Staff Attorney 1 or Staff Attorney 2

Disability Rights California; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 70,858 - 117,671; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

8% Match – 401K

Health benefits

Vacation and holidays

PSLF eligible employer

Job summary

Disability Rights California (DRC) seeks Staff Attorney 1 or 2 to provide direct special education advocacy in due process and state complaints. The role offers opportunities to develop litigation skills by working on impact litigation with more experienced legal staff.

Ideal candidates hold a JD and have experience in advocacy, litigation, and policy work. Hybrid work within California, with competitive benefits and PSLF-eligible employer.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree (JD) plus one to two (1-2) years’ experience.
• Awareness of cultural competency and intersectional issues.
• Ability to research and analyze legal authority.
• Ability to analyze complex problems and develop creative solutions.

Responsibilities

• Participating in impact litigation.
• Representing clients in negotiations, mediations and judicial and administrative proceedings.
• Participating in public policy activities including, but not limited to, the reviewing and drafting of legislation and regulations.
• Engaging in community-based advocacy, outreach, and training to disability communities and organizations, particularly to underserved communities.
• Providing information and short-term assistance to clients.
• Preparing training materials, publications, reports and special projects.
• Participate in other duties as assigned.

Skills

Awareness of cultural competency and

Intersectional issues

Research and analyze legal authority

Analyze complex problems and creative

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

All Jobs > Staff Attorney 1 or Staff Attorney 2

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!

Equitable and Inclusive Hiring at Disability Rights California (DRC)

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

Hybrid (within California) or Sacramento, Fresno, Oakland, Ontario, Los Angeles or San Diego

EMPLOYMENT STATUS

Exempt; Regular; Full-time

SALARY RANGE

Staff Attorney 1 $70,858 - $98,817 annually (Band 9)

Staff Attorney 2 $80,357 - $117,671 annually (Band 11)

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 7, 2026 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.

YOUTH Practice Group (YPG)

We are a statewide team of passionate attorneys who work collaboratively to enforce and expand the rights of students 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.

The YPG works 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

The Staff Attorney 1 / 2 will provide direct special education advocacy in due process and state complaints. The Staff Attorney 1 / 2 will also have the opportunity to develop litigation skills by working on impact litigation with more experienced legal staff.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

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

• Participating in impact litigation.
• Representing clients in negotiations, mediations and judicial and administrative proceedings.
• Participating in public policy activities including, but not limited to, the reviewing and drafting of legislation and regulations.
• Engaging in community-based advocacy, outreach, and training to disability communities and organizations, particularly to underserved communities.
• Providing information and short-term assistance to clients.
• Preparing training materials, publications, reports and special projects.
• Participate in other duties as assigned.

Requirements

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS STAFF ATTORNEY 1

• Juris Doctor degree (JD) plus one to two (1-2) years’ experience.
• Awareness of cultural competency and intersectional issues.
• Ability to research and analyze legal authority.
• Ability to analyze complex problems and develop creative solutions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS STAFF ATTORNEY 2

• Juris Doctor degree (JD) plus five (5) full years of legal experience.
• Cultural competency and ability to identify intersectional issues.
• Expertise in one or more substantive areas of law required for the position.
• Experience in one or more of: litigation, administrative practice, working on complex legal matters, and leadership and mentoring related to the position.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully lead multiple advocacy projects such as intake/outreach projects, administrative proceedings, writs, or single client / single defendant lawsuits.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of laws, rights, and services as they pertain to people with disabilities, and/or direct representation of people with disabilities.
• Able to communicate fluently and write effectively in Spanish or an Asian language; or able to communicate using American Sign Language.
• Experience working with and/or sensitivity to persons with disabilities and/or experience working with and/or sensitivity to persons from multi-ethnic communities.
• Experience in the disability rights movement and/or extensive contacts in the disability community.
• Experience with and/or extensive contacts in ethnic or language distinct communities.
• Experience with and/or extensive contacts with one or more of the following: homelessness, foster youth, immigration, criminal justice, substance abuse or Lesbian/Gay/Bi- Sexual/Transgender/Queer/Intersex (LGBTQI+) communities.
• Life experience as a person with a disability OR direct experience as a caregiver of a family member with a disability.
• Experience representing clients in judicial or administrative proceedings, negotiations, and/or mediations.

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 activities such as hearings, court appearances, meetings, internal and external trainings, outreach activities, and client meetings/representation 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 are performed between an office or home environment and the field in a wide range of settings, including courthouses, health care facilities or other institutional settings, community agencies, or in community-based outpatient settings.
• Duties frequently require sitting and communicating with others.
• Must be able to transport oneself to work-related meetings, hearings, facilities and settings where clients live.