Cancer Justice Staff Attorney

ORGANIZATION

Disability Rights Legal Center (DRLC) is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that will celebrate its 50th year in 2025 as the nation’s oldest cross-disability rights advocacy organization. Our mission is to champion the rights of people with disabilities through education, advocacy, and litigation. The DRLC strives to bring high-impact cases in administrative, state, and federal court. These cases impact the lives and conditions for many similarly situated people.

DRLC’s Cancer Justice was founded in 1997 to address the legal issues faced by people with cancer, unique in the larger disability community, and is committed to providing information and resources about cancer-related legal issues to members of the cancer community across the nation. Cancer Justice was the first national dedicated center for patients, survivors, caregivers, and health care professionals to access confidential cancer-related legal information and resources at no cost. Since its founding, Cancer Justice has made legal information readily available for all extended cancer populations, ensuring that underserved communities are able to gain access to information and resources that otherwise may be out of reach.

Under the supervision of the Cancer Justice Director, the Cancer Justice Staff Attorney will help people living with cancer understand and navigate a complex array of state and federal laws and programs, including laws pertaining to employment, health care, government benefits, debt, estate planning, and end of life care planning. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to public interest, experience working with vulnerable populations, superior academic credentials, and a desire to help people in crises.

STAFF ATTORNEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work with Cancer Justice team to operate Cancer Justice's national help Line, conducting intakes with callers, researching legal questions/concerns, and providing information, education, resources, and referrals in a timely manner.
• Coordinate and conduct Know Your Rights trainings and outreach presentations/webinars on cancer- related legal issues to a variety of audiences including cancer patients and survivors, caregivers, health care professionals, and legal professionals.
• Develop written training materials and publications on cancer-related legal issues.
• Train, supervise, and work with law students and volunteers.
• Work with Cancer Justice team to review caller files for possible brief service intervention.
• Participate in collaborative efforts and coalitions within the cancer, health, and legal communities, attending meetings, phone calls, conferences, and outreach events.
• Participate in DRLC’s policy advocacy efforts.
• Establish new community relationships and maintain existing relationships with partner organizations.
• Prepare reports, correspondence, and other documents as needed.
• Participate in organizational planning and development to better serve the cancer community.
• Participate in a supportive, collaborative work culture that allows for creative, thoughtful, high-quality, and effective interdisciplinary advocacy.
• Perform other duties as assigned to further the mission of the DRLC.

Note: Some California travel is required, primarily local within Southern California, but may also include Cancer Justice out-of-state conferences and events.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• J.D. or L.L.M. degree from an accredited law school and active membership in the California State Bar, or ability to obtain admission.
• 1-4+ years of experience, preferably in disability rights or civil rights practice.

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Excellent research, written, and verbal communication skills; flexibility, and good humor.
• Excellent legal, organizational, and time-management skills and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent judgment, calm demeanor even under pressure, strong work ethic, resourceful, and able to maintain confidentiality.
• Decisive, with ability to exercise independent judgment.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain positive team environment and support staff morale and resilience.
• Ability to mentor, train and provide career path guidance to clerks and volunteers.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and to initiate and follow through on work independently.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities.
• Ability to meet deadlines and perform multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail.
• Excellent program evaluation and project management skills.
• Ability to lead projects, provide supervision, build strong relationships, and work well with others.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing the rights of people with disabilities.
• Knowledge of a second language a plus, with Spanish language skills preferred.
• Commitment to public service and social justice; positive attitude; client centered approach to lawyering.