Director of Litigation

Disability Rights California (DRC) works in partnership with disabled people to defend rights, advance opportunities, grow power, and expand public support for disability justice in California and beyond.

Location/Work Environment: This position requires you to be a California Resident at the time of hire. Aside from the California residency requirement, this is a remote position.

Employment Status: Full-time; Exempt; Regular

Salary Range: Band 16: $143,141 to $209,623 annually

About the Legal Advocacy Unit:

The Legal Advocacy Unit (LAU) is DRC's core Protection & Advocacy legal program, tasked with fulfilling the federal mandate to defend the rights of people with disabilities in California. The LAU has approximately 145 staff statewide.

About the Director of Litigation Position:

The Director of Litigation provides leadership and direction for DRC's litigation practice, with particular emphasis on providing leadership, collaboration, and strategic direction to litigators and practice groups in the LAU. The Director mentors and supports attorneys at all levels while serving as the leader of a team of experienced attorneys, supervising Litigation Counsel and senior litigation support staff. The Director reports to the Associate Executive Director overseeing the LAU.

Essential Functions:

Organization-Wide Litigation Strategy and Leadership

• Collaboratively develops a coordinated strategic vision and goals to guide DRC's litigation priorities across issue areas
• Guides and strengthens DRC's overall litigation strategy by aligning work across teams
• Coordinates amicus strategies across DRC
• Stays abreast of national, state, and local legal developments
• Represents DRC in the national network of disability Protection & Advocacy agencies

Management and Leadership of LAU Litigation

• Leads, mentors, and supports the LAU's litigation attorneys, advocates, and support staff
• Oversees DRC's case docket and the development of novel or complex legal theories
• Actively assists in select pieces of high-profile litigation
• Directly supervises and mentors Senior Litigation Counsel and Litigation Counsel
• Recruits and hires LAU litigation staff
• Ensures all work complies with professional, ethical, and program requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor degree (J.D.) or equivalent and membership in good standing with the California State Bar
• 15 years of experience litigating complex cases in State or Federal court
• 10 years of experience supervising or leading litigating attorneys
• Demonstrated skills and results as a litigator with substantive legal and practice expertise
• Expertise in one or more substantive areas of law DRC practices, including civil rights, disability accessibility, and public benefits
• Expertise in legal professional responsibility and ethics

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in legal services or a nonprofit organization
• Experience in the disability rights movement and/or extensive contacts in the disability community
• Familiarity with requirements governing recipients of federal and California State Bar funding

Excellent Benefits:

• 8% Match - 401K
• Health benefits (HMO options), dental, vision, life insurance
• Ample vacation, sick/self care time, and holidays (including the last week in December)
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer

Application Deadline: Applications should be received by April 13, 2026, to be considered for the first round of interviews.