You: A recent law school graduate who loves the scholarly side of the law. You think quickly and deeply, and you enjoy taking a dense Supreme Court decision and making it make sense to people, whether that’s in writing, on a podcast, or wherever the conversation is happening. You’re self-directed, and excited about identifying the different places where your scholarship can make a difference.

Them: Bureaucrats, city councils, mayors, governors, and federal agencies stripping Americans of their rights every day. There’s a lot of government overreach 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. PLF has an unmatched record in the United States Supreme Court, with 18 victories out of 21 cases litigated at the Court—so far. We have nearly 200 hundred active cases nationwide and a growing number of legislative and administrative policy wins.

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: As PLF’s next Legal Fellow, you’ll produce high-impact scholarship and commentary at the intersection of public interest litigation, Supreme Court cases, and big constitutional ideas. You’ll track the Court in real time, dig into doctrine and history, and help turn complex legal questions into writing that shapes litigation, public debate, and national conversations.

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

  • Researching Supreme Court precedent, Founding-era sources, and emerging doctrinal fights
  • Supporting outreach to academics and law journals, and helping organize symposia with law schools
  • Drafting and refining op-eds, long-form essays, amicus briefs, Supreme Court commentary, case summaries, and law review articles that turn complicated legal ideas into compelling writing
  • Supporting scholarship tied to active or potential litigation

This role is ideal for someone with:

  • A J.D.
  • A serious interest in constitutional law and public interest litigation
  • Strong research, writing, and analytical skills, and the ability to synthesize complex material quickly
  • Experience with legal research tools (Westlaw, LexisNexis)
  • Familiarity with Supreme Court practice or clerkship experience
  • Law review experience
  • Ability to travel approximately 10% of work time

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 works from home offices across the country. Working from the Arlington, Virginia, office is a plus for this role, although candidates will be considered for work from any office or home office.

Minimal travel required (approximately 10% of work time), including attendance at annual staff retreats (locations vary) and occasional press conferences.

This is a full-time, permanent position. PLF is committed to recruiting and retaining the highest-quality talent available nationwide and offers 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 culture. 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.

Compensation:

The target annual salary range for this role is $100,000.

How to Apply:

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

  • Resume
  • A brief statement of interest explaining why PLF is the place for you, including your interest in this job and PLF’s mission
  • A legal writing sample of your choice

Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link:

https://talentmarket.org/candidates/apply-for-your-dream-job/

Questions can be directed to Claire Kittle Dixon, President of Talent Market, who is managing the search process: [email protected].

There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.

While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.

Talent Market, the liberty movement’s talent agency, is a nonprofit that connects liberty-minded professionals with free-market nonprofit jobs at no cost to candidates or organizations. We work with 501(c)(3) organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation. Visit Talent Market to explore open roles, join our talent network, or work with us on your next hire.