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Careers at Public Justice

Careers at Public Justice

Public Justice offers a mission-focused work environment, a teamwork and community-oriented approach, and a competitive compensation package. We provide excellent benefits, including at least three weeks of paid vacation, four-day work week, two weeks of sick leave, two personal days each year, all federal and some local holidays, employer-paid health, dental and vision insurance premiums, and a 401(k) plan.

Open Positions

Students’ Civil Rights Project Communications Strategist

Students’ Civil Rights Project
Communications Strategist


February 2024

Download a PDF of this posting


Who We Are

Public Justice, a nonprofit legal advocacy organization that takes on the biggest systemic threats to justice of our time – abusive corporate power and predatory practices, the assault on civil rights and liberties, and the destruction of the earth’s sustainability – is seeking to hire an experienced Students’ Civil Rights Project Communications Strategist.

Public Justice connects high-impact litigation with strategic communications and the strength of our partnerships to fight these abusive and discriminatory systems and win social and economic justice. In particular, we ensure access to the civil justice system, protect students’ civil rights, boldly lead efforts to reform the industrial agriculture system, fight to end modern-day debtors’ prisons, enforce the nation’s most important environmental laws, and much more.

Public Justice’s Students’ Civil Rights Project (SCRP) combines high-impact litigation with other advocacy tools to combat harassment and other forms of discrimination in schools. The SCRP strives to create systemic change so all students can learn and thrive, and to secure justice for students who are denied educational opportunities based on their race, national origin, ethnicity, or sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Our unique strategy for effecting lasting, systemic change pairs innovative legal advocacy with a movement orientation that includes outreach, education, and mobilization efforts. The SCRP’s work is rooted in, and steered by, our commitment to educational access, legal accountability, and youth empowerment.

What We Are Looking For

The person selected for the SCRP Communications Strategist role will be responsible for spearheading communications initiatives related to the Project’s strategic vision and plan, including developing and executing strategies related to narrative shift; working closely with coalition partners; ensuring the Project’s visibility through earned media placements, including within targeted communities; and shifting public understanding and opinion related to student civil rights and related policy issues. The SCRP Communications Strategist will develop and execute media, messaging, and outreach strategies and campaigns that identify opportunities to introduce the Project’s work to new constituencies and build public awareness of the issues at the heart of the SCRP’s mission and advocacy.

The SCRP Communications Strategist reports to Public Justice’s Vice President of Communications, Marketing, and Branding and works closely with other members of the Communications team, as well as supports the Students’ Civil Rights Project legal team.

This position is a full-time, exempt position and part of the organization’s Division of Communications, Marketing, and Branding. This position is fully remote, allowing flexibility, and can be performed anywhere in the United States. Public Justice is also committed to onboarding and supporting the growth and engagement of team members who seek to work in-office and can provide an experience that supports in-person social interaction and collaboration in our hub cities of Washington D.C. and Oakland, C.A.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Messaging Development
Partner with SCRP and communications team members, as well as partner organizations and leaders within allied movements, to develop strategic messaging campaigns for issues related to the SCRP’s mission and strategic vision, including identifying opportunities and strategies for narrative change related to the Project’s mission and coordination and management of outside vendors, such as public relations firms, polling experts and others.

2. Cultivate and Foster Ally Relationships
Establish and maintain strong relationships with coalition allies working to secure students’ civil rights, racial justice, gender justice, and LGBTQ+ rights and work to strategically position SCRP leaders within targeted, allied movements.

3. Develop and Maintain Media Relationships
Establish and maintain strong relationships with reporters, editors and other media professionals, and leverage those relationships for earned media placements in support of the SCRP’s litigation and advocacy efforts.

4. Strategic Media Integration
Advise the SCRP and communications teams on opportunities to showcase the SCRP’s campaigns and cases within broader media coverage.

5. Campaign Collaboration
Collaborate with the SCRP staff to shape media and messaging related to advocacy campaigns and the Project’s case docket. Emphasize the SCRP’s role within diverse communities and movements.

6. Media Training
Conduct media training for SCRP spokespeople, including attorneys and clients, ensuring effective communication of their stories in interviews and written collateral.

7. Content Development
Draft, edit, and pitch SCRP OpEds, blog posts, and public remarks to advance our vision for justice and enhance the SCRP’s presence in the media landscape.

