Description

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: talent@disabilityrightsca.org . Please note resume and cover letter are required. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Make a difference! We fight for the rights of people that have disabilities.... JOIN US!

We encourage those who are D/deaf or Disabled to apply.

LOCATION:

Sacramento - Hybrid

EMPLOYMENT STATUS:

Non-exempt; Regular; Full time (37.5 hrs).

SALARY RANGE:

$25.64/hr. - $36.59/hr.

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

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 May 17th, 2024 to be considered for the first round of interviews. Resume and cover letter are 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 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.

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, youth with mental illness, foster youth, undocumented youth, Tribal youth, students of color and equity seeking communities. We also work to improve access to education support and services, through our legislative and policy work with coalition partners. 

Guided by disability justice principles, we prioritize geographically equity seeking populations subject to intersectional harm caused by racism and ableism. Our direct services work prioritizes representing youth experiencing intersectional harm on account of their race or nationality and disability while our systemic litigation and advocacy docket focuses on challenging the school-to-prison pipeline. 

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

Legal Support 2 serves as the primary support to a senior attorney to enhance the effectiveness of the staff by providing administrative, legal secretarial, technical, and reasonable accommodations support. 

This position provides high-level legal support to an attorney and cases. A Legal Support 2 assists attorneys in preparing for Due process hearings with the Office of Administrative Hearings Special Education Division and manages projects as assigned by attorneys; 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

Legal Support 2 essential functions include:

Attorney support: – 30%

• Schedule/calendar court appearances, mediations, client meetings, conference calls, and maintain calendar and due dates for attorney as required.
• Manage various administrative processes. 
• Open and close cases. 
• Communicate with clients, professionals, and others, and direct telephone calls.
• Case file maintenance, both paper and e-files.
• Assemble, serve, and file legal documents with administrative agencies. 
• Maintain a tickler system for court and administrative calendaring. 
• Provide secretarial support as it relates to the preparation of administrative and court filings, forms including, proofs of service, cover sheets, and following all local rule requirements.
• Create and complete documents, correspondence, and forms.

Administrative/technical support – 70%

• Convert a variety of documents for screen reader accessibility.
• Coordinate logistics and provide off-site assistance at outreach events. 
• Provide reasonable accommodation assistance to staff with disabilities.
• Coordinate, assemble, and serve multi-document filings in Administrative Agencies. Familiarity with E-filing is a must.
• Ensures that all correspondence or other legal documentation is formatted, proofread, accessible, and dispatched in a timely manner.
• Assists with printing, scanning, organizing exhibit binders and preparing for service. 
• Generate and prepare attorney’s fees and expense reports.
• Establishes and maintains filing and records, electronic formats.
• Create and maintain legal templates and forms including preparing subpoenas.
• Prepare and Assemble materials for outreach and training presentations including accessibility, formatting, and proofing.
• Copy, fax, and process mail, including Docu-Sign. 
• Establish and maintain filing systems.

Other Duties 

• Participate in outreach activities to minority and underserved communities.
• Stay up to date with current accessibility standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Communicate with other Practice Groups, Departments, and Units.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

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

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED).
• Five (5) years of law office experience.
• One (1) year legal secretarial experience; or two years of other administrative experience including word processing.
• Two (2) years of experience successfully leading, developing, mentoring and training other legal support staff.
• Proficient using Microsoft Office 365 (Teams, Word, Excel, SharePoint), and knowledge using case management and calendaring software and applications.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Ability to efficiently and timely convert PDF and other print documents into accessible format for use by screen reader software.
• Knowledge of assistive technology software (screen readers).
• Knowledge and familiarity in both existing and emerging software applications.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, communication skills, and the ability to collaborate well in a team. 
• Strong ability to maintain high standards, use good judgment and seek out ways to contribute and anticipate needs.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to manage time effectively. 
• Ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

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

• Paralegal Certificate 
• Proficient in using Best Authority, Everlaw, and Law Tool Box software.
• Experience using Westlaw or other tools in researching local court rules. 
• Experience working in a virtual environment.

BILINGUAL ABILITY

No additional language is required.

LICENSES / CERTIFICATES

This job has no licenses or certificates requirements.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to travel infrequently for activities such as practice group and support staff meetings, training, or outreach activities up to 10% 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/virtually. Duties require regular communications over online platforms.