Careers

Attorney – General Application

About our practice groups:

Property Rights are the foundation of liberty. The right to own, enjoy, and put property to productive use is a source of personal security, dignity, and prosperity, protecting the freedom of individuals to shape their destiny. We aim to achieve the same level of constitutional protection for individual rights in property as the courts accord other celebrated personal liberties.

Equality and Opportunity are the cornerstones of our civil rights. But government stands in the way of many people’s opportunities today. It has displaced the Constitution’s guarantee of liberty with policies that assail, for instance, opportunities to earn a living or pursue a quality education. And government officials disregard the Constitution’s call for equality before the law by allocating burdens or benefits to some at the expense of others, increasingly discriminating based on race, sex, or group entitlement. PLF’s equality and opportunity cases aim to secure equal freedom for all. We work to dismantle unconstitutional barriers to opportunity, freeing individuals to rise based on their choices, character, and ability.

Separation of Powers between the branches is crucial: Allowing powers to accumulate in any government body is, as James Madison said, “the very definition of tyranny.” Our Constitution established three separate branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. And yet, the American administrative state has grown into a Leviathan. Today, a sea of regulatory agencies has seized more power—becoming lawmaker, executive, and judge—to exert greater control over our lives. PLF fights to rein in this unconstitutional “fourth branch” and to restore the proper structure of our government.

Environment and Natural Resources roots itself in the belief that human creativity, unleashed through liberty, solves problems and expands the world’s potential. We defend the freedom to use public and private land productively by protecting constitutional limits on government power and promoting abundance through innovation. At PLF, we believe human ingenuity is the ultimate resources.

What PLF Attorneys get to do: 

• 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 junior attorneys and seasoned veterans who can run a case from an initial complaint through the Supreme Court. We want confident self-starters 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.

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:

If you think you might be a good fit, submit the following application materials:

• Your resume or C.V., including your experience in the liberty movement and relevant professional experience
• In the application screener, tell us why PLF is the place for you.

This posting is not an active job opening. However, we are preparing for rapid growth and will contact you directly if we see a potential fit.

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.

Litigation Fellowship, Environment & Natural Resources (Fall 2027)

Fully Remote • Work from Anywhere in the U.S.

This posting is for the Environment & Natural Resources group. Please note that each practice area has a separate application. Please only apply to the one you’re most interested in.

You: A recent law-school graduate, a confident and entrepreneurial freedom fighter with a passion for battling onerous government. You’re looking for an opportunity to work with the best liberty lawyers in the nation, immerse yourself in the nuts-and-bolts of public-interest law, and study the legal and philosophical principles of the liberty movement.

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. We have nearly 200 active cases 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:

The PLF Litigation Fellowship is a year-long fellowship position for recent law-school graduates. You will assist the Environment & Natural Resources team in ongoing cases, learn to develop a public interest case from the ground up, receive hands-on training in research and writing, and study the classical liberal principles that guide our work. You will also be encouraged and expected to take on additional challenges, including legal research projects and communications efforts.

You will work on teams with junior and senior attorneys, adding your skills and perspective to elevate our ability to win important victories for liberty. You will have the latitude to think big and the resources to execute your ideas. You will be at the forefront of shaping the law for all Americans.

In a nutshell, we’re seeking a new lawyer who’s passionate about individual liberty, property rights, and administrative law, someone who is confident and magnanimous, and someone who is a bold and relentless freedom fighter.

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

• Working closely with attorneys to develop precedent-setting cases
• Actively participating throughout all stages of a case, from pre-litigation to discovery and appellate work
• Drafting briefs, comment letters, and research memoranda

This role is ideal for someone with:

• A passion for liberty and excited to get a crash-course in public-interest law
• A demonstrated interest in environmental law
• Outstanding interpersonal communication skills
• A knowledge of and passion for the ideas of freedom and individual liberty
• Excellent legal research and writing skills

General Information

Pacific Legal Foundation identifies and litigates important legal issues to set landmark precedents that will benefit Americans nationwide. Our mission comes to life through four practice areas: Property Rights, Equality & Opportunity, Separation of Powers, and Environment & Natural Resources.