8. Web Presence Enhancement
Regularly update the SCRP’s website content to ensure a representative portrayal of constituents in Public Justice messaging.

9. Real-time Social Media Response
In partnership with Public Justice’s digital communications team, identify breaking news opportunities on social media platforms, advising the team on responses and messaging strategies.

Experience, Skills, & Qualifications

Experience
Minimum of 8 years of hands-on experience in media relations or a closely related field, with a preference for advocacy, nonprofit, or legal organizations. Experience messaging civil rights and/or progressive advocacy issues is essential.

Communication Skills
Experienced oral and written communication skills, demonstrated through a history of crafting impactful OpEds, pitching to editorial boards, and collaborating with programmatic staff on advocacy messaging and campaigns.

Media Placement Expertise
A proven track record of successful media placements, encompassing national media exposure. Strong expertise in building and maintaining relationships with reporters and various media professionals.

Collaborative Skills
Extensive experience working with diverse coalitions and spokespeople, showcasing a genuine commitment to incorporating values of diversity, equity, access and inclusion into external messaging campaigns.

Work Ethic and Initiative
Strong work ethic, coupled with initiative, showcasing a proactive approach to challenges and tasks.

Messaging Expertise
Demonstrated expertise in messaging complex issues for the general public. Proficiency in working with messengers and spokespeople to develop compelling and accessible messaging strategies.

Salary & Benefits

We offer a mission-focused work environment, a teamwork and community-oriented approach, and a competitive compensation package. The salary for this position is $61,920.00 – $76,680.00, commensurate with experience.

• Four-day workweek
• Flexible schedule
• Three weeks of paid vacation
• Two weeks of sick leave
• Two personal days each year
• All federal holidays and some local holidays off (Public Justice acknowledges there are various religious and cultural holidays that are important to our team. We encourage team members to take any days necessary to observe holidays and celebrations that are central to their faith traditions or communities.)
• Employer-sponsored health plan
• 401 (k) plan

How to Apply

Interested candidates, please send a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and contact information for two references to Steve Ralls, VP, Communications, Marketing & Branding, with the subject line ‘SCRP Communications Strategist” to sralls@publicjustice.net. Applicants are encouraged to submit their materials by Thursday, March 28, 2024, at which point applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access

We recognize that creating a truly equitable, inclusive, and diverse organization is an ongoing journey, and we’re proud and excited to share our journey with you. Please read our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policy, available here.

Public Justice is an equal-opportunity employer and values a diverse workplace. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equitable employment opportunities are available to all applicants. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, age, national origin, citizenship of immigration status, disability, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. People of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender and gender diverse people, women, people with abilities in multiple languages, immigrants, people living with disabilities, veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals are strongly encouraged to apply.

Public Justice is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodations during any part of the hiring process, please email mmediavilla@publicjustice.net.

Studies have shown that members of marginalized groups tend to underestimate their qualifications and are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single one of the qualifications in a job description, despite the reality that applicants rarely ever meet 100% of the qualifications. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization and are most interested in finding the best candidate for the role. That candidate may come from a background less traditional to our field of work, and that’s okay! We strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of the qualifications described.

Environmental Enforcement Staff Attorney

Environmental Enforcement Project

Staff Attorney


February 2024

Download a PDF of this posting


Who We Are

Public Justice, a non-profit legal advocacy organization that takes on the biggest systemic threats to justice of our time—abusive corporate power and predatory practices, the assault on civil rights and liberties, and the destruction of the earth’s sustainability—is seeking to hire a full-time staff attorney litigator with at least three years of relevant experience to develop and prosecute cases for our Environmental Enforcement Project.

Public Justice connects high-impact litigation with strategic communications and the strength of our partnerships to fight abusive and discriminatory systems and win social and economic justice. In particular, we ensure access to the civil justice system, protect the civil rights of students, boldly lead efforts to reform the industrial agriculture system, fight to end modern-day debtors’ prisons, enforce the nation’s most important environmental laws, and much more.

The Environmental Enforcement Project is a national leader in using citizen suits to enforce federal statutes protecting environmental quality and human health. Our clients and partners include prominent and recognized advocates such as The Sierra Club, Southern Environmental Law Center, The Center for Biological Diversity, and others, as well as labor unions and community organizations.

