Attorney (Senior) - Equal Access and Housing

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

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, 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-bas