Staff Attorney 1

Overview

This organization is seeking a Staff Attorney 1 to support the Equal Access and Housing Practice Group. The role involves leading and/or collaborating on advocacy initiatives to end discrimination against people with disabilities and increase access, with a focus on improving housing stability and access to public and private programs for people with disabilities while meeting federal and state grant requirements.

People with disabilities, people of color, people in all protected classes, and formerly incarcerated people are encouraged to apply.

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

Responsibilities

The Staff Attorney 1 will handle client cases and advocacy projects from intake to case conclusion. Core responsibilities include:

• Develop and/or participate in litigation, including class action lawsuits, complex litigation, and/or appeals responsive to the needs of the communities served.
• Represent individual clients in negotiations, mediations, administrative proceedings, and/or judicial proceedings.
• Identify and participate in key internal and external stakeholder workgroups and/or committees aligned with the practice group’s goals and priorities, including engaging with other legal services agencies and/or community-based organizations to identify and address emerging or recurring systemic issues impacting clients.
• Expand service delivery to underserved populations through strategic community outreach activities, including workshops and know-your-rights trainings.
• Prepare and/or coordinate training materials, publications, reports, or special projects, and make presentations about legal work as necessary.
• Participate in other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must meet each of the following minimum qualifications to be considered for an interview:

• Juris Doctor degree (JD) and admitted to the California State Bar.
• 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 one or more substantive areas of law 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, Disabled Persons Act, CA Gov. Code Section 11135, etc.
• Experience in one or more of the following: litigation, administrative practice, working on complex legal matters, or community organizing.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully lead multiple advocacy projects such as intake/outreach projects, administrative proceedings, writs, or single-client lawsuits.
• A strong sense of professional responsibility and ethics.
• Ability to meet deadlines and perform multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently with appropriate supervision.

Preferred Qualifications (Not required)

• Experience working with persons with disabilities and/or persons from multi-ethnic communities.
• Ability to communicate fluently and write effectively in Spanish or an Asian language; or ability to communicate using American Sign Language.
• Experience with and/or extensive contacts in ethnic or language distinct communities.
• Ability to maintain positive relationships with diverse groups of people.
• Experience in the disability rights or justice movement.

Travel Requirements

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

Working Conditions

• Duties will be performed in an office environment and remotely.
• Regular communications over online platforms are required.
• 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.

Compensation & Benefits

• Employment status: Exempt; Regular; Full-time
• Salary range: $67,477.41 - $98,816.64 annually (Band 9)

Salary offers are determined through a structured analysis considering each candidate’s relevant education and years of substantially similar experience for the position.

Benefits include:

• 8% match – 401K
• Health benefits (HMO options)
• 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
• Ample vacation, Sick / Self Care time and holidays (including the last week in December)
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) - eligible employer

Location

Statewide work supporting the Equal Access and Housing Practice Group. Duties may be performed in an office environment and remotely, with occasional travel up to 25% of the time.

Application Information

• Open until filled.
• Applications should be received by August 28, 2026, to be considered for the first round of interviews.
• Required application materials: resume, cover letter, and writing sample.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Reasonable Accommodations

Examples of reasonable accommodations include ASL interpretation, alternative formats for interview materials (e.g., large print, Braille, digital files), providing interview questions prior to the interview, extended interview time, a quiet/distraction-free interview setting, adjustments to the interview format for accessibility, and assistance with reading or note-taking during interviews.