy projects, build strong relationships, and work well in collaboration with others.
• Demonstrated commitment – through lived experience and/or employment history – to working with people with disabilities and low-income clients, and incorporating race equity and community lawyering principles into their work.
• Expertise in one or more substantive areas of law of affecting the rights of and services for people with disabilities (such as Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Due Process Clause of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Unruh Civil Rights Act, the Disabled Persons Act, CA Gov. Code Section 11135, etc.). 
• Experience in two or more of: administrative proceedings, discovery, motion practice, class action litigation, trial advocacy, or appellate practice related to the position.
• Four (4) years of successful results in litigation—including class action lawsuits, complex litigation, and/or appeals, administrative proceedings, writs, or single plaintiff / single defendant lawsuits.
• Experience working with persons with disabilities and/or experience working with persons from multi-ethnic communities.
• Experience in the disability rights or justice movement and/or extensive contacts in the disability community;
• A strong sense of professional responsibility and ethics.
• An ability to meet deadlines and perform multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail.
• The ability to work independently with appropriate supervision.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Able to communicate fluently and write effectively in Spanish or an Asian language; or able to communicate using American Sign Language.
• Experience with and/or extensive contacts in ethnic or language distinct communities.
• Understanding of how to incorporate race equity and community lawyering principles into their work.
• Ability to maintain positive relationships with diverse groups of people.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The following describes general working conditions and requirements of the job, which can be performed with or without disability-related reasonable accommodations:

• Duties are performed between an office or home environment and the field in a wide range of settings, including courthouses, facilities, or other institutional settings, or in community-based settings.
• Duties require regular communications over online platforms.
• Must be able to transport oneself to work-related meetings, training, and community events.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to travel occasionally for activities such as out-of-town meetings, training, or outreach activities up to 25% of the time.

HOW TO APPLY:

To be considered for this position, applicants MUST submit the following:

1. Disability Rights California Employment Application (must fill out completely; do not state “See Resume”).
2. Resume
3. Cover Letter that addresses your personal and professional motivation for seeking this position and indicating how you meet EACH of the Minimum and ANY of the Desired Qualifications for this position.
4. Sample of legal writing (i.e., a legal argument, letter or analysis) consisting of no more than 10 pages of text.
5. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Working at DRC is more than just a job - it is a rare opportunity to do what you are good at while making a difference! DRC offers competitive salaries and a generous benefit package.