Civil Rights Attorney

You: An entrepreneurial freedom fighter with a passion for, and experience in, civil rights litigation. You find and win cutting-edge civil rights cases across the country. You will become a national spokesperson for equality before the law and economic liberty—you will speak at conferences, engage the media, and publish scholarship on the rights protected by the Fourteenth Amendment. You are determined to become a leader who will elevate PLF attorneys to be the best litigators in the nation. You have a demonstrated dedication to public interest law and civil rights throughout your career.

Them: Bureaucrats, city councils, mayors, governors, and federal agencies stripping Americans of their rights every day. There’s a lot of government discrimination out there, and it’s backed by seemingly endless resources. But fortunately, like all lumbering giants, abusive government is most vulnerable when countered by individuals who act strategically and nimbly, take calculated risks, have each other’s backs, and are confident in, and passionate for, the cause—the very sort of swashbucklers we employ in spades here at PLF. 

Us: We fight back. Pacific Legal Foundation is the nation’s first and most successful public interest law firm dedicated to vindicating individual liberty and protecting the fundamental right to property as the “guardian of every other right.” PLF has an unmatched record in the United States Supreme Court, with 18 victories litigated at the Court. We also are actively litigating nearly two hundred cases in trial and appellate courtrooms across the nation.

We are a next-generation public interest law firm. What does “next generation” mean for a legal nonprofit? It means we aren’t interested in doing the same thing as everyone else. We aspire to be the best player in a constantly changing game. 

Here’s what you get to do in this role: 

You will generate and lead high-profile cases in PLF’s Equality and Opportunity Program. The program advances a positive vision of civil rights with liberty at its core, centered on a demand to remove racial, protectionist, and other discriminatory legal barriers that separate people from opportunity.  Our high-profile cases include fighting discriminatory admissions policies targeting black and Hispanic students in Hartford, Connecticut, and Asian-American students in New York, Boston, and Virginia. We defeated race-based federal farm-loan forgiveness and are litigating against California to end its sex-based quota for Board members of publicly-traded companies. We have overturned certificate of need laws in half a dozen states and challenged other legislation that protects the profits of some by stifling the economic opportunity of others. You will build on our success by working on landmark cases that affirm equality of freedom for all persons. You will find and win the next important Supreme Court case enforcing the Fourteenth Amendment. And you will be recognized as a nationwide leader on equality and opportunity: giving speeches, attending conferences, appearing on radio and television, and publishing op-eds and scholarly articles on these issues. 

You will work on teams with junior and senior attorneys, providing your expertise and knowledge and elevating the talent and skill of our attorneys. You will have the latitude to think big and the resources to execute. You will be at the forefront of shaping the enforcement of the Fourteenth Amendment for all Americans.

In a nutshell, we’re seeking someone who’s passionate about liberty and equality, who is confident and magnanimous, and who is a bold and relentless freedom fighter. 

Getting down to brass tacks, your specific job duties will likely include:

• Litigate for Liberty: Be on the front lines of the fight for individual freedom by litigating strategic lawsuits against government abuse. Lead cases that challenge unconstitutional laws, regulations, and policies that threaten equality and opportunity, property rights, and the separation of powers.
• Generate High-Impact Cases: Develop new cases and run with them consistent with your experience level. We have needs for a seasoned veteran who can run a case from an initial complaint through the Supreme Court. We want confident a self-starter who think big and aim high.
• Advocate for Shared Moral and Constitutional Principles: We win in the courts of law and in the court of public opinion. You will speak with journalists, the public, allied organizations, trade groups, and academics to advance our litigation objectives and mission. 
• Leading PLF into Battle: Partner with other attorneys and help set the agenda of the next years of PLF’s equality and opportunity program.

This role is ideal for someone with at least 3 years of relevant litigation experience, with a preference for candidates with 7+ years of experience who can take on more complex responsibilities. The position will be tailored based on experience, ensuring opportunities for impactful litigation work at all levels.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of successful litigation, strong legal writing skills, and outstanding interpersonal communication abilities. A deep knowledge of and passion for the principles of freedom and individual liberty is essential. Candidates must also be willing to travel as needed for case work and advocacy efforts.

General Information:

Pacific Legal Foundation identifies and litigates important legal issues to set landmark precedents that will benefit Americans nationwide. Using strategic and principled litigation, communications, and research, we battle for freedom in the nation’s courts and the court of public opinion. 

As a national nonprofit organization, PLF has brick-and-mortar offices in Sacramento, California; Arlington, Virginia; and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, although approximately half of the staff work from home offices across the country. You can work physically in any of our offices or request to work virtually. 

To Apply:

Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials in one PDF document:

• Your resume, including your experience in the liberty movement and relevant professional experience 
• A cover letter explaining why PLF is the place for you, why you want to fight for liberty, and what distinguishes you from typical applicants 
• A legal writing sample

This is a full-time, permanent position. PLF is committed to recruiting and retaining the highest-quality talent available nationwide, and we offer a total compensation package that includes a competitive salary, medical and dental insurance, and employer-paid retirement savings. We take work-life balance seriously through our generous paid leave and flextime policies. We have a flexible, collaborative, positive, and collegial work environment. We take pride in investing in your future and encourage internal advancement. PLF is the place for someone principled, tenacious, and determined to succeed in positively shaping the future of our country and restoring real limits on government power. Join us.