Our Environment and Natural Resources practice roots itself in the belief that human creativity, unleashed through liberty, solves problems and expands the world’s potential. We defend the freedom to use public and private land productively by protecting constitutional limits on government power and promoting abundance through innovation. 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, CA; Arlington, VA; and Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Approximately half of the staff work from home across the country. Litigation Fellows will get the richest experience by spending a few days each week in our Arlington, VA office, though remote participation is also available.

This is a full-time, one-year fellowship for recent law school graduates, beginning September 1, 2027. Fellows will receive a salary of $100,000 and will be eligible for consideration for a permanent position upon successful completion of the program.

PLF is committed to recruiting and retaining the highest-quality talent available nationwide, and we offer a competitive compensation package. 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 positively shape the future of our country and restore real limits on government power. Join us.

To Apply:

We will be accepting applications from August 14 to November 1. With only two spots available per practice area and strong interest expected, we encourage candidates to apply early. Our goal is to extend all offers by January. If you believe you’re a good fit, please submit the following application materials:

• 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 application is for a fellowship within the Environment & Natural Resources practice group; we ask that you apply only once — to the group you’re most excited about. If you’d like to be considered for other practice areas as well, you’ll have a chance to indicate that within your application.

Litigation Fellowship, Equality & Opportunity (Fall 2027)

Fully Remote • Work from Anywhere in the U.S.

You: A recent law-school graduate, a confident and entrepreneurial freedom fighter with a passion for battling onerous government. You’re looking for an opportunity to work with the best liberty lawyers in the nation, immerse yourself in the nuts-and-bolts of public-interest law, and study the legal and philosophical principles of the liberty movement.

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. We have nearly 200 active cases 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:

The PLF Litigation Fellowship is a year-long fellowship position for recent law-school graduates. You will assist the Equality & Opportunity team in ongoing cases, learn to develop a public interest case from the ground up, receive hands-on training in research and writing, and study the classical liberal principles that guide our work. You will also be encouraged and expected to take on additional challenges, including legal research projects and communications efforts.

You will work on teams with junior and senior attorneys, adding your skills and perspective to elevate our ability to win important victories for liberty. You will have the latitude to think big and the resources to execute your ideas. You will be at the forefront of shaping the law for all Americans.

In a nutshell, we’re seeking a new lawyer who’s passionate about individual liberty, property rights, and administrative law, someone who is confident and magnanimous, and someone who is a bold and relentless freedom fighter.

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

• Working closely with attorneys to develop precedent-setting cases.
• Actively participating throughout all stages of a case, from pre-litigation public records requests to discovery and appellate work, including pleadings, motions, and briefs.
• Drafting briefs, comment letters, and research memoranda.

This role is ideal for someone with:

• A passion for liberty and excited to get a crash-course in public-interest law.
• A demonstrated interest in equal protection and economic liberty under the 14th Amendment.
• Outstanding interpersonal communication skills.
• A knowledge of and passion for the ideas of freedom and individual liberty.
• Excellent legal research and writing skills.

General Information

Pacific Legal Foundation identifies and litigates important legal issues to set landmark precedents that will benefit Americans nationwide. Our mission comes to life through four practice areas: Property Rights, Equality & Opportunity, Separation of Powers, and Environment & Natural Resources.

Pacific Legal Foundation’s Equality & Opportunity practice group aims to secure equal freedom for all by dismantling unconstitutional barriers to economic opportunity and ensuring that all individuals can rise based on their choices, character, and ability, without regard to their immutable characteristics.

As a national nonprofit organization, PLF has brick-and-mortar offices in Sacramento, CA; Arlington, VA; and Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Approximately half of the staff work from home across the country. Litigation Fellows will get the richest experience by spending a few days each week in our Arlington, VA office, though remote participation is also available.

This is a full-time, one-year fellowship for recent law school graduates, beginning September 1, 2027. Fellows will receive a salary of $100,000 and will be eligible for consideration for a permanent position upon successful completion of the program.