What We Are Looking For

An experienced attorney who will litigate citizen suits, as well as develop and employ new, cutting-edge legal theories to compel polluters to clean up their pollution and internalize the costs they impose on the environment and the public—and, especially, to combat climate change.

The Environmental Enforcement Project Staff Attorney will primarily be responsible for developing and prosecuting precedent-setting and socially significant lawsuits against major pollution sources, including fossil fuel industry actors and animal industrial agriculture. The attorney should be prepared to develop new legal theories outside of environmental law and think holistically about how to reform industries and push our country towards a clean energy future.

Other duties will include networking with attorneys and other public interest groups; helping to develop and define strategic goals; and supporting fundraising and communication efforts for the organization. The right candidate will be a tenacious litigator dedicated to public interest litigation with environmental and tort law experience and a creative and strategic thinker able to work both independently and within teams. This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in advancing cutting-edge legal strategies that intersect with pressing social and political issues, including climate change, access to clean water, fracking, clean energy, and community mobilization around these issues.

The EEP Staff Attorney will play an integral part in shaping Public Justice’s strategic plan to ensuring the Environmental Enforcement Project is well-positioned to take on important, innovative work that holds government leaders, corporations, and polluters accountable. This position will play a key role in developing those goals and strategies with the EEP Director.

The EEP Staff Attorney is an exempt position and will report to the Environmental Enforcement Project Director. The attorney will also work collaboratively with Public Justice’s other attorneys, outside lawyers who support Public Justice’s work, and other public interest groups to develop and bring precedent-setting cases to protect the environment.

Our strong preference is for this position to be based in our Washington D.C. or Oakland, CA offices, but we will consider applications from especially qualified candidates seeking to work remotely from other parts of the country. Because Public Justice handles litigation, education, and advocacy nationally, the position will entail some travel.

Key Responsibilities 

  • Develop new cases strategically; conduct factual investigations; develop legal theories; draft pleadings and briefs; and otherwise manage new and existing cases within state and federal courts and administrative agencies.
  • Litigate cases from investigation to end, performing all aspects of litigation.
  • Develop and maintain partnerships with clients, allies, and coalition partners in litigation and other advocacy.
  • Collaborate and manage relationships with co-counsel, clients, and coalition partners.
  • Supervise the work of Law Fellows and Law Clerks within the organization. Play an integral role in developing and mentoring less experienced attorneys.
  • Integrate communications and legislative advocacy into litigation and other legal strategies, working effectively with other departments at Public Justice, including Communications and Development. Utilize traditional and social media networks to publicize our work, develop speaking engagements to educate the public about Public Justice’s cases and the issues they represent, and assist with donor and foundation relations and communications.

Experience, Skills & Qualifications

  • Law degree and at least three years of litigation experience.
  • Experience in environmental law, tort law, and litigating under the Administrative Procedures Act; conversant with scientific and technical data.
  • Excellent litigation skills, including legal research, writing, analytical, and oral advocacy skills, and ability to manage a litigation docket effectively.
  • Strong skills in communicating litigation and advocacy goals and messages to the media and public.
  • Ability to work independently and in collaboration with client partners and in leading a team.
  • Strong and demonstrated initiative, good judgment, creativity, and work ethic.
  • Ability and willingness to travel as needed for case work, court appearances, and presentations.
  • Commitment to serving the public interest, and a passion for the role of Public Justice and its mission.
  • Sensitivity to the needs and concerns of and the ability to work with individuals and groups from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.
  • Contributes to the creation of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work community that encourages collaboration

Salary

We offer a mission-focused work environment, a teamwork and community-oriented approach, and a competitive compensation package. Our attorneys are paid on a salary scale based on years out of law school. The starting annual salary for a staff attorney with three years out of law school is $95,000.

Benefits

  • Four-day workweek
  • Flexible schedule
  • Three weeks of paid vacation
  • Two weeks of sick leave
  • Two personal days each year
  • All federal holidays and some local holidays off (Public Justice acknowledges there are various religious and cultural holidays that are important to our team. We encourage team members to take any days necessary to observe holidays and celebrations that are central to their faith traditions or communities.)
  • Employer-sponsored health plan
  • 401 (k) plan

How to Apply

Your application should consist of two electronic files:

