Attorney (Senior) - Equal Access and Housing (EAH)

Description

JOB TITLE: Senior Attorney (minimum 7 years of experience practicing law)

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

Application Deadline: Open until filled.

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

As part of our commitment to internal equity, salary offers are determined through a structured analysis that considers each candidate’s relevant education and years of substantially similar experience for the position. We review the candidate’s resume to assess relevant experience in relation to current employees in comparable roles. This process ensures our compensation decisions are fair, consistent, and aligned with organizational equity standards.

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, strategic litigation, policy advocacy, and community outreach and education – to protect, enforce, and advance the civil and human rights of people with disabilities. Our current priorities include:

- Challenging discrimination in and ensuring equal access to public and private programs.

- Confronting the criminalization of people experiencing homelessness.

- Protecting and increasing affordable, accessible housing.

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 challenge 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 improve housing stability and access to private and public programs for people with disabilities while meeting federal and state grant requirements.

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.

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

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES & EXPECTATIONS

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 participate in litigation independently with appropriate supervision – including class action lawsuits, complex litigation, and appeals – that is responsive to the needs of the disability community.

· Meet deadlines and perform multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail and maintaining a strong sense of professional responsibility and legal ethics.

· Represent clients in negotiations, mediations, administrative proceedings, and judicial proceedings.

· Supervise and/or mentor the work of attorneys, advocates, fellows, clerks, and 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 the disability community.

· Participate in other duties as assigned.

Senior Attorney Supervisory Responsibilities

Supervise one or more attorneys or advocacy staff in the practice group and 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 Human Resources to take corrective actions when needed; address complaints and resolve problems.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

· Juris Doctor degree (JD) and admitted to the California State Bar.

· Minimum seven (7) years of experience practicing law or internal candidates who have worked at DRC for two continuous years and have six years of experience practicing law.

· 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.

· 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.).

· Excellent advocacy skills (research, writing, analytic, and oral).

· Demonstrated ability to lead multiple and complex advocacy projects, build strong relationships, and collaborate with others.

· Demonstrated commitment – through lived experience and/or employment history – to working with people with disabilities, low-income clients, multiethnic communities, and incorporating race equity and community lawyering principles into their work.

· Experience in two or more of: administrative proceedings, discovery, motion practice, class action litigation, trial advocacy, or appellate practice related to the position.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

· Able to communicate fluently in Spanish or an Asian language; or able to communicate fluently using American Sign Language.

· Extensive experience with ethnic or language distinct communities.

· Understanding of how to incorporate race equity and community lawyering principles into legal work.

· Ability to maintain positive working 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 reasonable accommodations:

· Duties are performed in a DRC office or home office or in the field in a wide range of settings, including courthouses, facilities, or other institutional settings, or in community-based settings.

· Duties require daily communications and work over online platforms.

· Must be able to transport oneself to work-related meetings, trainings, and community events.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to travel occasionally for activities such as out-of-town meetings, training, or outreach activit