PLF is committed to recruiting and retaining the highest-quality talent available nationwide, and we offer a competitive compensation package. 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 positively shape the future of our country and restore real limits on government power. Join us.

To Apply:

We will be accepting applications from August 14 to November 1. With only two spots available per practice area and strong interest expected, we encourage candidates to apply early. Our goal is to extend all offers by January. If you believe you’re a good fit, please submit the following application materials:

• 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 application is for a fellowship within the Equality & Opportunity practice group, so we ask that you apply only once — to the group you’re most excited about. If you’d like to be considered for other practice areas as well, you’ll have a chance to indicate that within your application.

Litigation Fellowship, Separation of Powers (Fall 2027)

Fully Remote • Work from Anywhere in the U.S.

This posting is for the Separation of Powers practice area. Please note that each practice area has a separate application. Please only apply to the one you’re most interested in.

You: A recent law-school graduate, a confident and entrepreneurial freedom fighter with a passion for battling onerous government. You’re looking for an opportunity to work with the best liberty lawyers in the nation, immerse yourself in the nuts-and-bolts of public-interest law, and study the legal and philosophical principles of the liberty movement.

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. We have nearly 200 active cases 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:

The PLF Litigation Fellowship is a year-long fellowship position for recent law-school graduates. You will assist the Separation of Powers team in ongoing cases, learn to develop a public interest case from the ground up, receive hands-on training in research and writing, and study the classical liberal principles that guide our work. You will also be encouraged and expected to take on additional challenges, including legal research projects and communications efforts.

You will work on teams with junior and senior attorneys, adding your skills and perspective to elevate our ability to win important victories for liberty. You will have the latitude to think big and the resources to execute your ideas. You will be at the forefront of shaping the law for all Americans.

In a nutshell, we’re seeking a new lawyer who’s passionate about individual liberty, property rights, and administrative law, someone who is confident and magnanimous, and someone who is a bold and relentless freedom fighter.

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

• Conducting legal research to support the development of precedent-setting cases
• Helping generate new cases by identifying and speaking with potential clients
• Actively participating throughout all stages of a case, from pre-litigation to discovery and appellate work
• Drafting briefs, comment letters, and research memoranda

This role is ideal for someone with:

• A passion for liberty and excited to get a crash-course in public-interest law
• A demonstrated interest in the Separation of Powers
• Outstanding interpersonal communication skills
• A knowledge of and passion for the ideas of freedom and individual liberty
• Excellent legal research and writing skills

General Information

Pacific Legal Foundation identifies and litigates important legal issues to set landmark precedents that will benefit Americans nationwide. Our mission comes to life through four practice areas: Property Rights, Equality & Opportunity, Separation of Powers, and Environment & Natural Resources.

PLF’s Separation of Powers practice group challenges the modern administrative state’s accumulation of legislative, executive, and judicial power in unelected agencies. Our work centers on two core fronts: (1) reviving the nondelegation doctrine and enforcing meaningful limits on agencies’ delegated authority, and (2) challenging in-house agency adjudication, where agencies act as judge and jury over their own enforcement actions — usurping Article III judicial power, and denying individuals their Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial before a neutral, independent court.

As a national nonprofit organization, PLF has brick-and-mortar offices in Sacramento, CA; Arlington, VA; and Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Approximately half of the staff work from home across the country. Litigation Fellows will get the richest experience by spending a few days each week in our Arlington, VA office, though remote participation is also available.

This is a full-time, one-year fellowship for recent law school graduates, beginning September 1, 2027. Fellows will receive a salary of $100,000 and will be eligible for consideration for a permanent position upon successful completion of the program.

PLF is committed to recruiting and retaining the highest-quality talent available nationwide, and we offer a competitive compensation package. 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 positively shape the future of our country and restore real limits on government power. Join us.

To Apply:

We will be accepting applications from August 14 to November 1. With only two spots available per practice area and strong interest expected, we encourage candidates to apply early. Our goal is to extend all offers by January. If you believe you’re a good fit, please submit the following application materials:

• 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 application is for a fellowship within the Separation of Powers practice area. We ask that you apply only once to the group you’re most excited about. If you’d like to be considered for other practice areas as well, you’ll have a chance to indicate that within your application.

