Careers

Development Research Manager

Pacific Legal Foundation—the nation’s first and most successful public interest law firm dedicated to vindicating individual liberty—seeks a Development Research Manager who is responsible for developing and implementing a process to identify prospective supporters, in order to generate increased support for PLF. The primary job duties are as follows:

• Use research tools to identify prospective individuals and foundations who have the affinity and capacity to support Pacific Legal Foundation.
• Manage the research pipeline to facilitate acquisitions, renewals, and upgrades among current and prospective donors.
• Based on research, determine the appropriate stewardship track for new donors.
• Work with the Director of Annual Giving and Stewardship and Director of Donor Relations to develop appropriate donor strategies and prioritization based on research.
• Manage the dissemination of research to appropriate development officers, including creating a process for assigning, reviewing, and disqualifying potential prospects.
• Prepare individual research and background profiles for development officers and leadership as requested.
• Oversee the strategic use of analytics data to implement effective segmentation of qualified prospects for the Annual Giving and Major Giving teams.
• Continually review and improve research processes based on results and feedback from Development colleagues.
• Maintain accurate and timely data information in Raiser’s Edge.

The ideal candidate will have:

• 2−4 year’s experience in prospect research or development.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with varying timelines.
• Organizational skills to prioritize workload.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Judgment and discretion in handling sensitive donor information.
• Ability to work well with every component at PLF, across several offices; a track record of working productively and collaboratively in team settings.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Adherence to and knowledge of the principles of liberty.
• Previous work with Raiser’s Edge and/or ResearchPoint are a definite plus.

GENERAL INFORMATION

PLF identifies and litigates important legal issues to set landmark precedent 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. Our attorneys have ten victories before the U.S. Supreme Court—a record unmatched by anyone in the liberty movement—plus additional cases currently before the High Court with decisions pending. Simply put, we know how to get cases to the Supreme Court and we know how to win.

If you share our passion to vindicate the principles of freedom and individual liberty, you should be a part of PLF, no matter where you live. A national nonprofit organization, PLF has offices in Sacramento, California; Arlington, Virginia; Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; and Bellevue, Washington. We prefer that the Development Research Manager work from our Arlington, Virginia, office, but outstanding candidates may also work in other offices or virtually from home.

Applicants must submit a résumé and cover letter. The résumé should have the usual: your experience in the liberty movement, your professional experience, as well as your academic credentials. The cover letter should explain why PLF is the place for you, why you want to fight for liberty, and what distinguishes you from typical applicants.

TO APPLY:

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

• Résumé.
• Cover letter detailing your sincere interest in this position.
• Please include “[Job Title]–[Your Name]” in the subject line of your email.
• Materials should be emailed to Dawn Gonzales, Director of Human Resources: dgonzales@pacificlegal.org.

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. No phone calls, please.

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.

Government Affairs Director – Arlington, VA

Pacific Legal Foundation—the nation’s first and most successful public interest law firm dedicated to vindicating individual liberty—seeks an energetic and experienced legal policy and legislative professional to build and lead a new component to expand PLF’s positive influence on Capitol Hill, the federal executive branch, and in state capitals.

The Government Affairs Director will oversee PLF’s legal policy component, a key part of the organization’s strategic plan. This position provides an opportunity to play an important role that will increase PLF’s national prominence and expand its success outside the courts in advancing liberty. The Government Affairs Director will coordinate with the legal, research, and communications teams to develop and execute strategies directed at engaging Congress, federal agencies, and state governments. Because this is a new position, the Government Affairs Director’s first duty will be to collaborate with others and develop a strategic plan that will guide the foundation’s efforts to achieve increasing success in the political branches over time. The Government Affairs Director will also need a high degree of entrepreneurship and initiative to launch and execute new projects pursuant to the plan.

The role will be based in PLF’s Arlington, VA, office.