  • (1) Cover letter that conveys why you are drawn to Public Justice’s mission and the objectives of this position and how your experience fits with those objectives.
  • (1) Resume.
  • (1) Law school transcript (official or unofficial).
  • (1) Contact information for three references.
  • Separate PDF file of (2) Writing samples, preferably a legal brief or memorandum unedited or only lightly edited by another, including a cover sheet explaining the extent of editing by someone else.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their materials by February 16, 2024, at which point applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Please submit both files to staffattorney@publicjustice.net with the subject line: “EEP Staff Attorney.” For more information, please visit our website at www.publicjustice.net.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access

We recognize that creating a truly equitable, inclusive, and diverse organization is an ongoing journey, and we’re proud and excited to share our journey with you. Please visit the link below to read our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policy.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access

Public Justice is an equal-opportunity employer and values a diverse workplace. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equitable employment opportunities are available to all applicants. We strongly encourage applications from people with disabilities, people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, previously incarcerated individuals, people of all genders, veterans, and people of all ages. Public Justice is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.

If you require reasonable accommodations during any part of the hiring process, please email mmediavilla@publicjustice.net.

A note to women and BIPOC Candidates:

Studies have shown that women, nonbinary people, and People of Color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single one of the qualifications as described in a job description, despite the reality that applicants rarely ever meet 100% of the qualifications. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization and are most interested in finding the best candidate for the role. That candidate may come from a background less traditional to our field of work, and that’s okay!

We strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of the qualifications described.

Access to Justice Staff Attorney

Access to Justice Project

Staff Attorney


March 2024

Download a PDF of this posting


Who We Are

Public Justice, a nonprofit legal advocacy organization that takes on the biggest systemic threats to justice of our time – abusive corporate power and predatory practices, the assault on civil rights and liberties, and the destruction of the earth’s sustainability – is seeking to hire a staff attorney with at least four years of relevant litigation experience in our Access to Justice Project.

Public Justice connects high-impact litigation with strategic communications and the strength of our partnerships to fight these abusive and discriminatory systems and win social and economic justice. In particular, we ensure access to the civil justice system, protect students’ civil rights, fight to end modern-day debtors’ prisons, enforce the nation’s most important environmental laws, and much more.

The Access to Justice Project seeks to make the civil court system a fair, equitable, and effective tool for those with less power to win just outcomes and hold those with more power accountable.

The Project challenges and removes the key inequities that block access to justice through the civil courts and creates new opportunities to make the civil courts an effective tool for equitable justice. To achieve this outcome, Access to Justice works with a network of litigators, organizations, and others who share our vision, and in partnership with them, identifies, assesses, and prioritizes key barriers and opportunities for a just and equitable civil court system.

The Access to Justice Project works toward these goals primarily through strategic high-impact litigation, but also supports coalition advocacy and works to educate and engage on these topics. The Project’s current areas of focus are combatting the use of forced arbitration, restrictive standing doctrines, excessive court secrecy, federal preemption of state-law claims, undue limitations on class actions, limits on accountability for law enforcement and detention abuses, and the narrowing of the use of disparate impact theories.

For more information about the litigation and advocacy work of the Access to Justice Project, visit our website here.

What We Are Looking For

The person selected for this position will focus on impact litigation that furthers the ability of consumers to bring certain types of federal statutory claims. That includes work in the areas of standing, class actions, and arbitration. This position has a term of three years, which may be extended at the end of the term depending on funding.

This is an exempt position and reports to the Director of the Access to Justice Project. Our strong preference is for this position to be based in our Washington D.C. office, but we will consider applications from especially qualified candidates seeking to work in our Oakland, CA, office or remotely from other parts of the country. Because Public Justice handles litigation, education, and advocacy nationally, the position will entail some travel.

Key Responsibilities:

Serve as lead counsel or co-counsel in the investigation and development of impact litigation that furthers the relevant strategic goals of the Access to Justice Project and the mission of Public Justice.
Participate in the full range of litigation tasks involved in the Access to Justice Project, primarily legal research and analysis, briefing, and oral arguments, client representation, and, occasionally, factual investigation, discovery, and settlement negotiation.
Review requests for representation and develop appropriate cases, appeals, amicus briefs, and special legal projects.
Develop and engage in a broad range of legal advocacy through and outside the courts (including drafting and reviewing legislation; drafting rulemaking petitions, comments to agencies, letters, fact sheets and other materials; and participating in meetings and events). regarding the relevant Access to Justice Project’s advocacy priorities.
Participate in developing and implementing a communications plan to educate lawmakers, trial lawyers, grassroots supporters, and others about the barriers hindering access to and effective use of civil courts.
Build networks and collaborate with allies to fight corporate and governmental abuses and ensure a robust and equitable civil court system.
Participate in strategic planning and other planning initiatives for the Access to Justice Project.
Supervise legal fellows, externs, and law clerks engaged in relevant Access to Justice projects as needed.

