Careers

PLF’s Liberty Clerkships – Summer 2021

As Pacific Legal Foundation marches toward its 50th anniversary, we are redefining what it means to be a public interest law firm. Our attorneys identify and litigate 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.

PLF attorneys continue to bring and win cases in the United States Supreme Court, including Cedar Point Nursery et al. v. Hassid this term. Simply put, we know how to get cases to the Supreme Court and we know how to win. Sound like the reason you went to law school? Then you ought to apply for our clerkship program.

We seek highly motivated, principled, and liberty-minded law students for paid, full-time summer clerkships, June through August 2021, in three of our offices: Sacramento, California; Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; and Washington, DC.

PLF’s law clerk program involves active involvement in on-going litigation, provides an introduction into the field of public-interest law, and offers a unique opportunity to study the constitutional and philosophical framework of liberty. Our law clerks receive hands-on training, as they perform legal research and writing projects in PLF’s five litigation areas: property rights, free speech, equality before the law, economic liberty, and separation of powers. Clerks are paid $16/hour.

If you share a passion to use your skills to vindicate the principles of freedom and individual liberty, you should learn what it takes to be a PLF litigator.

Applications are considered in the order received.

* * *

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 free enterprise, private property, limited government, and freedom of the individual.

Strategic Research Intern

You: An inquisitive, creative, and self-motivated college junior, senior, graduate student, or recent graduate who knows the principles of liberty and seeks to advance them. You have strong written and oral communication skills, strong data skills, and enjoy problem solving. Your degree is in social science or another discipline with strong emphasis in data analysis training. 

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 12 victories out of 14 cases heard by the Court, with a 15th just accepted to be heard by the Court this spring. 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:

The Strategic Research Intern will work closely with the Strategic Research and Legal Policy Department. Our research team produces high-quality social science research to support PLF’s mission-driven goals. We coordinate with our litigation, legal policy, and communications teams.

This internship provides an opportunity for a wide variety of experiences, including:

• Communicating with public officials to obtain public records.
• Data collection, organization, and analysis using Microsoft Excel or STATA.
• Conducting literature reviews on such topics as regulatory reform, housing supply, property rights, and coastal land rights.
• Developing internal data and literature memos for a litigation, communications, or legal policy campaigns.
• Write blogs or op-eds on topics relevant to PLF’s work.

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; Arlington, VA; Seattle, WA, and Palm Beach Gardens, FL, though approximately half of the staff work from home across the country. You can work physically in our Arlington office or request to work virtually.

TO APPLY: 

If you think you might be a good fit, submit the following application materials in one PDF at the link below. 

• Your 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 writing sample. 

Multimedia Producer

You: A producer. A producer is both a project’s artistic driver and its motor. You set the creative vision for a project and then realize it—dodging, dominating, and defusing any obstacles in your path. To that end, you are self-aware about your strengths and weaknesses and augment your talents with external contractors who can help you to make the best creative possible. You love to see ideas come to life.

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.

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, with 12 victories out of 14 cases heard by the United States Supreme Court. We also have more than a hundred active cases across the nation. (Read: we have more than 100 active human stories we can amplify.)

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:

80% Content Production

• Produce educational YouTube videos, from conception to completion, that capitalize on current events, pop culture, and Google search trends
• Produce a biweekly podcast about the Supreme Court—including reviewing scripts, coordinating logistics, and overseeing recording
• Direct photo shoots for PLF’s print and digital publications, ensuring every photo tells a story (travel not required)
• Work with PLF’s creative director and manager on storytelling and scripting for all these projects
• Oversee vendors providing the technical expertise and support for all the above projects
• Support other members of the content team by participating in brainstorms and reviewing creative
• Master PLF’s swashbuckling brand: Honorable, Daring, Smart, Irreverent

20% Distribution

• Strategize video and podcast releases, coordinating between relevant colleagues who can provide SEO optimization, paid advertising, editorial and social media promotion, and events and screenings
• Use responsible data management practices to store and share all assets in the cloud

This role is ideal for someone with at least three years of experience in a production or content marketing role. Technical skills aren’t required. Curiosity, humility, follow-through, and a commitment to excellence are a must—bonus points for a good sense of humor.

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; Arlington, VA; Seattle, WA; and Palm Beach Gardens, FL, though approximately half of the staff work from home 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 in one PDF at the link below:

• 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

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 Policy & Center for the Separation of Powers Intern

You: An inquisitive, creative, and self-motivated college junior, senior, or recent graduate who knows the principles of liberty and seeks to advance them. You have strong written and oral communication skills and enjoy problem solving.

