Senior Attorney

If you require an accommodation due to a disability to complete this application OR you are experiencing issues submitting your application and accompanying materials, please e-mail: talent@disabilityrightsca.org . Please note resume and cover letter are required. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Make a difference! We fight for the rights of people that have disabilities.... JOIN US!

We encourage those who are D/deaf or Disabled to apply.

LOCATION:

Remote (Within California)

EMPLOYMENT STATUS:

Exempt; Regular; Full time.

SALARY RANGE:

 $89,435 – $130,958 

We base salary and position offers on experience and an internal equity analysis.

EXCELLENT BENEFITS  Including 8% 401k Match, a LRAP (Loan Repayment Assistance Program) that pays up to $300 per month depending on salary and debt, a language differential up to $250/mo. Health (HMO and PPO options), dental, vision, basic life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance and flexible spending accounts (medical, dependent care and commuter). Additionally, we offer ample vacation, sick/self care leave and eighteen paid holidays (including the last week in December) and more….. We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) - eligible employer. 

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

Open until filled. Applications should be received by October 17, 2024 to be considered for the first round of interviews. Resume and cover letter are required. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

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.

OFFICE OF CLIENTS’ RIGHTS ADVOCACY

DRC has a contract with the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), State of California, to provide Clients’ Rights Advocacy services for clients of each of the 21 regional centers located statewide. That contract funds the Senior Attorney position. We are a team of zealous advocates and disability generalists who are building a culture of teamwork and working for a world where all disabled people have power, are treated with dignity and respect, and make their own decisions.

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The Senior Attorney plays a leading role in advancing program priorities to enforce and expand the rights of intellectually and developmentally disabled Californians and their families. The Senior Attorney works under the direct supervision of the Managing Attorney or Associate Director and in collaboration with other OCRA attorneys and advocates. 

This Senior Attorney position is designed to advance OCRA’s direct representation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in pursuing administrative remedies, including the following administrative hearings: regional center, In-Home Supportive Services, Social Security, Medi-Cal, and Special Education. The Senior Attorney will be the unit’s subject matter expert on administrative hearings and will carry a hearing caseload, develop resources and trainings, and provide ongoing oversight, consultation, and technical assistance to attorneys and advocates in their duties to pursue administrative remedies.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential functions are the job responsibilities an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation. Senior Attorney essential functions include:

Advocacy – 45%

• Engage in substantive advocacy by representing individual clients in administrative proceedings.
• Advance the rights of regional center clients to live, work, and play in their home communities and receive the supports they need in those settings.
• Ensure that all work complies with professional and program requirements and meets procedural and quality standards.

Specialization and Technical Assistance – 45%

• Develop resources for OCRA staff to advance pursuing administrative remedies for clients.
• Lead, mentor, develop, and train less experienced attorneys and advocates in administrative hearing practice in a supportive manner.
• Provide technical assistance and substantive training to OCRA staff in areas of expertise, emphasizing the rights of people with developmental disabilities.
• Collaborate with management team to lead and/or assist in OCRA projects and work.
• Coordinate with colleagues to maximize resources and promote quality client services.
• Serve as a liaison between OCRA and other DRC units or programs in area of specialty.

Community-based Advocacy – 10%

• Perform outreach and support outreach efforts to traditionally underserved communities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

(Applicants MUST meet EACH of the minimum qualifications to be considered for an interview.)

• Juris Doctor degree (J.D.) or equivalent and membership in good standing with the California State Bar, or eligible to practice under the Registered Legal Services Attorney Program.
• Seven years of experience practicing law.
•  Internal candidates employed at DRC for 3 continuous years and having 6 years of experience practicing law are encouraged to apply.
• Four years of demonstrated experience in representation at administrative hearings or civil litigation (including discovery, motion practice, and trial advocacy).
• Demonstrated ability to lead administrative hearing practice or litigation, build strong relationships, and work well in collaboration with others.
• Expertise in one or more substantive areas of law of importance to intellectually and developmentally disabled Californians.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and with minimal administrative support.
• A working knowledge of the legal, civil, and service rights of people with disabilities in California.
• A strong sense of professional responsibility and ethics.
• Ability to meet deadlines and perform multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

(Applicants DO NOT have to meet any of the Desirable Qualifications to be considered for an interview.)

• Able to communicate fluently and write effectively in Spanish or an Asian language.
• One or more years’ experience providing training on various topics to a diverse range of people including people from multi-ethnic communities.
• Proficiency with Windows-based computer applications including Microsoft Office and case management software.
• Demonstrated experience and ability to work effectively with a variety of organizations and individuals with diverse perspectives, including people with disabilities, administrators, advocacy groups, and the public, and to maintain confidentiality in all matters.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to travel routinely, up to 20% of the time, for activities such as hearings, client visits, team meetings, education, training, or outreach activities.  More travel may be required to meet program or contract requirements.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The following describes general working conditions and requirements of the job, which can be performed with or without disability-related reasonable accommodations:

• Duties are performed between an office or home environment and the field in a wide range of settings, including courthouses, facilities, or other institutional settings, or in community-based settings.
• Duties require regular communications over online platforms.
• Must be able to transport oneself to work-related meetings, training, and community events.