Experience, Skills & Qualifications

J.D. degree and at least four years of relevant litigation experience, which can include a clerkship or fellowship.
Excellent analytical, writing, and speaking skills and the ability to modulate writing and speaking style for different types of audiences.
Excellent outreach and networking skills.
Litigation experience with progressively increasing responsibilities for case management.
Ability to juggle multiple tasks at a time and work in a fast-paced environment.
Self-motivation and proven ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Ability to develop a long-range plan and to set intermediate goals towards achieving those long-range objectives, including the ability to be flexible and shift goals as necessary.
Familiarity with, or interest in and ability to quickly gain familiarity with, the Access to Justice Project’s areas of substantive focus.
Sensitivity to the needs and concerns of, and ability to work well with, individuals and groups from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.
Excellent attention to detail and commitment to follow-through.
Strong organizational skills.
Healthy sense of outrage and desire to change the world for the better.

Salary

We offer a mission-focused work environment, a teamwork and community-oriented approach, and a competitive compensation package. Our attorneys are paid on a salary scale based on years out of law school. The annual salary for a staff attorney who is four years out of law school is $99,000.

Benefits

Four-day work week
Flexible schedule
Three weeks of paid vacation
Two weeks of sick leave
Two personal days each year
All federal holidays and some local holidays off (Public Justice acknowledges there are various religious and cultural holidays that are important to our team. We encourage team members to take any days necessary for observing holidays and celebrations that are central to their faith tradition or communities.)
Employer-sponsored health plan
401 (k) plan

How to Apply

Your application should consist of two electronic files:

(1) Cover letter that conveys why you are drawn to Public Justice’s mission and the objectives of this position and how your experience fits with those objectives. Please specify in your cover letter whether you are applying to work in the Washington, D.C. office, the Oakland, CA office, or remotely.
(1) Resume.
(1) Law school transcript (official or unofficial).
(1) Contact information for three references.
Separate PDF file of (2) Writing sample, preferably a legal brief or memorandum unedited or only lightly edited by another, including a cover sheet explaining the extent of editing by someone else.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their materials by Thursday, May 2, 2024, at which point applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Please submit both files to staffattorney@publicjustice.net with the subject line: “A2J Staff Attorney.” For more information, please visit our website at www.publicjustice.net.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access

We recognize that creating a truly equitable, inclusive, and diverse organization is an ongoing journey, and we’re proud and excited to share our journey with you. Please read our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policy, available here.

Public Justice is an equal-opportunity employer and values a diverse workplace. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equitable employment opportunities are available to all applicants. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, age, national origin, citizenship of immigration status, disability, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. People of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender and gender diverse people, women, people with abilities in multiple languages, immigrants, people living with disabilities, veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals are strongly encouraged to apply.

Public Justice is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodations during any part of the hiring process, please email mmediavilla@publicjustice.net. 

Studies have shown that members of marginalized groups tend to underestimate their qualifications and are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single one of the qualifications in a job description, despite the reality that applicants rarely ever meet 100% of the qualifications. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization and are most interested in finding the best candidate for the role. That candidate may come from a background less traditional to our field of work, and that’s okay! We strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of the qualifications described.

Request for Proposals

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Training Services

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility
Training Services


March 2024

Download a PDF of this posting


Public Justice is presently seeking an experienced and responsive Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Trainer/Practitioner to further assist in developing and supporting the organization’s DEIA work and related initiatives.

Qualified applicants are encouraged to submit a proposal by reviewing the instructions and guidelines as cited in the attached Request For Proposals. The deadline for submission is April 29, 2024 at 5:00 pm EST. To learn more about Public Justice, visit our website at www.publicjustice.net

Public Justice is an equal opportunity employer. We value and promote diversity. Applications are invited regardless of race, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, age or disability.

Click here to view our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policy. 

If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance submitting your application for employment online or need any accommodations, please email LHughes@publicjustice.net. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

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