Staff Attorney/California Voting Rights Counsel

STDT LEGAL SVC ADVISOR 3 (000558)

UCPath Position ID: TBD_1000201

Position Description History/Status

Approved Date:

8/11/2026 7:41:07 PM

Date Last Edited:

8/11/2026 7:41:04 PM

Last Action Effective Date:

Organization Details

Business Unit (Location):

LACMP

Organization Code:

#N/A

Organization:

#N/A

Division Code:

#N/A

Division:

#N/A

Department:

117600 - VOTING RIGHTS PROJECT

Position Details

UCPath Position Number:

TBD_1000201

Position Description ID

263038

UC Payroll Title:

STDT LEGAL SVC ADVISOR 3 (000558)

Personnel Program

Management and Senior Professional (MSP)

Salary Grade:

Grade 25

Job Code FLSA:

Exempt

Union Code (Collective Bargaining Unit):

99: Non-Represented (PPSM)

Employee Relations Code:

E: All Others - Not Confidential

Employee Class (Appt Type):

2 - Staff: Career

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

1

SUPERVISION

UCPath Reports to Position Number:

40772425

Reports to Payroll Title:

STDT LEGAL SVC ADVISOR 4

UCPath Department Head Position Number:

40055347

Department Head Payroll Title:

PROF-AY

DIRECTION - Indicates that the incumbent establishes procedures for attaining specific goals and objectives in a broad area of work. Only the final results of work done are typically reviewed. Incumbent typically develops procedures within the limits of established policy guidelines.

POSITION SUMMARY

The UCLA Voting Rights Project (VRP) seeks an experienced litigation, trial and appellate attorney to work on a new project focused on California county, city, school and state redistricting plans and election policies. The VRP is located within the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and is operated in partnership with the UCLA School of Law and the UCLA School of Social Sciences.  VRP works to ensure an accessible and equitable system of voting through impact litigation, research, and clinical education. VRP was co-founded in 2018 by Political Science and Chicano/a Studies Professor Matt Barreto, Ph.D. who serves as its Faculty Director, and Chad W. Dunn, J.D. a 25+ year experienced trial and civil rights lawyer who is a Lecturer in Law and serves as the VRP Legal Director.

Reporting to the Legal Director, the staff attorney/California Voting Rights Counsel will play a critical role in the VRP, developing a new program, along with data scientists, to track and analyze redistricting plans and proposed changes within local jurisdictions throughout the state of California.  In addition, the staff attorney will develop, initiate and litigate a docket of cases and matters that they will manage while also assisting in pending litigation, trials and appeals of cases managed by other VRP attorneys. The staff attorney will support the advocacy, research and clinical education functions of the Voting Rights Project, both pro-active and reactive. These tasks include shaping a legal docket that advances the organization's legal advocacy goals, sending and following up on demand letters and open records requests, reviewing and responding to intake requests, engaging in legislative and local ordinance advocacy, drafting pleadings, expert designations, discovery responses and objections and all other litigation, trial and appellate filings, presenting oral advocacy, conducting witness preparation and examination, and engaging in all other activities that are required in a successful voting rights case.  Additional tasks include participating in and organizing public education events and speaking to the media and others about our work.

VRP attorneys and staff primarily work from home and are offered resources from UCLA to create a comfortable and productive work-from-home environment.  Attendance at VRP workdays/meetings at the UCLA Westwood Campus are required regularly each month.  Also, beginning in August 2026 and continuing until March 2027, the successful applicant will attend the VRP class that is held weekly on Thursdays (and some Tuesdays) in person, on campus, between 4:20-6:20 p.m., based on the UCLA academic calendar.

What you'll do:

·        Working with VRP data scientists, build a centralized data and mapping resource bank to support litigation and analysis on county, city, school, and other locally elected government redistricting plans and election policies;

·        Investigate, initiate, litigate, try and appeal voting rights and fair map cases primarily in California state courts;

·        Track other litigation and identify vulnerable jurisdictions;

·        Support partner organizations in building additional legal capacity to absorb anticipated litigation demands;

·        Develop and deliver, with the assistance of other VRP experts and attorneys, statewide trainings for attorneys, advocates, students, and community partners;

·        Create a legal resource bank of form notices, pleadings, expert report frameworks and model briefing to support other voting rights litigators;

·        Collaborate with local citizens and officials, and other VRP attorneys/data scientists to implement integrated advocacy efforts drawing on a mix of legal, research, communications, and legislative advocacy functions, and serve as a resource on legal matters to colleagues;

·        Draft and/or coordinate amicus briefs in cases;

·        Prepare and present testimony before elected government bodies and administrative agencies;

·        Assist in developing communication materials, including press releases, op-eds, articles, blog posts, and social media assets;

·        Assist with fundraising and development pitches, drafting and submission of grant proposals and reports, and other tasks needed to promote the organization and its mission; and

·        Develop equitable and reciprocal relationships with scholars, external community-based organizations, other lawyers and law firms, and elected officials.

