[Hiring] Litigation Fellowship, Separation of Powers @Pacific Legal Foundation

Role Description

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
• Looking for an opportunity to work with the best liberty lawyers in the nation
• Interested in immersing yourself in the nuts-and-bolts of public-interest law
• Willing to study the legal and philosophical principles of the liberty movement

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.
• Study the classical liberal principles that guide our work.
• Encouraged and expected to take on additional challenges, including legal research projects and communications efforts.
• Work on teams with junior and senior attorneys, adding your skills and perspective.
• Have the latitude to think big and the resources to execute your ideas.
• 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
• Confident and magnanimous
• 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

Qualifications

• 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

Requirements

• 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.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package
• Flexible, collaborative, positive, and collegial work environment
• Investment in your future with encouragement for internal advancement

Company Description

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. Our mission comes to life through four practice areas:

• Property Rights
• Equality & Opportunity
• Separation of Powers
• 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:

• Reviving the nondelegation doctrine and enforcing meaningful limits on agencies' delegated authority
• Challenging in-house agency adjudication, where agencies act as judge and jury over their own enforcement actions

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.

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.