Litigation Counsel

Disability Rights California; California (MO); On-site; USD 113,144 - 165,704; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

8% Match – 401K

Health benefits

Dental, vision, life, disability

FSA and HSA benefits

Pet Insurance

EAP, Teladoc

Paid time off and holidays

PSLF-eligible employer

Job summary

Disability Rights California (DRC) seeks a Litigation Counsel to lead and shape systemic litigation and advocacy for disabled Californians. The role requires guiding teams, mentoring attorneys, and advancing policy reforms at the state level.

The ideal candidate has a Juris Doctor and extensive civil litigation experience, with a commitment to race-equity, client-centered advocacy, and collaboration with coalition partners. Remote and in-person duties support inclusive access to justice.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree plus 9 years of civil litigation experience.
• Internal candidates with 4 years at DRC and 8 years of experience may apply.
• Strong track record leading complex litigation and policy advocacy.
• Experience building coalitions and working with partner organizations.
• Commitment to rights of people with disabilities, lower-income communities, and people of color.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead systemic litigation addressing needs of disabled Californians, including youth.
• Develop policy and systems-change advocacy; engage at the state level.
• Mentor and train attorneys in litigation and advocacy.
• Oversee litigation teams and coordinate practice group members.
• Monitor case law, legislation, and policy; inform staff and partners.
• Collaborate with agencies and disability communities to address issues.
• Build relationships with disability-led organizations and stakeholders.
• Support Legal Advocacy Unit's strategic direction and team development.
• Contribute to training and administrative tasks related to litigation.

Skills

Leadership

Legal research

Oral advocacy

Written advocacy

Collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor degree

Job description

Equitable and Inclusive Hiring at Disability Rights California (DRC)

People with disabilities, people of color, people in all protected classes, and formerly incarcerated people are encouraged to apply. Make a difference! We fight for the rights of people who have disabilities.... JOIN US!

At Disability Rights California (DRC), we are committed to creating an equitable, accessible, and inclusive experience for all applicants. Below, we’ve outlined important details to ensure you feel fully supported throughout the hiring process.

Examples of reasonable accommodations include:

• American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation
• Alternative formats for interview materials (e.g., large print, Braille, digital files)
• Interview questions are provided prior to the interview
• Extended interview time
• A quiet or distraction-free interview setting
• Adjustments to the interview format for accessibility (e.g., pinning participants,)
• Assistance with reading or note-taking during interviews

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: [e-mail] . Please note: resume and cover letter are required. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

LOCATION:

Sacramento, Oakland, San Diego, Los Angeles, or Remote (within California only)

EMPLOYMENT STATUS:

Exempt; Regular; Full-time

SALARY RANGE:

$113,144 - $165,704 annually (Band 14)

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.

EXCELLENT BENEFITS

• 8% Match – 401K
• Health benefits (HMO options)
• Additional Benefits: dental, vision, basic life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts (medical, dependent care and commuter). Health Reimbursement Accounts for some HMO Plans. Pet Insurance, Employee Assistance Program, Teladoc
• We offer ample vacation, Sick / Self Care time and holidays (including the last week in December)
• We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) - eligible employer.

INTERNAL CANDIDATE ELIGIBILITY

• Meet the minimum requirements of the position for which they are applying
• Employed for more than 6 months

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

Open until filled. Applications should be received by August 14,2026 t to be considered for the first round of interviews. Resume and cover letter are reviewed and 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.

The Youth Practice Group

We are a statewide team of passionate attorneys who enforce and expand the rights of children and youth with disabilities. Our goal is to ensure that students with disabilities receive the benefits and supports guaranteed under federal and state laws. We achieve this objective through various types of lawyering and advocacy strategies that includes individual student representation at due process hearings, systemic litigation, investigations and monitoring of school districts, policy advocacy and community empowerment.

We work collaboratively on lawsuits and advocacy projects on behalf of all youth with disabilities. Much of our current work includes advocating on behalf of students with disabilities facing exclusionary discipline, students with disabilities facing an inappropriate restrictive environment, youth with mental illness, foster youth, undocumented youth, Tribal youth, students of color and underserved communities. We also work to improve access to education supports and services, through our legislative and policy work with coalition partners.

