About Public Law Center

PLC, Orange County's pro bono law firm, works to increase access to justice and provides a voice to the county’s most vulnerable low-income communities. PLC provides free civil legal services through in-house staff attorneys and a vibrant pro bono network of 1,500 volunteer lawyers, paralegals and law students from throughout the county. PLC serves the community by providing counseling, individual representation, community education, and strategic litigation and advocacy in the areas of consumer law, immigration, housing and homelessness prevention, family law, health benefits, veterans’ benefits, and community-based nonprofit organizations and small businesses.

About the role

The Public Law Center (PLC)’s Small Business and Nonprofit Unit (SBNP) is seeking a passionate and energetic attorney to join our team. SBNP provides vital legal services to individuals, small businesses, and other nonprofit organizations on a wide range of transactional matters—from formation through dissolution including conducting initial consultations, responding to client inquiries, and handling follow-up communications. Our work includes entity structuring, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, contract drafting, and general legal counsel on risk management and best practices.

The attorney will manage matters from intake through resolution on a hybrid-optional schedule with at least one day in the office. The ideal candidate  is deeply committed to economic and social justice and enthusiastic about helping underserved entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders access the legal tools they need to not only survive but thrive.

What you'll do

• Conduct client callbacks and intake and continue communication with clients for the duration of their matters.
• Handle matters independently from inception to resolution with supervision.
• Provide direct legal assistance to individuals and organizations in forming small businesses and nonprofits, including choice of entity, formation filings, governance, and tax-exempt applications.
• Draft and review contracts such as memorandums of understanding, commercial leases, vendor contracts, and fiscal sponsorship agreements.
• Advise clients on compliance issues, licensing, risk management, and legal best practices.
• Coordinate referrals to other PLC units as needed to provide holistic legal services to low-income clients.
• Participate in collaborative advocacy efforts in coalition with other legal service providers and community partners.
• Conduct community education presentations to clients, partner agencies, and service providers.
• Oversee volunteer attorneys and law students through training, technical support and general supervision.
• Participate in and help to coordinate legal clinics and workshops.
• Assist with periodic compilation of data related to grant funding.
• Represent PLC at legal networking and community outreach events.
• Full time position with occasional evening and weekend work required.
  
  

Qualifications

• Active membership in the California State Bar or Bar Membership pending or eligibility to practice under State Bar Multijurisdictional Practice Program.
• Excellent oral/written communication skills.
• Strong public speaking skills and ability to communicate with a variety of audiences, from clients, community members to pro bono attorneys.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and work independently and as part of a team.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
  
  

Salary & Benefits

• Compensation dependent on experience; range of $70.000 - $95,000.
• Competitive benefits provided, and for this position include:
• • Health, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life Insurance (100% of employee premium costs paid by PLC, and 50% of dependent health insurance premium costs paid by PLC)
  • Flexible Spending Account Program to help pay for medical expenses and childcare costs
  • 15 paid holidays per year 
  • Approximately 1 paid week off during office winter closure (between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day)
  • 21 paid sick/wellness days per year to promote mental wellness and general wellbeing 
  • 15 paid vacation days per year 
  • 2 paid wellness days per month to promote mental wellness and general wellbeing
  • Birthday paid time off (2 hours of paid time off during birthday month)
  • 403b retirement plan (after 6 months of employment PLC provides a matching contribution equaling 100% of salary deferral up to a maximum of 3-4%, depending on length of employment)
  • State Bar and Orange County Bar Association dues paid by PLC
  • Monthly $55 stipend for Wi-Fi and cell phone use
  • Bilingual Pay Premium upon successful completion of an oral and/or written test ($50 for oral premium and $50 for written premium per pay period) 

Public Law Center is dedicated to building a diverse team and fostering a fair and welcoming work environment. To view our complete DEI statement, please click here.

Public Law Center is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, please contact Public Law Center.

PLC will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with all legal requirements.

PLC regrets that it is unable to sponsor employment Visas or consider individuals on time-limited Visa status for this position.