Attorney

You: An entrepreneurial freedom fighter with a passion for, and significant experience in, litigation. You find and win cutting-edge cases across the country. You work independently with minimal supervision, but as a part of a collaborative team. You are a leader and mentor who will elevate other PLF attorneys to be the best public-interest litigators in the nation.

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 and protecting the fundamental right to property as the “guardian of every other right.” PLF has an unmatched record in the United States Supreme Court, with 18 victories litigated at the Court. We also are actively litigating nearly two hundred cases in trial and appellate courtrooms 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.

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 questions below, 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.