Legal Support (litigation exp) 4 openings

We welcome Deaf and Disabled applicants to apply

Location: Los Angeles, Ontario, San Diego, Bay, Sacramento or Fresno (Hybrid)

4 open positions - 1 for each unit

Employment Status: Non-Exempt; Regular; Full time (37.5 hrs)

SALARY RANGE (DOE): $25.64-$36.59 hr/ $50,000-$71.358 yr

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

Employment Status: Non-Exempt; Regular; Full time (37.5 hrs)

EXCELLENT BENEFITS including 8% 401k Match, 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 August 11, 2023 to be considered for 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.

OUR CULTURE

Disability Rights California is recognized as Gold Level Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Leader by the State Bar of California! We work to promote and create a culture where people feel empowered to be their true authentic selves to do their best work for our clients and the communities we serve.

CIVIL RIGHTS PRACTICE GROUP

The Civil Rights Practice Group is a diverse, statewide team of passionate attorneys developing and implementing impactful strategies – litigation, policy, and community support – to stop discrimination against people with disabilities. Our current priorities include:

· challenging discrimination in private and public programs;

· confronting the criminalization of people experiencing homelessness

· protecting and increasing affordable, accessible housing;

· ensuring access to transit;

· access to higher education;

· access to websites and other electronic information;

· access to courts; 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.

INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES PRACTICE GROUP

The Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Practice Group, a team of attorneys and advocates who work to advance the civil, legal, and human rights of Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Litigation Support 2 assists attorneys in preparing litigation cases from onset through post-trial; manages projects as assigned by attorneys (such as document production and other discovery-related tasks, case file management, and trial preparation); and assists with production or creation of various legal forms and pleadings, correspondence, and other case related documents.

YOUTH PRACTICE

We are a statewide team of passionate attorneys who enforce and expand the rights of children and youth with disabilities, through litigation, direct services, and movement lawyering. Our work aims to ensure equal access to education, dismantle the school to prison pipeline, eliminate the use of restraint, seclusion and segregated placements, reform the juvenile justice system and advance community-based mental health and behavioral services. We work to ensure that services are provided in a manner that is trauma-informed and culturally congruent, and to address the intersectional needs of children and youth with disabilities and their families.

MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICE GROUP

The MHPG engages in multi-modal advocacy to enforce and expand the rights of people living with mental health disabilities, including through the provision of accommodations, equal access, equal opportunity, and fair treatment.

We advocate for the rights of individuals with mental health disabilities within locked facilities, work to improve access to community-based alternatives to institutions and homelessness, and strive to address the intersectional needs of people with mental health disabilities, especially those from traditionally underserved and underrepresented populations.

We are a diverse and collaborative team that values flexibility, adaptability, and innovation in a legal landscape which has been significantly changed by the pandemic.

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The Legal Support 2 serves as the primary support to enhance the effectiveness of the legal/advocacy staff by providing legal, litigation and administrative support to a team of attorneys.

This position provides high-level legal and litigation support to multiple attorneys and cases. A Legal Support 2 assists attorneys in preparing litigation cases from onset through post-trial; manages projects as assigned by attorneys (this can range from production to case file management, prepping for depositions or trial); assist with production or creation of various legal forms and pleadings, correspondence, and other case related documents.

This position requires flexibility, as it requires working in the office in order to complete tasks.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

DRC provides reasonable disability accommodations to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Legal Support 2 essential functions include:

Technical –80%

· Proficiency in working without constant supervision, individually or as part of a team, to achieve project goals.

· Coordinate, assemble, and serve multi-document filings in Administrative Agencies, Federal and State courts. Familiarity with E-filing is a must.

· Perform and oversee both simple and complex cite checking and proof reading of briefs and other legal documents.

· In addition to preparing shells for complaints, motions, must also be familiar with preparing subpoenas, summonses and written discovery.

· Establish, maintain and monitor recordkeeping work in connection with data/document management and case management following DRC and case protocols.

· Schedule/calendar court appearances, depositions, arbitrations, mediations, client meetings, conference calls, and maintains calendar and due dates for attorneys as required.

· Prepare motion binders and special working binders.

· Establishes and maintains filing and records, electronic formats.

· Assists with the discovery process, including preparing for deposition, propounding, and responding to written discovery and preparing for expert discovery.

· Assists with trial preparation, including creating trial notebooks/binders, identifying, and organizing exhibits, coordinating witness schedules, maintaining trial calendars, and communicating effectively with opposing counsel and courtroom staff.

· Ensures that all correspondence or other documentation is formatted, proofread, and dispatched in a timely manner.

· Perform online legal research for legal advocacy staff.

· Sorts, reads, and annotates incoming mail and documents as required.

· Create and maintain legal templates and forms.

· Generate and prepare attorney’s fees and expense reports.

· Provide mentorship, review, and verify support staff’s work including researching and understanding court rules (federal & state) court as they apply to deadlines, filings and formatting of documents.

· Assists with printing, scanning, organizing exhibit notebooks/binders and preparing service.

· Make documents accessible.

· Works collaboratively within and across practice groups.

· Ability to track time contemporaneously.

· As needed assist with Office Operations tasks and coverage.

· Other duties as assigned.

Customer Service –20%

· Communicate with clients, direct telephone calls, and coordinate conference calls.

· Communicate with other Practice Groups, Departments, and Units.