Legal Fellow, Constitutional Scholarship

Fully Remote • Work from Anywhere in the U.S.

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: .

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.

Operations Associate

Fully Remote • Work from Anywhere in the U.S.

You: A relentlessly forward-thinking and positive jack-of-all-trades who relishes taking responsibility for improving the workplace and work-life of those around them. You aspire to find the most effective way to complete any given task, no matter how small it may seem, in service of helping PLF advance its mission. You enjoy being the “go-to” person for things and you find fulfillment in maintaining organization amongst others.

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 20 cases litigated at the Court. We also have more than a hundred active cases 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:

PLF’s administrative capacity is lean and nimble. In this role, you’ll take on a host of responsibilities, spanning from contributing to new-hire orientation to coordinating with external vendors when requests arise. A few responsibilities may be the same day-to-day, but you might receive several additional requests a day, with no two days being the same. With every new task you take on, you will think of more ways to provide efficient and effective support to those working in the office. Every task is important. Handling parking permit requests. Emptying the dishwasher. Answering PLF general phones and email. Assisting fellow staff members with administrative needs.

More than half of PLF staff work remotely, but our largest office is in Arlington, Virginia. In this role, you will need to come into our physical office nearly every day to tend to basic in-office items. Beyond that, some ability to work virtually will be possible.

If you value staying busy during the day, taking pride in completing tasks on time and diligently, working with incredible colleagues in service of our mission, and not needing to take work home with you at the end of the day, this might be a great role for you! You’ll also get exposure to each and every team that comprises a (winning) public interest law firm.

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

• General Office Support—handling supply orders for office and kitchen for PLF’s Arlington office; managing relationships with coworking space vendors.
• DC Office Support—managing contractors; managing parking validations for visiting staff; managing the office floor plan; point of contact for building reps; alerting staff to incoming visitors.
• DC Onsite Office Support—receiving mail and packages; loading and emptying dishwasher; general cleanup and organizing; preparing hoteling spaces for visiting staff.
• Reception (online)—handling phone, email, and faxes.
• Onboarding/Offboarding Support—assisting with new staff training on phone/copier; ordering supplies for new employees.
• Staff Support—assisting in booking flights, hotels, and rental cars for staff; assisting with company credit card reconciliation; scheduling meetings; assisting with all-staff gatherings as needed.
• Vendor Support—helping administer vendor accounts such as coffee and coffee supplies, furniture orders, office supplies, packages/shipping, and postage meter.

This role is ideal for someone who is:

• Highly entrepreneurial and self-starting.
• Extreme Customer Service mindset.
• Passionate about PLF’s mission and values.
• Detail-oriented and who takes pride in getting things right the first time but learns when you don’t.
• Passionate about learning and growing in the public interest/legal space.

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.

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.

Compensation

The estimated salary range for this role is between $60,000-$70,000.

How to Apply

To apply, qualified individuals should submit the following application materials in one PDF document:

• Cover letter including:
  • Why PLF is the place for you, why you want to fight for liberty, and what distinguishes you from typical applicants
  • Salary requirements
• Resume, including your experience in the liberty movement and relevant professional experience

Equality & Opportunity Attorney

Fully Remote • Work from Anywhere in the U.S.

You: An entrepreneurial freedom fighter with civil rights litigation experience and a demonstrated commitment to public interest law. You’re eager to find and win cutting-edge civil rights cases nationwide and ready to become a national voice for equality before the law and economic liberty.

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. PLF has an unmatched record in the United States Supreme Court, with 18 victories out of 21 cases litigated at the Court. We have nearly 200 active cases 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, which advances equality of liberty by eliminating government discrimination and government-created barriers to economic opportunity.

Our cases challenge racial classifications and racial balancing in education, contracting, public programs, and government institutions. We also challenge laws that block qualified people from earning a living, competing, and serving willing customers. These include protectionist licensing rules, competitor vetoes, compelled subsidies, certificate-of-need laws, and barriers facing healthcare providers.