Responsibilities

• Building and strengthening relationships with legislative and executive branch leaders at the federal level and in the states (outreach at the state level will be selective at first).
• Building and managing a team to effectively engage elected leaders and their senior staff concerning PLF ideas to expand liberty and stop serious threats thereto, especially by connecting such leaders with PLF experts and taking other actions to increase PLF’s influence in the political branches.
• Presenting PLF’s reform ideas effectively to elected officials and affinity partners in various settings, including facilitating testimony and rulemaking comments by others at PLF, preparing talking points and other written material, and leading discussions in working group settings.
• Developing and successfully executing strategies to increase lawmakers’ oversight and legislative agendas on PLF priority issues and expand PLF’s influence on those matters, while tracking other secondary issues and developments.
• Working with the legal team to draft model legislation on priority issues and promoting it effectively (with other components at PLF) in Congress, state legislatures, and with the public.
• Coordinating with the strategic research team and their engagement of outside scholars to produce and distribute materials that will support positive change in the political branches.
  

The ideal candidate will have:

• 7-10+ years of experience executing key duties (government affairs/outreach or relevant government experience).
• A proven record of managing efforts to change policy or procedures in the political branches.
• Extensive relationships of value (both within the political branches and the liberty movement).
• Natural relationship-builder.
• Tactician with a long-term strategic sense.
• Strong coalition partner with the ability to marshal others’ efforts on our priorities.
• Ability to work well with every component at PLF, across several offices; a track record of working productively and collaboratively in analogous settings preferred.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Adherence to and knowledge of the principles of liberty.
• History of advancement over time in previous roles.
• A legal background or knowledge of legal issues is not required but is desired.
  

GENERAL INFORMATION

PLF identifies and litigates important legal issues to set landmark precedent 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. Our attorneys have nine victories before the U.S. Supreme Court—a record unmatched by anyone in the liberty movement—plus additional cases currently before the High Court with decisions pending. Simply put, we know how to get cases to the Supreme Court and we know how to win.

If you share our passion to vindicate the principles of freedom and individual liberty, you should be a part of PLF. A national nonprofit organization, PLF has offices in Sacramento, California; Arlington, Virginia; Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; and Bellevue, Washington.

Applicants must submit a résumé and cover letter. The résumé should have the usual: your experience in the liberty movement, your professional experience, as well as your academic credentials. The cover letter should explain why PLF is the place for you, why you want to fight for liberty, and what distinguishes you from typical applicants.

TO APPLY:

Qualified candidates should submit the following in one PDF file:

• Résumé.
• A cover letter detailing your philosophical interest in PLF’s mission (especially as it relates to promoting the principles of liberty and a constitutionally limited government), how your background would translate well for this role, and your willingness to work primarily in the DC/Arlington area with periodic travel to state capitals.
• Please include “[Job Title]–[Your Name]” in the subject line of your email.

PDF applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link:  https://talentmarket.org/candidates/apply-for-your-dream-job/.

Questions about the opening can be directed to Claire Kittle Dixon, Executive Director of Talent Market, who is assisting with the search: claire@talentmarket.org.

Talent Market is a nonprofit entity dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide free consulting and recruiting services to free-market think tanks, policy organizations, research centers, and capacity-building institutions dedicated to advancing the principles of limited government and free enterprise.

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. No phone calls, please.

Strategic Research Director

Pacific Legal Foundation—the nation’s first and most successful public interest law firm dedicated to vindicating individual liberty—seeks a experienced and committed Strategic Research Director to build and lead a new component at PLF to produce and commission high-quality research to further PLF’s legal, legislative, administrative, and public education goals.

The strategic research team is a new component of the organization’s strategic plan which sets out to define the next generation public interest law firm. Reporting to Todd Gaziano, Chief of Legal Policy and Strategic Research, the Strategic Research Director will develop and periodically revise a research agenda and produce exceptional research to substantially and directly aid PLF’s goals and mission—and to help inform other opinion leaders, the press, and the general public about them. The Strategic Research Director will execute the research plan with original scholarship and commissioned work that she/he manages and edits. The primary job duties are as follows:

