Job Description

Job Type
Full-time
Description

JOB TITLE: Staff Attorney 2- Public Policy Focus

PRACTICE GROUP: Equal Access and Housing

REPORTS TO: Managing Attorney or Associate 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

SALARY RANGE (DOE): $80,356.96 - $117,671.41 annually (Band 11. Based on experience and internal equity analysis.)

Please apply by 2/21/2026 to be considered in the first round of interviews.

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 THE POSITION

The Equal Access and Housing Practice Group seeks an attorney who will lead EAH team’s policy advocacy work on issues related to equal access in public and private services, and coordinate with DRC colleagues on issues related to housing and homelessness.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the job responsibilities.

The Staff Attorney 2 works under the direct supervision of the Associate Managing Attorney or 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 Staff Attorney 2’s core responsibilities in this public policy-focused role will be to:

• Develop, lead, and/or participate in policy advocacy at the local, regional, state, and federal level by connecting directly impacted community members to policymakers and amplifying the disability community’s goals in DRC’s public comments on proposed bills, ordinances, regulations, and guidelines.
• Collaborate and coordinate with DRC’s Legislative and Communications Unit, as well as other units throughout DRC to help develop and implement a coordinated equal access, housing, and homelessness policy strategies.
• Identify and participate in key internal and external stakeholder workgroups and/or committees that align with EAH’s goals and priorities. This will include engaging with other legal services agencies and/or community-based organizations to identify and address emerging or recurring systemic issues impacting DRC’s clients.
• Prepare and/or coordinate training materials, publications, reports, or special projects, or make presentations about legal work as necessary.
• Represent individual clients in negotiations, mediations, administrative proceedings, and/or judicial proceedings, as assigned.
• Mentor attorneys, fellows, and/or interns on public policy work, as assigned.
• Participate in other duties as assigned.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Juris Doctor degree (JD) and admitted to the California State Bar or qualified registered legal services attorney, plus five (5) full years of legal experience.
• Demonstrated commitment – through lived experience and/or employment history – to working with people with disabilities and low-income clients and incorporating race equity and community lawyering principles into their work.
• Experience in two or more substantive areas of law of affecting the rights of and services for people with disabilities (such as Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Due Process Clause of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Unruh Civil Rights Act, the Disabled Persons Act, CA Gov. Code Section 11135, etc.).
• Experience in two or more of the following: systemic policy advocacy, community organizing, administrative law, discovery, motion practice, impact litigation, trial advocacy, or appellate practice related to the position.
• Experience working with persons with disabilities and/or experience working with persons from multi-ethnic communities.
• Experience in the disability rights or justice movement and/or extensive contacts in the disability community.
• A strong sense of professional responsibility and ethics.
• An ability to meet deadlines and perform multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail.
• The ability to work independently with appropriate supervision.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Able to communicate fluently and write effectively in Spanish or an Asian language; or able to communicate using American Sign Language.
• Experience with and/or extensive contacts in ethnic or language distinct communities.
• Understanding of how to incorporate race equity and community lawyering principles into their work.
• Ability to maintain positive relationships with diverse groups of people.

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.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to travel occasionally for activities such as out-of-town meetings, training, or outreach activities up to 25% of the time.

HOW TO APPLY:

To be considered for this position, applicants MUST submit the following:

1. Disability Rights California Employment Application (must fill out completely; do not state “See Resume”).
2. Resume
3. Cover Letter that addresses your personal and professional motivation for seeking this position and indicating how you meet EACH of the Minimum and ANY of the Desired Qualifications for this position.
4. Sample of legal writing (i.e., a legal argument, letter or analysis) consisting of no more than 10 pages of text.

Incomplete applications will not be considered

Working at DRC is more than just a job - it is a rare opportunity to do what you are good at while making a difference! DRC offers competitive salaries and a generous benefit package.

Salary Description
$80,357 - $117,671