Staff Attorney

JOB TITLE: Staff Attorney 2

PRACTICE GROUP: Equal Access and Housing Practice Group

REPORTS TO: Managing Attorney or Associate 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): $80,356.96 - $ annually (Band 11. Based on experience and internal equity analysis.)

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.

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.

The Equal Access and Housing Practice Group seeks an attorney who will lead and work collaboratively on various advocacy initiatives to end discrimination against people with disabilities and increase access. The Staff Attorney 2 will handle client cases and advocacy projects, from intake to case conclusion. The work will range from providing legal advice which will enable clients to self-advocate, to leading individual client litigation, impact litigation, writs, administrative practice, and policy advocacy.

The goal of our team’s work is to provide individualized help to improve housing stability and access to public and private 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 Staff Attorney 2 works under the direct supervision of the Associate Managing Attorney or Managing Attorney and in collaboration with other Disability Rights California attorneys, advocates, and social workers in our legal, advocacy, and outreach efforts.

• Develop 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/or judicial proceedings.
• Identify and participate in key internal and external stakeholder work groups and/or committees that align with EAH’s goals and priorities. This will include engaging with other legal services agencies and/or community-based organizations to identify and address emerging or recurring systemic issues impacting DRC’s clients.
• Expand the delivery of DRC’s services to underserved populations through strategic community outreach activities, including workshops and know-your-rights trainings.
• Prepare and/or coordinate training materials, publications, reports, or special projects, or make presentations about legal work as necessary.
• Mentor attorneys, advocates, fellows, clerks, and/or interns/externs, as assigned.
• Participate in other duties as assigned.