• To formulate and periodically update PLF’s research agenda in coordination with other components of PLF.
• To build and manage a research team, including from outside the research department,  that produces high-quality research and analysis to be used in litigation, legislative, or communications materials—and as independent research reports, articles, etc.
• To research and write key research reports on a timely basis and supervise the final production thereof.
• To keep abreast of relevant academic research and strengthen PLF’s ties with academics and other opinion leaders.
• To effectively manage a budget and engage outside scholars to contribute to the research agenda, to successfully manage those engagements, and edit the final products.
• To eloquently and persuasively present PLF research in a variety of settings, including academic conferences, think tank panel discussions, working group meetings, correspondence with other opinion leaders, and with the media.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A record of original scholarship and excellent writing especially for publications geared toward a general, non-academic audience.
• Demonstrated success in supervising other researchers and effectively editing their work.
• Experience building a team and success in managing them is desired.
• Experience and/or other understanding regarding how to formulate and successfully utilize original research to advocate rather than just elucidate or edify which includes that it be of the highest standards.
• Insights in the academic world and experience in social science research and analysis.
• An ability to converse confidently and on the same terms as academics (to facilitate and understand social science research) and also to write and speak eloquently so that nonexperts understand and are persuaded.
• Background or understanding of marketing of research.
• Adherence to and knowledge of the principles of liberty.
• History of advancement over time in previous roles.

The Strategic Research Director is responsible for building and executing this new component in coordination with several other departments (litigation, legislative, and outreach). The right candidate has extensive experience and success in the basic job requirements and some existing relationships of value in the academic community. Because this is a new position, the Strategic Research Director will also need a high degree of entrepreneurship and initiative to develop and execute a strategic research plan that promotes PLF’s cutting edge litigation and policy goals. Finally, the director must possess an understanding of and appreciation for the importance of protecting individuals from unconstitutional government intrusion.

This position provides an opportunity to play an important role that will increase PLF’s national prominence and advance liberty both inside and outside the courts. PLF also offers a competitive salary, health and dental benefits, and retirement plan. PLF has a collaborative and collegial work environment. We take pride in investing in our employees’ future and encourage professional development and 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.

GENERAL INFORMATION

PLF identifies and litigates important legal issues to set landmark precedent 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. Our attorneys have ten victories before the U.S. Supreme Court—a record unmatched by anyone in the liberty movement—plus additional cases currently before the High Court with decisions pending. Simply put, we know how to get cases to the Supreme Court and we know how to win. We also know how to prevail in the court of public opinion.

If you share our passion to vindicate the principles of freedom and individual liberty, you should be a part of PLF no matter where you live. A national nonprofit organization, PLF has offices in Sacramento, CA; Arlington, VA; Palm Beach Gardens, FL; and Bellevue, WA. We prefer that the Strategic Research Director either work from or occasionally spend time in the Arlington, VA, office, but outstanding candidates may also work in other offices or virtually from home.

Applicants must submit a resume and cover letter. The resume should have the usual: your experience in the liberty movement, your professional experience, as well as your academic credentials. The cover letter should explain why PLF is the place for you, why you want to fight for liberty, and what distinguishes you from typical applicants.

TO APPLY:

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

• Résumé.
• Cover letter detailing your sincere interest in this position and PLF’s mission as well as your salary requirements.
• Please include “[Strategic Research Director]–[Your Name]” in the subject line of your email.
• Materials should be emailed to Dawn Gonzales, Director of Human Resources: dgonzales@pacificlegal.org.

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. No phone calls please.

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.

Senior Fellow in Legal Philosophy

Pacific Legal Foundation—the nation’s first and most successful public interest law firm dedicated to vindicating individual liberty—seeks a dynamic, principled, and enthusiastic Senior Fellow in Legal Philosophy to promote a sound understanding of constitutional and legal issues through regular speaking, writing, and other methods of public persuasion.

The Senior Fellow in Legal Philosophy will serve as PLF’s primary public intellectual among legal opinion leaders, supporters, and the interested public. Backstopped by an outreach team who will work to keep your schedule full, you will be a key public face of the organization. Your objective? Advance liberty and justice for all by making the intellectual and moral case for liberty to friends and foes alike.

