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Experienced Litigator

Description: 

The Non-Discrimination Practice Group (NDPG) is a statewide team of attorneys and advocates addressing discrimination against people with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Amendments Act, and other federal and state statutes.  The NDPG emphasizes impact litigation and systemic advocacy, in addition to targeted individual representation. Our current goals include increasing and maintaining affordable, accessible housing; improving disability access and reducing discrimination in private, public and governmental programs and services; and ensuring that people with disabilities have access to courts, administrative agencies, and legal services. 
 
We are seeking an experienced litigator to lead NDPG’s systemic advocacy and litigation efforts. One of two positions are available, depending on the qualifications of the selected candidate: Litigation Counsel or Senior Attorney.
 
LITIGATION COUNSEL SUMMARY:
The Litigation Counsel works under the supervision of and in partnership with the NDPG Managing Attorney to develop and implement the NDPG advocacy plan. The Litigation Counsel ensures the excellence of the NDPG’s legal work and provides leadership and mentoring on all advocacy efforts, including litigation in Federal and State court; identifying complex legal and policy challenges and carrying out needed law reform activities; technical assistance to and collaboration with other legal services organizations and community based organizations; administrative hearings; and trainings. The Litigation Counsel also partners with the Litigation Counsel of other practice groups to ensure that DRC provides strategic, holistic and coordinated advocacy services.
 
SENIOR ATTORNEY SUMMARY:
The Senior Attorney leads systemic advocacy efforts to advance the rights of persons with disabilities, and handles a significant case load of complex disability discrimination cases in State and Federal court.  The Senior Attorney reviews the legal work of and mentors less experienced attorneys in the NDPG. 
 
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES FOR SENIOR ATTORNEY AND LITIGATION COUNSEL:

  1. Assist in planning and directing litigation and advocacy efforts for the NDPG.
  2. Identify complex legal challenges and initiate needed law reform activities including impact litigation and policy advocacy efforts.
  3. Lead and/or participate in litigation and policy advocacy initiatives and teams, including targeted individual representation, complex litigation and/or appeals, and reviewing and drafting legislation and regulations.  
  4. Engage in community-based outreach, advocacy and training to disability communities and organizations, particularly in underserved communities.
  5. Prepare training materials, publications, reports and/or special projects, and make presentations about the organization’s work, including reports to funding entities and Disability Rights California’s Board of Directors.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES FOR LITIGATION COUNSEL ONLY:

  1. Litigation Counsel collaborates with other DRC Litigation Counsel to fulfill various administrative and litigation-related responsibilities.
  2. Supervise and mentor DRC legal advocacy staff on litigation or advocacy projects and provide training in substantive law and litigation skills.
  3. Participate as a member of the DRC legal management team to assist in the development and advancement of the Legal Advocacy Unit’s strategic direction. 
Requirements: 
  1.  J.D. Degree and California State Bar membership or eligible to practice under the Registered Legal Services Attorney Program (admitted to practice in another state and eligible to practice in California for three years under the California State Bar rules for the Registered Legal Services Attorney Program, and required admittance to the California Bar within three years)..
  2. At least seven (7) years’ experience for Senior Attorney or ten (10) years’ experience for Litigation Counsel as a practicing attorney with experience litigating and managing complex cases in State or Federal court, including law and motion, discovery, trial, and appellate work.  Legal clerkships or externships may be counted as up to one year of litigation experience.
  3. Demonstrated leadership in litigation or public policy advocacy, including the ability to head litigation or advocacy teams. 
  4. Demonstrated experience mentoring or supervising attorneys.
  5. Direct representation of people with disabilities and/or knowledge of laws, rights, and services as they pertain to people with disabilities.
  6. Excellent legal writing skills. Ability to conduct research and analyses of pertinent legal authority. Ability to analyze complex problems and develop creative solutions.
  7. Ability to work collaboratively with other Disability Rights California staff, people with various disabilities, legal service providers, community groups, and government officials. 
  8. Effective communication skills sufficient to represent clients in legal hearings, meetings, negotiations or administrative proceedings, to actively promote legal, policy and legislative developments at state and local government levels, and to develop and conduct trainings.
  9. .Experience working with and/or sensitivity to individuals with disabilities and individuals from ethnic or language-distinct communities

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

  1. Litigation experience in one or more of the following areas: laws relating to discrimination against people with disabilities in housing, employment or public accommodations; government benefits for people with disabilities; mental health law; laws regarding rights of people with developmental disabilities (Lanterman Act); and/or education law.
  2. Ability to read, write and speak Spanish or an Asian language, or ability to communicate using American Sign Language, with sufficient fluency to communicate with clients and community members.
  3. Experience in the disability rights movement and/or extensive contacts in the disability community.
  4. Experience with and/or extensive contacts in ethnic or language distinct communities.
  5. Familiarity and/or extensive contacts with one or more of the following: homelessness, criminal justice, substance abuse or Gay/Lesbian/Bi-Sexual/Transgender/Intersex (LGBTI) communities.
To Apply: 
  If you are interested in becoming a part of DRC, please submit the following to http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/Jobs/index.htm : 1) Online Disability Rights California Application Form 2) Your resume 3) Cover Letter. We need a workforce that can utilize insights and strategies that can come from both professional and personal experience. In your cover letter, please tell us about yourself and why you are a great fit for this position and for DRC. 4) Sample of legal writing (i.e., a legal argument, letter or analysis) consisting of no more than 10 pages of text.   Disability Rights California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, age, religion, race, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability. Disability Rights California endorses and supports the intent of the Americans with Disabilities act of 1990 (ADA) and the California Fair Employment and Housing act (FEHA) and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are  applicants or employees who need accommodations.

Information

Submission Deadline: 
September 1, 2017
Organization Information: 
Disability Rights California Sacramento, CA 95811
United States