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 12 victories out of 14 cases heard by 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:

The Legal Policy & Center for the Separation of Powers Intern will work with PLF’s Legal Policy Department and Center for the Separation of Powers (CSP). Our legal policy team helps develop and execute strategies to secure state and federal legislative and executive reforms to expand individual liberty, and CSP seeks to end the unconstitutional regulatory state through academic engagement, public education, and strategic litigation. This internship provides an opportunity for a wide variety of experiences, including:

• Reading and summarizing important legislation.
• Developing briefing materials for use in meetings with executive and legislative branch officials.
• Conducting policy research for reform efforts at the state or federal level.
• Conducting other research for op-eds, podcasts, videos, and other projects to educate the public about the separation of powers.

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; Arlington, VA; Seattle, WA, and Palm Beach Gardens, FL, though approximately half of the staff work from home across the country. The Legal Policy Department and Center for the Separation of Powers both operate out of the Arlington, VA office.

To Apply:

We are accepting interns through the Charles Koch Institute’s Koch Internship Program. If you think you might be a good fit, submit an application through the online portal. The application, deadlines, program requirements, and more information are available here.

Talent Development Manager

You: A critical link between our team of exceptionally talented freedom fighters and the tools and training they need to be the best they can be. You’ll help us honor our commitment, as reflected in our values, to help our team be the very best versions of themselves. Your role is to ensure we remain in a constant state of professional improvement, because it will take nothing less than the best possible PLF to meet the enduring challenge of keeping Leviathan at bay and ensuring that all Americans remain free from government overreach.

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 12 victories out of 14 cases heard by 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:

You’ll work with each member of PLF’s staff to determine the practical skills they need and the professional development they seek, then partner with managers to design roadmaps to elevate each team member to their next level of effectiveness. You’ll curate personalized training where necessary and prepare small group or staff-wide programs where appropriate. You’ll have the budget to reach outside the organization for specialized trainings, online programs, speakers—you name it—where it’s clear that’s what will provide the most value for our team.

Importantly, we don’t expect you to personally train every staff member! The successful candidate will be less an educator and more an adept facilitator, solicitor, designer, and field marshal of educational opportunities. We’ll expect you to identify and apply the expertise already within PLF, harness the comparative advantages of our partners in the liberty movement, and recommend best-in-class resources from the private sector. You’ll need strong systems thinking to create a sound plan and the logistics aptitude and get-stuff-done attitude to execute.

In a nutshell, we’re seeking someone who’s passionate about and skilled at designing career-enhancing programs to give our team, and by extension the cause of freedom, its best long-run chance of success.

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

• Partnering with managers to develop and track professional development goals for every team member and integrate this into PLF’s broader organizational goals and metrics. (PLF uses the OKR goal-setting technique for this purpose. Prior knowledge of this system, or a similar system, is a plus but not essential.)
• Developing and managing a wide suite of tools and trainings, based on the goals identified, to help staff maximize their professional skills, including but not limited to technical skills, general productivity, and the ideas underpinning a free society.
• Serving as a resource/facilitator for staff seeking guidance on what tools, trainings, mentors, or other resources they can exploit to help them succeed.
• Partnering with hiring managers and HR to ensure every new team member receives a personalized, effective, values-oriented on-boarding and orientation into PLF.
• Developing and maintaining productive relationships with potential training resources, both within and outside the organization.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate has:

• 3+ years of experience planning, executing, and/or supporting educational or career training programs
• Ability to travel minimally; less than 5% anticipated once normal travel resumes.
• A track record of successful project management
• Outstanding interpersonal communication skills
• Knowledge of and passion for the ideas of freedom and individual liberty

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; Arlington, VA; Seattle, WA, and Palm Beach Gardens, FL, though approximately half of the staff work from home across the country. You can work physically in any of our offices or request to work virtually.

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.

TO APPLY:

If you think you might be a good fit, submit the following application materials in one PDF at the link below:

• 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

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

Questions can be directed to Katy Gambella, Network Engagement Manager at Talent Market, who is assisting with the search: katy@talentmarket.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. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.

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.

Property Rights Attorney

You: An entrepreneurial freedom fighter with a passion for, and 7+ years’ experience in, property rights litigation. You find and win cutting edge property rights cases across the country. You are a national spokesperson for property rights—you speak at conferences, engage the media, and publish scholarship on property rights. You are a leader who will elevate PLF’s junior attorneys to be the best property rights litigators in the nation. You have a demonstrated dedication to public interest law and property rights throughout your career.