If successful, you’ll be famous! But that will be a byproduct of making a compelling public case for the principles you and PLF share. Your job will be to generate an intellectual response and move the debate, because that’s part of what the intellectual conversation is about. You’ll do this in many ways, such as:

• Expressing views on popular topics in a way accessible to a general audience.
• Enthusiastically participating in speaking engagements of various forms—lectures, debates, panel discussions, congressional testimony, etc.
• Regularly crafting op-eds, blog posts, and other materials for public consumption. Maybe even writing a book in your spare time.
• Keeping a close eye on current public policy issues and entrepreneurially seeking ways to engage the big issues of the day.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A deep commitment to and understanding of the principles of liberty.
• A thorough understanding and appreciation for PLF and the issues we litigate.
• A postgraduate degree, preferably in law—but we will also entertain candidates with a background in the humanities or social sciences who have a strong understanding of constitutional principles.
• Skill and charisma in communicating the principles and moral foundations of liberty—great on the stump! This includes but is not limited to: where our rights are derived; why the Constitution is such an important institution; why the institutions of a free society are critical to human flourishing; and why personal liberty is morally imperative.
• The ability to pivot between lay and legal audiences in your communication.
• A pre-existing public profile, i.e., many people have already heard of you through your professional activities, social media profiles, etc.
• Unwavering humility: willing and able to engage diverse groups—including intellectual opponents—in respectful dialogue, sway hearts and minds, and remain above the fray.
• Similarly steadfast integrity: a critical dissenter who loves to persuade and dispel myths, not simply to vanquish your enemies, but because you are ultimately a truth-seeker.

The role will also benefit from:

• “T-shaped” interests—deep expertise in one subject and an active general knowledge/interest spanning many related subjects.
• Experience with litigation, public interest law, or academia.
• Experience conducting legal or other scholarly research.
• A robust publication record.
• Experience with media interviewing.
• A strong network within—and ideally beyond—free market organizations and/or legal opinion leaders.

Candidates with the requisite background may, if interested, have the opportunity to participate on PLF litigation teams and help directly vindicate the liberties of our clients. For the right candidate, we will consider a role that mixes these duties with on-the-ground litigation.

GENERAL INFORMATION

PLF 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. Our attorneys have ten victories before the U.S. Supreme Court—a record unmatched by anyone in the liberty movement—plus additional cases currently before the High Court with decisions pending. Simply put, we know how to get cases to the Supreme Court and we know how to win.

If you share our passion to vindicate the principles of freedom and individual liberty, you should be a part of PLF, no matter where you live. A national nonprofit organization, PLF has offices in Sacramento, California; Arlington, Virginia; Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; and Bellevue, Washington. The right candidates will have the ability to work in one of these existing locations or elsewhere—virtually or from a physical office.

Applicants must submit a resume and cover letter. The resume should have the usual: your experience in the liberty movement, your professional experience, as well as your academic credentials. The cover letter should explain why PLF is the place for you, why you want to fight for liberty, and what distinguishes you from typical applicants.

TO APPLY:

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

• Résumé.
• Cover letter detailing your sincere interest in this position.
• Please include “[Job Title]–[Your Name]” in the subject line of your email.
• Materials should be emailed to Dawn Gonzales, Director of Human Resources: dgonzales@pacificlegal.org.

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. No phone calls, please.

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.

Legal Fellow

Pacific Legal Foundation—the nation’s first and most successful public interest law firm dedicated to vindicating individual liberty—seeks a recent law school graduate or judicial law clerk as a Legal Fellow to significantly expand PLF’s strategic research, publications and scholarly content.

The Legal Fellow will assist in some litigation efforts, including amicus coordination for PLF cases, but the fellow’s principal role will be to advance PLF’s research and education efforts by significantly expanding PLF’s publications and scholarly content for the legal community and an educated lay audience regarding how and why PLF defends liberty and justice for all. The fellow will also help plan conferences and public events and build strong working relationships with coalition partners, the press, and other opinion leaders. The fellow will write regular blog posts, op-eds, and other articles; assist with and occasionally speak at PLF events; and help with all other aspects of PLF’s education efforts, including the annual summary of PLF’s Supreme Court filings for the press.

The ideal candidate will have a JD or the equivalent, with an exceptional academic record. The candidate must have outstanding written and oral communication skills, preferably with a record of publications demonstrating a range of writing experience. The ideal candidate will also be self-motivated, collaborative, detail oriented, and able to meet all work deadlines.

