Litigation Counsel

About the role

At Disability Rights California (DRC), we are committed to creating an equitable, accessible, and inclusive experience for all applicants. Below, we’ve outlined important details to ensure you feel fully supported throughout the hiring process.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead systemic litigation to address the needs of disabled Californians and their families, with a particular emphasis on young people with disabilities, which may include targeted representation, complex litigation, and/or appeals of administrative decisions;
• Develop policy and other systems-change advocacy initiatives, including major policy advocacy at the state level;
• Mentor and train practice group attorneys in litigation and policy advocacy;
• Support and oversee litigation teams, including facilitation of crossover legal issues and coordination of litigation practice group members;
• Monitor, summarize, and analyze case law, legislation, and administrative policy and practices for staff and other organizations;
• Collaborate with other agencies and organizations to address new or recurring problems faced by our clients;
• Develop and sustain relationships with organizations led by disabled people and key stakeholders within the disability community;
• Participate as a member of the DRC legal management team to assist in the development and advancement of the Legal Advocacy Unit’s overall strategic direction;
• Identify and develop substantive and skills-based training for attorney and advocacy staff;
• Collaborate with other Litigation Counsel to fulfill various administrative and litigation-related responsibilities;
• Co-review with the Managing Attorney and approve the team member requests to commence new litigation.

Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex litigation, including 5 years of exemplary results in litigation, and expertise in federal and/or state civil litigation, such as class action litigation, motion practice, discovery, trial advocacy, appellate practice, structured negotiations, and/or systemic policy advocacy;
• Experience with systemic advocacy projects, building strong relationships with coalition and community partners, and ability to work well in collaborative settings;
• Commitment to zealous client-centered advocacy through the representation of people with disabilities, lower-income clients, and people of color, and by incorporating race-equity, civil rights, and community/movement lawyering principles into their work;
• Expertise in one or more substantive areas of law related to the practice group (such as Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Due Process Clause of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, etc.);
• 3 years of successfully leading, training, mentoring, and developing attorneys and advocates in their own advocacy efforts, including litigation, systemic policy advocacy, administrative proceedings, and/or writs;
• Excellent research, writing, analytic, and oral advocacy skills;
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with other lawyers and support staff, and to develop and implement impact strategies;
• The ability to work independently with appropriate supervision.

Qualifications

• Education and Experience: Candidates must have a Juris Doctor degree plus 9 years of experience practicing law including substantial civil litigation experience. Internal candidates, if employed at DRC for four continuous years and with eight years of experience practicing law, may also apply.

Desirable Qualifications

• Litigation experience in: special education (administrative hearing, federal and/or state court litigation), institutional settings (juvenile detention facilities, immigration detention facilities, psychiatric facilities for children and youth with disabilities), Olmstead and ADA matters, writs of mandate or administrative mandamus;
• Experience with community lawyering;
• Ability to communicate fluently and write effectively in Spanish or other language;
• Able to communicate using American Sign Language;
• Experience with and/or extensive contacts in ethnic or language distinct communities;
• Experience with one or more of the following areas: homelessness, institutionalization, criminal justice, substance abuse, underserved or disadvantaged socioeconomic groups, or Gay/Lesbian/Bi-Sexual/Transgender/Intersex (LGBTI) communities;
• Lived experience as a person with a disability;
• Family member of a person with a disability.

Benefits

Excellent Benefits: 8% Match – 401K, Health benefits (HMO options), Additional Benefits: dental, vision, basic life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts (medical, dependent care and commuter).

Pay

$113,144 - $165,704 annually (Band 14)

Schedule

Exempt; Regular; Full-time