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

• Litigate for liberty: Identify, lead, and win strategic lawsuits against government discrimination and barriers to opportunity, and build cases that could become the next important Supreme Court case enforcing the Fourteenth Amendment.
• Advocate in the court of public opinion: Give speeches, appear in the media, write op-eds, and engage journalists, the public, allied organizations, trade groups, and academics to advance our cases and become a national leader on equality and opportunity.

This role is ideal for someone with 3–7 years of relevant litigation experience.

You’ll bring 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.

We are currently hoping to hire two attorneys for this position. We also anticipate additional openings on this team, including a more senior position, and welcome interest from more experienced attorneys.

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.

Salary Range and Benefits:

This is a full-time, permanent position with a starting salary range of $115,000–$135,000, commensurate with experience. Exceptions may be considered for exceptional candidates. PLF offers a total compensation package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; a generous 403(b) company contribution; life and disability insurance; paid leave and wellness leave; and 3 weeks of paid time off. Salary and benefits details will be discussed with finalist candidates.

To Apply:

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

• Resume
• 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

Summer Law Clerkship – 2027

Hybrid • Arlington, Virginia

You: A motivated and liberty-minded law student dedicated to individual freedom. You came to law school with a vision—to fight for your principles and make a difference. You want to learn about the world of public-interest law from the best.

Them: Bureaucrats, city councils, mayors, governors, and federal agencies are 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. We also have more than 200 active cases across the nation.

We’re a next-generation public interest law firm that challenges convention, adapts to a changing landscape, and strives to set the standard for what’s possible in legal advocacy.

About PLF’s Summer Clerk Program

PLF’s Summer Clerk Program introduces you to public-interest law, immerses you in active litigation, and offers you a unique chance to study the constitutional and philosophical framework of liberty. You will benefit from hands-on training as you perform legal research and writing projects in PLF’s four litigation areas: property rights, equality and opportunity, separation of powers, and environment and natural resources. This is a full-time, paid summer position of $22/hour, including transportation benefits and wellness leave.

What makes this program different:

• Assignments: Our confidence in individualism extends to how we set assignments, and this is often cited as one of the best aspects of the program. You will not only have the opportunity to work across all four practice areas, but you will also get to choose most of your assignments. Your designated supervisor will ensure you receive feedback, guide you in managing your work, and offer advice and expertise. We create the environment and opportunity for you to craft your experience, and clerks who get the most out of the program are the ones who embrace this mentality.
• Weekly Programming: Every week, you will participate in educational and social activities to supplement your connection to PLF, the world of public interest law, and your fellow clerks. This includes field trips around the DC area, moot courts, department introductions, and deep-dive conversations with PLF attorneys on cases and litigation strategy.
• Networking and Mentorship: One of the most important things at this stage of your career is to build relationships, so we strongly encourage all clerks to set aside time to connect with other PLFers. Many clerks naturally build mentorship relationships beyond their supervisor through working with other attorneys, and we offer a mentorship program if there is a specific area of PLF’s work you are most interested in.

Your specific job duties will likely include:

• Drafting legal memoranda on research questions for active trial and appellate litigation.
• Assisting in drafting motions and briefs before federal and state courts.
• Contributing to the discovery process across all four of our practice areas.

This role is ideal for someone with:

• One to two years of law school completed by the spring or summer of 2027.
• Excellent writing and legal research skills.
• A demonstrated interest in the philosophical and constitutional principles of individual liberty.

Program Dates & Location:

• The clerkship will run from June 2nd to August 20th. If this end date conflicts with other commitments, you have the option of ending your clerkship on August 13th instead.
• On June 2nd and 3rd, we will host an Opening Summit in our DC Office. All clerks are expected to attend. Accommodation may be made for those participating in complimentary fellowships if advance notice is given.
• Participants are expected to work at least three days a week from our DC Office in Arlington, Virginia, for the duration of the program.