Responsibilities:

• Stay abreast of all important administrative law scholarship and developments, and produce research memos on new strategies to overturn the administrative state and on second-best legislative solutions to restore democratic/constitutional accountability.
• Author or co-author a range of blog posts, op-eds, and articles of varying length on PLF cases and priority issues, especially in administrative law.
• Work, as directed, with PLF’s strategic research director on social science research reports and other publications.
• Work with PLF litigators to help translate innovative litigation ideas, especially in the administrative law areas, into potential cases.
• Help organize and execute PLF conferences and public events in DC and elsewhere.
• Represent PLF at coalition working group meetings, coalition events, and engage in other tasks to improve relations and increase cooperation with PLF’s affinity partners.
• Help coordinate amicus efforts for PLF cases, particularly in the Supreme Court, with states, affinity partners, and non-traditional allies on given cases.
• Assist, as directed, PLF’s public policy director on special projects, including drafting model legislation and briefing Members of Congress and staff on key committees of interest.

Additional Skills/Experience Preferred:

• Advanced study or experience in administrative law issues.
• Some legal policy or congressional experience.
• Prior work history that demonstrates the above qualifications and abilities.

GENERAL INFORMATION

PLF identifies and litigates important legal issues to set landmark precedents that will benefit Americans nationwide and promotes the same principles of liberty outside the courtroom as well. Using strategic and principled litigation, communications, and research, we battle for freedom in the nation’s courts and the court of public opinion. Our attorneys have ten victories before the U.S. Supreme Court—a record unmatched in the liberty movement—plus additional cases currently before the High Court with decisions pending. Simply put, we know how to get cases to the Supreme Court and we know how to win.

A national nonprofit organization, PLF has offices in Sacramento, California; Arlington, Virginia; Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; and Bellevue, Washington. We prefer the Legal Fellow to work from the Arlington, Virginia, office, but the right candidates will have the ability to work virtually or from another office part of the time.

TO APPLY:

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

• Résumé.
• Cover letter detailing:
  • your salary requirements;
  • why PLF is the place for you, why you want to fight for liberty, and what distinguishes you from typical applicants;
  • how your academic or other experiences have prepared you for this position; and
  • your interest in relocating to Arlington,VA.
• Law school transcript.

Materials should be emailed in one PDF document to Dawn Gonzales, Director of Human Resources: dgonzales@pacificlegal.org.

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. No phone calls, please.

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.

Constitutional Litigation Attorneys

Pacific Legal Foundation—the nation’s first and most successful public interest law firm dedicated to vindicating individual liberty—is hiring entry-level attorneys to join our national legal team. PLF encourages applications from recent law school graduates with a demonstrated interest in strategic litigation.

Our attorneys identify and litigate 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. Our attorneys have won 10 cases out of 12 heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, with 2 more cases pending—a record unmatched by anyone in the liberty movement.

New attorneys at PLF are given opportunities to draft briefs, argue cases in both federal and state courts, participate in discovery, and engage in outreach and communication to the public by writing op-eds, giving speeches, and more.

PLF litigates cases in five areas of expertise:

• Property Rights | The right to acquire and use property without undue government interference.
• Economic Liberty | The right to earn an honest living and make free economic choices.
• Equality Before the Law | Equal protection, regardless of sex, race, creed, color, or other differences.
• Free Speech and Association | The right to freely associate and express yourself in speech and thought.
• Separation of Powers | The structural protections of our Constitution, which safeguard all our individual rights.

Full-time opportunities are available in any of PLF’s four offices: Sacramento, California; Bellevue, Washington; Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; and Arlington, Virginia.

Starting salary is $72,500, plus medical, dental, and vision benefits, participation in a 403(b) savings plan, and insurance coverage. Ambitious and successful attorneys can expect significant salary increases over time.

Applicants must submit a resume and personal statement. The resume should include your GPA, class rank (if not given, please indicate), journal and moot court affiliations, and participation in any other law school organizations. The personal statement should explain why PLF is the place for you, why you want to fight for liberty, your interest in PLF’s issues and cases, and what distinguishes you from typical applicants.

Applications are reviewed as they are received. Please send to Ms. Tawnda Elling, Hiring Secretary, at attyjobs@pacificlegal.org.

The Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to policies to achieve equitable hiring, assignment, and promotion practices. The Foundation encourages applications from all individuals interested in working to promote the principles of property rights, personal liberties, and constitutionally limited government.