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

In this position, the Litigation Counsel plays a significant role in shaping our litigation and advocacy vision, including working with team(s) to develop legal, policy, and other systems change advocacy initiatives to improve the lives of disabled Californians. The Litigation Counsel also helps to ensure the excellence of the Practice Group’s legal work by providing leadership, mentorship, and supervision to Practice Group attorneys on state and federal court litigation. The ideal candidate will have an unwavering commitment to excellence, a deep understanding of the intersectional issues faced by our clients, and a commitment to using the law to develop creative strategies toward movement-building goals.

The Litigation Counsel is responsible for developing and implementing a variety of advocacy strategies, and for mentoring and supporting the practice group attorneys.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

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

• Develop and lead systemic litigation to address the needs of disabled Californians and their families, with a particular emphasis on young people with disabilities, which may include targeted representation, complex litigation, and/or appeals of administrative decisions;
• Develop policy and other systems-change advocacy initiatives; including major policy advocacy at the state level;
• Mentor and train practice group attorneys in litigation and policy advocacy;
• Support and oversee litigation teams, including facilitation of crossover legal issues and coordination of litigation practice group members;
• Monitor, summarize, and analyze case law, legislation, and administrative policy and practices for staff and other organizations;
• Collaborate with other agencies and organizations to address new or recurring problems faced by our clients;
• Develop and sustain relationships with organizations led by disabled people and key stakeholders within the disability community;
• Participate as a member of the DRC legal management team to assist in the development and advancement of the Legal Advocacy Unit’s overall strategic direction;
• Identify and develop substantive and skills-based training for attorney and advocacy staff;
• Collaborate with other Litigation Counsel to fulfill various administrative and litigation-related responsibilities; and
• Co-review with the Managing Attorney and approve the team member requests to commence new litigation.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Litigation Counsel provide leadership, training, and mentoring to Practice Group staff on litigation and legal advocacy. They also may provide direct supervision to staff or team members on certain cases and projects.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

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

Candidates must have a Juris Doctor degree plus 9 years of experience practicing law including substantial civil litigation experience. Internal candidates, if employed at DRC for four continuous years and with eight years of experience practicing law, may also apply.

Additional minimum qualifications include:

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex litigation, including 5 years of exemplary results in litigation, and expertise in federal and/or state civil litigation, such as class action litigation, motion practice, discovery, trial advocacy, appellate practice, structured negotiations, and/or systemic policy advocacy;
• Experience with systemic advocacy projects, building strong relationships with coalition and community partners, and ability to work well in collaborative settings;
• Commitment to zealous client-centered advocacy through the representation of people with disabilities, lower-income clients, and people of color, and by incorporating race-equity, civil rights, and community/movement lawyering principles into their work;
• Expertise in one or more substantive areas of law related to the practice group (such as Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Due Process Clause of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, etc.);
• 3 years of successfully leading, training, mentoring, and developing attorneys and advocates in their own advocacy efforts, including litigation, systemic policy advocacy, administrative proceedings, and/or writs;
• Excellent research, writing, analytic, and oral advocacy skills;
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with other lawyers and support staff, and to develop and implement impact strategies; and
• The ability to work independently with appropriate supervision.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

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

Competitive applicant may demonstrate one or more of the following qualifications which are desirable but not required:

• -Litigation experience in: special education (administrative hearing, federal and/or state court litigation), institutional settings (juvenile detention facilities, immigration detention facilities, psychiatric facilities for children and youth with disabilities), Olmstead and ADA matters, writs of mandate or administrative mandamus;
• - Experience with community lawyering;
• - Ability to communicate fluently and write effectively in Spanish or other language; or able to communicate using American Sign Language;
• - Experience with and/or extensive contacts in ethnic or language distinct communities;
• - Experience with one or more of the following areas: homelessness, institutionalization, criminal justice, substance abuse, underserved or disadvantaged socioeconomic groups, or Gay/Lesbian/Bi-Sexual/Transgender/Intersex (LGBTI) communities;
• - Lived experience as a person with a disability; or
• - Family member of a person with a disability.

LICENSES / CERTIFICATES

Must be a member of the California State Bar, or eligible to practice under the Registered Legal Services Attorney Program.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to travel occasionally for court appearances and organizational activities, such as out-of-town meetings, trainings, and client representation activities up to 25% of the time.

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 will be performed in an office environment and remotely. Duties require regular communications over online platforms. Must be able to transport oneself to work-related meetings, training, and community events.

• Duties frequently require lifting and/or moving weights up to 10 pounds.
• Duties require effective and regular communication via online platforms. E-mail, and the ability to travel to meetings and events.