About Public Law Center
Founded in 1981, The Public Law Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free legal services to low income residents and other nonprofits in Orange County. Last year, Public Law Center staff and volunteers provided over 65,000 hours of free legal services in handling over 4,500 cases benefiting low-income children, adults and seniors. The estimated value of this work is roughly $60 million in just the past three years. Our services include counseling, individual representation, community education and strategic policy advocacy and impact litigation to challenge societal injustices.
About the role
The Public Law Center (PLC) is seeking an energetic, passionate advocate to join our team in fighting for justice for low-income residents and self-represented litigants in Orange County through innovative, collaborative, community-centered lawyering to address inequities and pursue economic justice.
PLC provides high quality legal representation to low-income individuals in Orange County through a mixture of direct services, community education, and impact litigation and advocacy. Impact opportunities arise throughout PLC, and staff work closely with pro bono volunteers to ensure adequate resources to handle the efforts. PLC sees impact cases arise out of individual direct services cases, out of intentional large-scale litigation, local community-based advocacy, legislative and regulatory advocacy, and other mechanisms.
This is a two-year position open to recent law school graduates, judicial law clerks, and current third-year law students (J.D. expected prior to beginning fellowship).
What you'll do
- Conduct legal research and analysis; draft memos, participate in ongoing litigation and amicus efforts; draft public comments on proposed local, state, and federal regulations; and help identify and develop new cases and projects.
- Collaborate closely with PLC’s substantive units to effectively litigate, support, and manage large-scale impact cases.
- Represent PLC in community meetings at the local and state level, effectively advocating for statewide, regional, and local protections for PLC’s clients.
- Co-counsel with other legal services organizations and private attorneys to ensure adequate resources available for impact litigation.
- Oversee law students and paralegals.
- Represent PLC at legal networking and community outreach events.
- Full time position with occasional evening and weekend work required.
- This position requires attendance at meetings, both remote and in person, in and outside the Public Law Center’s offices, and requires being located in Southern California. Must have ability to work at the organization’s offices in Santa Ana, CA, and travel to work sites located throughout Orange County, CA. In addition, travel to Los Angeles County and other neighboring counties may be required.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Active membership in the California State Bar, or Bar Membership pending, or eligibility to practice under State Bar Multijurisdictional Practice Program.
- Familiarity with state and/or federal court litigation.
- Excellent written communication skills.
- Strong public speaking skills and ability to communicate with a variety of audiences, including community members, volunteer attorneys, court staff, and judges.
- Must have own transportation, valid CA Driver’s license, insurance and good driving record; travel throughout Orange County is necessary.
- Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have a valid medical reason for not being fully vaccinated or a sincerely held religious belief preventing vaccination.
Salary & Benefits
- Compensation dependent on experience; range of $70,000 to $80,000
- 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 days per year
- 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)
- Monthly $55 stipend for Wi-Fi and cell phone use
- Monthly Bilingual Pay Premium upon successful completion of an oral and/or written test ($50 for oral premium and $50 for written premium)
- Optional monthly peer support group facilitated by third party mental health clinic
- Opportunities for growth and advancement
- This is a hybrid/remote position which requires some in-office days in Santa Ana, CA.
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.