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 12 victories out of 14 cases heard by 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:

You will be a leader in PLF’s Property Rights Practice Group. From Nollan to Koontz to Knick, PLF’s property rights litigation is unparalleled. (If you can’t describe these three cases without checking your notes, do not apply!) You will find and win the next important Supreme Court property rights case. Your ideas will help shape PLF strategy by identifying and litigating emerging property rights theories. And you will be recognized as a nationwide leader on property rights: giving speeches, attending conferences, appearing on radio and television, and publishing op-eds and scholarly articles on property rights.

You will also be a key contributor to PLF’s property rights practice group. You will work on teams with junior and senior attorneys providing your expertise and knowledge and elevating the talent and skill of our attorneys. You will have the latitude to think big and the resources to execute. You will be at the forefront of shaping the property rights for all Americans.

In a nutshell, we’re seeking someone who’s passionate about liberty and property rights, 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:

• Winning property rights cases! Finding, developing, and litigating important property rights cases
• Advocating for property rights both philosophically and practically. Speaking with organizations, trade groups, academia, and media to advance PLF’s strategic property rights goals. (A deep knowledge of the moral and constitutional basis for property rights is a huge plus.)
• Writing persuasive pieces for both scholarly and lay audiences. Drafting op-eds, journal articles, and blog posts
• Leading other attorneys into battle and helping to set the agenda of the next years of PLF’s property rights practice

Qualifications:

This role is ideal for someone with:

• 7 years+ of experience litigating property rights cases
• A track record of successful litigation
• Outstanding interpersonal communications skills
• A knowledge of and passion for the ideas of freedom and individual liberty
• A willingness to travel about 5-10% once COVID has calmed down

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; Arlington, VA; Seattle, WA, and Palm Beach Gardens, FL, though approximately half of the staff work from home across the country. You can work physically in any of our offices or request to work virtually.

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.

TO APPLY:

If you think you might be a good fit, submit the following application materials in one PDF at the link below.

• 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, what distinguishes you from typical applicants, and salary requirements

Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: http://www.talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/

Questions can be directed to Katelynn Barbosa, Talent Engagement Manager at Talent Market, who is assisting with the search: katelynn@talentmarket.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. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.

Legal Policy Coordinator

You: A government affairs professional seeking to use the levers of government to promote liberty and dismantle policies that trample individual rights and freedoms. You will work with PLF’s top-notch experts, litigators, legal policy staff, and others inside and out of PLF to find opportunities for reform.

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, some legislators and other policymakers want guidance and help to make positive change. And 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 12 victories out of 14 cases heard by the Court. We also have more than a hundred active cases across the nation, 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:

You’ll work with PLF’s legal policy team to expand upon PLF’s legislative and administrative reform successes. You’ll also work with the litigation, research, and communications teams to help develop and execute strategies to secure reforms that expand individual liberty. The Legal Policy Coordinator will need a high degree of entrepreneurship and initiative to execute new projects that are part of the legal policy strategic plan.

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

• Analyzing and tracking legislation of interest and helping to identify opportunities to improve, promote, or oppose legislation in order to further liberty and protect constitutional rights
• Researching political landscapes to help inform policy campaign decisions
• Tracking and recording PLF’s legal policy efforts
• Developing and strengthening relationships with policymakers and policy influencers to promote PLF’s policy priorities
• Traveling to target states, especially during their legislative sessions
• Assisting in the execution of all other aspects of PLF’s legislative and administrative strategy, including:
  • Communicating accurately and effectively with lawmakers, executive officials, and their staff on complex policy and legal issues
  • Preparing and delivering legislative testimony and agency rule-making comments, and facilitating the same by others at PLF
  • Writing persuasively on a variety of policy issues for op-eds, blogs, social media, and other venues
  • Attending conferences and working group meetings to gather information, represent PLF and its interests, and further other PLF’s goals
  • Working effectively with affinity partners, including preparing talking points and other written material and leading discussions in working group settings
  • Working with the PLF legal team and others to draft legislation, rule-making comments, and administrative orders on priority issues and promote them effectively

This role is ideal for someone with one to three years of experience in a legislative or administrative office, or government. We’ll be looking for a track record of navigating political processes, outstanding interpersonal communication skills, and knowledge of and passion for the ideas of freedom and individual liberty.

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; Arlington, VA; Seattle, WA, and Palm Beach Gardens, FL, though approximately half of the staff work from home across the country. This position works out of the Arlington, VA, office.

TO APPLY:

If you think you might be a good fit, submit the following application materials in one PDF at the link below:

• 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 writing sample of your choice

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.