Staff Attorney

STAFF ATTORNEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and implement creative strategies to investigate and litigate systemic impact cases at the trial and appellate levels in state and federal courts. 

• Participate in DRLC’s efforts to bring about systemic change on behalf of our clients.

• Stay informed about legal changes and help communicate legal changes and their significance to staff.

• Ensure case files and time records are properly maintained. 

• Attend in-person client appointments, court proceedings, and team meetings, and engage in in-person fieldwork to support our clients.

• Represent DRLC and its clients at local and regional stakeholder, coalition, and advocacy meetings. 

• Participate in public policy advocacy, community education, and outreach activities to effect policy and systems changes that benefit people with disabilities. 

• Participate in collaboratives or stakeholder meetings, trainings and education, and community engagement to create and implement strategies that advance the rights of people with disabilities.

• Participate in a supportive, collaborative work culture that allows for creative, thoughtful, high-quality, and effective interdisciplinary advocacy. 

• Teach, train, and supervise law students/volunteers, including substantive law and skills training, through seminars, case rounds, and other law student/volunteer supervision activities.

• Complete administrative tasks, such as those related to grant management and reporting. 

• Assist the team in meeting case goals and other deliverables for the government contract and private grants. 

• Willingness to work beyond a typical workday, including some evening and weekend meetings and events, and work weeks more than 40 hours when caseload or other obligations require.

• Travel as required for litigation, legislative and policy advocacy, conferences, and public speaking.

• Other duties as assigned. 

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• J.D. or L.L.M. degree from an accredited law school and active membership in the California State Bar, or ability to obtain admission.

• 1-4+ years of experience, preferably in disability rights or civil rights practice.

• Litigation experience in California Superior Court or Federal Court. 

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Excellent research, written, and verbal communications skills; flexibility, and good humor.

• Excellent legal, organizational, and time-management skills and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

• Excellent judgment, calm demeanor even under pressure, strong work ethic, resourceful, and able to maintain confidentiality.

• Decisive, with ability to exercise independent judgment.

• Proven ability to develop and maintain positive team environment and support staff morale and resilience.

• Ability to mentor, train and provide career path guidance to clerks and volunteers.

• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and to initiate and follow through on work independently.

• Ability to adapt to changing priorities.

• Ability to meet deadlines and perform multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail. 

• Excellent program evaluation and project management skills.

• Ability to lead projects, provide supervision, build strong relationships, and work well with others.

• Demonstrated commitment to advancing the rights of people with disabilities. 

• Knowledge of a second language a plus, with Spanish language skills preferred.

• Commitment to public service and social justice; positive attitude; cooperative approach to lawyering.