The successful applicant will remain abreast of democracy-related opportunities and challenges and incorporate them into their work. The staff attorney will connect litigation activities in real-time with decision-makers, namely elected and appointed officials, community partners, funders, the media, and other decision-makers. The successful applicant will work with a team of qualified undergraduate, graduate and law student fellows to support advocacy and research functions, and will assist with the clinical education that the VRP provides to UCLA students.

The UCLA Voting Rights Project (VRP) is located within the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and is operated in partnership with the UCLA School of Law and the UCLA School of Social Sciences.  VRP works to ensure an accessible and equitable system of voting through impact litigation, research, and clinical education. VRP was co-founded in 2018 by Political Science and Chicano/a Studies Professor Matt Barreto, Ph.D. who serves as its Faculty Director, and Chad W. Dunn, J.D. a 25+ year experienced trial and civil rights lawyer who is a Lecturer in Law and serves as the VRP Legal Director.

Legal Research

Serves as lead role in identifying and coordinating the review and selection of potential litigation opportunities, including monitoring current civil rights issues, reviewing and responding to intake requests, interviewing prospective clients, responding to client communications, researching potential legal claims, drafting and sending demand letters, and conducting general legal research and legal analysis. Maintain legal and litigation files, intake database, and other legal program administrative files.

25%

Guidance

Provides guidance to staff attorney and legal fellows to oversee administrative tasks, including project due dates, court filing dates, editing and publishing of all outstanding written work product. Submit quarterly reports to Legal Director on docket and key accomplishments. Develop and manage public education trainings and workshops on voting rights related matters for wide audiences of law students, attorneys, community leaders, elected officials, and other stakeholders.

20%

Legal Advocacy

Prepare and present testimony before legislative bodies and administrative agencies. Research and author public policy papers, white papers, and law review articles on emerging topics relating to the organization's democracy portfolio.

15%

Communications

Serves as news media's point of contact for press releases and general inquiries. Make press appearances for the organization, articulating the Voting Rights Project's views to the public on a range of issues. For cases and projects under senior staff attorney’s direction, lead in developing communication materials, including press releases, op-eds, articles, blog posts, and social media assets. Coordinates with communications departments external to VRP, including the Luskin School's

Communications, Division of Social Sciences Communications, School of Law, and Campus Central Communications.

15%

Leadership

Direct and lead at least one funding or grant proposal per year, from development, proposal writing, meeting with funders, to support the mission of VRP. In addition, collaborate with the VRP team with fundraising, grant proposals, and other tasks needed to promote the organization and its mission. Develop, cultivate, and coordinate development activities within organizational channels to increase individual and philanthropic donor support for research projects and cases.

10%

Project

Management

Recruit, train, and manage a cadre of undergraduate, graduate, and law students capable of advancing a dynamic legal advocacy and research portfolio on democracy-related issues, including voting rights, elections administration, and other aspects of constitutional law. Keeps abreast of the full work of VRP in order to understand and effectively advance the work and goals to external stakeholders. Edits or writes public-facing copy for events, such as the program, sponsorship solicitation, marketing/promotion communications.

10%

Supervision

Provide work direction to an administrative staff, consisting of one employee (Project

Policy Analyst 3 RP).

5%

•

Performs other duties as assigned.

•

Complies with all policies and standards.

•

Complies with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Principles of Community.

•

This position description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

Juris Doctor (JD) Degree

from an accredited law school and admission to the State Bar of California

Required

At least 4 years

of heavy litigation experience in state courts of California

Required

First or second chair trial experience of at least 5 contested civil or criminal matters

Required

Experience drafting, editing, finalizing, and e-filing state court pleadings of varying nature in California courts

Required

Experience working with clients, co-counsel, support staff and opposing counsel on vigorous litigation

Required

Ideally the successful candidate will have experience seeking temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctive relief

Preferred

Some experience and/or demonstrated interest in civil rights or voting rights causes

Preferred

 Exceptional legal research, writing, analytical, and oral communication skills

Required

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.

Age Requirement: Candidate(s) must be 18 years or older to be eligible to be hired.

COVID and Flu Vaccinations: The position is subject to providing evidence of inoculation.

LOCATION AND PHYSICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, MENTAL (PEM) REQUIREMENTS

Environment and Work Location Information

Environment Type:

Non-Clinical Setting

Location Setting:

Campus

Location:

Public Affairs Bldg.

Standing/Walking

X

Sitting

X

Bending/Stooping

X

Squatting/Kneeling

X

Climbing

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 0-25 lbs

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 26-50 lbs

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull over 50 lbs

X

Physical requirements other

X

Chemicals, dust, gases, or fumes

X

Loud noise levels

X

Marked changes in humidity or temperature

X

Microwave/Radiation

X

Operating motor vehicles and/or equipment

X

Exposures other

X

Sustained attention and concentration

X

X

Complex problem solving/reasoning

X

X

Ability to organize & prioritize

X

X

Communication skills

X

X

Numerical skills

X

X

Mental demands other

X

X

Classification 3:  Position in which exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues is not part of the position description. The normal routine task involves no exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues and the employee can decline to perform tasks which involve a perceived risk without retribution.