To Apply:

We will be accepting applications from October 9th to January 3rd. PLF will begin providing updates and reaching out to candidates for an interview the week of December 21st. If you think you might be a good fit, please submit the following application materials:

• Your resume, including your relevant educational and 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 that demonstrates your ability to research and analyze the law. Work completed for a law school course is welcome.

Nonprofit Partnerships Manager

Fully Remote • Work from Anywhere in the U.S.

You: A creative and entrepreneurial coalitions professional with strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills. A dedicated freedom fighter, you’re passionate about PLF’s mission and values, and eager to put your skills to work supporting our next US Supreme Court case or our newest piece of model legislation. You are excited to turn opportunities into reality, but, most importantly, you’re not content to rest on past success, always looking to increase your impact.

We’re not just looking for a gladhander. While you have strong interpersonal skills, you also possess a keen strategic mindset and are able to weigh PLF goals with those of our audience and partners, in order to build strong, mutually beneficial partnerships.

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, work together to achieve, and are confident in, and passionate for, the cause of liberty—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 U.S. Supreme Court, with 18 victories at the Court. We also have more than a hundred active cases 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:

In this role, you will oversee our amicus outreach program and manage nonprofit coalition relationships in two of our practice groups and across a portfolio of states.

You’ll cultivate relationships with stakeholders in academic, legal, think tank, and grassroots organizations who can support PLF’s litigation, legislative campaigns, and research development at the federal, state, and local levels. You’ll work across the firm to identify opportunities for PLF to advance your areas of focus and the organization more broadly. In essence, you’re responsible for ensuring that PLF is a preferred partner, advancing our cases, policies, and research, and raising our organizational profile among key audiences.

You’ll be responsible for developing partnership strategies alongside the Nonprofit Partnerships Principal and internal PLF teams.

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

• Creating and supporting coalitions of individuals and organizations in support of PLF’s work, including building original outreach lists and engagement strategies.
• Overseeing and developing the amicus outreach program for all PLF cert petitions.
• Identifying and pitching opportunities for collaboration to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintaining accurate, up-to-date information on outreach contacts and partnerships (we use Salesforce as our database).
• Taking the front seat in new outreach campaigns, leading from strategy to execution.
• Working with PLF attorneys and staff to identify and leverage existing networks of support.
• Representing PLF at meetings, events, and conferences with partners and allied organizations.

This role is ideal for someone with:

• 3+ years of experience in external relations, policy, working on the Hill or state legislature, or similar.
• Knowledge of law isn’t required, although it’s certainly a plus.
• Demonstrated interest in current cultural and policy conversations.
• A keen strategic mind capable of identifying, pitching, and managing opportunities for partnership.
• Knowledge and familiarity with nonprofit, legal, think tank, grassroots, and legislator groups.
• Passion for working with people of all ideological backgrounds, from every walk of life.
• A positive and proactive, solutions-oriented mindset.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% of the year.

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, CA and Arlington, VA, although approximately half of the staff works from home across the country. The ability to work from the Arlington, VA, office is encouraged and a big positive, but not required.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $80,000 – 100,000, depending on skills and experience.

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, parental leave, 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.

To Apply

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

• Cover letter including:
  • An introductory paragraph describing three distinct reasons you are drawn to Pacific Legal Foundation’s mission
  • Explanation of why PLF is the place for you, why you want to fight for liberty, and what distinguishes you from typical applicants
  • Salary requirements
• Resume, including your experience in the liberty movement and relevant professional experience

General Application

Fully Remote • Work from Anywhere in the U.S.

You: Passionate about defending individual rights and promoting liberty, but don’t see a job available? We’re always looking for talented individuals who share our commitment to defending Property Rights, advocating for Separation of Powers, and believe in Equality and Opportunity. If you’re interested in exploring a potential role with Pacific Legal Foundation, we’d love to hear from you!

About Pacific Legal Foundation:

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. Candidates will be considered for work from any office or home office, on a per-role basis.

To Apply:

Please submit your resume and a brief application expressing your interest and how your skills align with our mission. Click ‘Apply’ button to proceed.