JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Staff Attorney shares responsibility with other legal and advocacy staff for providing information, technical assistance, outreach and training and representation in administrative and judicial proceedings to clients with disabilities. The Staff Attorney works under the direct supervision of the Associate Managing Attorney and in collaboration with other Disability Rights California attorneys and advocates in their legal, advocacy, and outreach efforts.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Provide information and short-term assistance to Disability Rights California clients.
2. Represent clients in negotiations, mediations and judicial and administrative proceedings.
3. Participate in impact litigation.
4. Participate in public policy activities including, but not limited to, the reviewing and drafting of legislation and regulations.
5. Engage in community-based advocacy, outreach, and training to disability communities and organizations, particularly to under-served communities.
6. Prepare training materials, publications, reports and special projects.
7. Assist with Disability Rights California organizational development and planning, including the planning and development of Disability Rights California’s Advocacy Services Plan, and participate in statewide and regional teams, usually including two substantive workgroups.
8. Supervise and mentor law clerks and other staff as assigned.
9. Other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
(Applicants MUST meet EACH of the minimum qualifications to be considered for an interview)
1. J.D. Degree
2. 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.)
3. Two years paid or voluntary legal experience in any combination of the following: a) a social services, human services, community-based, public interest, civil rights or health care environment; b) as an attorney in the practice of public interest law; or c) as an attorney directly representing clients in administrative hearings and/or litigation. Judicial clerkships or externships may be counted as up to one year of experience.
4. Ability to conduct research and analyses of pertinent legal authority.
5. Ability to analyze complex problems and develop creative solutions.
6. 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.
7. Experience working with or sensitivity to individuals with disabilities.
8. Experience working with or sensitivity to individuals from ethnic or language distinct communities.
9. The ability to work independently with appropriate supervision.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Knowledge of laws, rights, and services as they pertain to people with disabilities, and/or direct representation of people with disabilities.
2. Experience in client representation, particularly in public interest and civil rights law.
3. Ability to read, write and speak Spanish or an Asian language, or ability to communicate using American Sign Language, with sufficient fluency to do client intakes and conduct trainings.
4. Experience in the disability rights movement and/or extensive contacts in the disability community.
5. Experience with and/or extensive contacts in ethnic or language distinct communities.
6. 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 Visit CSO Symplicity Job ID 7436