Careers at Public Justice

PDF Job Description

Who We Are

We take 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. We connect 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.

What We Do

For over four decades, Public Justice has been at the forefront of challenging abuse and misconduct by powerful corporations, institutions, government actors, and individuals who believe that their wealth, privilege, or access to the levers of power shield them from accountability for the harms caused by their actions and through the operation of inequitable systems and institutions. We use cutting-edge litigation to hold the powerful accountable and to proactively prevent and deter misconduct, and we pair our unique legal strategies and expertise with strategic communications to create and shape narratives, and challenge not only unjust laws but also the beliefs and assumptions that support and sustain them. Public Justice’s programmatic work is accomplished through our Access to Justice, Debtors’ Prison, Environmental Enforcement, and Students’ Civil Rights Projects.

Our Vision

We strive for a just and equitable society where our systems and institutions are explicitly anti-racist and anti-sexist and serve the common good for the benefit of all, and where a person’s opportunities and outcomes in life are not dictated by their race, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, political or economic power, or other social identities.

About the Position

The Vice President for Development and Partnerships will build upon the organization’s strong fundraising foundation to engage new audiences while continuing to cultivate its existing donor base. The Vice President for Development and Partnerships will build strategies and relationships that inspire donors to support Public Justice’s work – leveraging the legal system to hold abusers of power to account. This person and their team will be charged with maintaining, and eventually growing a current budget of $10M annually, with a sharpened focus on expanding the organization’s revenue streams beyond law firms and into institutions, foundations, and individuals. This is an exciting opportunity for a creative and visionary fundraising strategist to reimagine and revitalize a storied organization’s fundraising campaigns through building and implementing new approaches to donor engagement, capacity-oriented storytelling, and effective relationship management.

What You’ll Do

Your responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

Organizational Leadership and Management

• As a member of the leadership team, develop the organization’s fundraising vision, strategy, and operating plans with an eye towards increasing contributions over time
• Provide leadership and support to the CEO, Board of Directors, and other organizational leaders, equipping them to effectively cultivate new and existing donors
• Partner with the executive team to implement a comprehensive fundraising campaign focused on recurring revenue and new donor acquisition
• In conjunction with the legal and communications teams, provide insight into the preparation of materials that tell a compelling story to current and prospective donors

Fundraising Strategy and Execution

• Serve as the organization’s leading front-line fundraiser, building and overseeing a portfolio of six- and seven-figure major donors and prospects, monitoring performance toward achieving quarterly and annual financial goals with attention toward projections in retention and increased support
• With the CEO and board, identify and cultivate major gifts prospects and close six to seven figure gifts
• Collaborate with the Board to maximize their role in fundraising, supporting individual and collective goals
• Develop customized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for different prospects and donors in the portfolio; develop and growth strategies tailored to each revenue stream
• Manage relationships with law firms, ensuring that the legal community continues to be deeply engaged in Public Justice’s work and committed to ongoing financial support
• Proactively design and execute new and creative donor engagement strategies with an eye toward expanding key audiences, especially within the institutional, donor-advised and individual philanthropic community, among other potential strategic partners, leveraging volunteer opportunities, special events, and donor benefits as cultivation and engagement tools

Team Leadership

• Develop and manage the execution of the overall strategy for the department to ensure long-term, recurring, diversified fund development that meets the needs of the organization
• Identify best-in-practice development team structures and build out a team accordingly that supports the organizational goals and objectives
• Serve as a culture builder and ambassador for the organization, with a passion for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility
• Manage a team of development professionals, holding team members accountable for achieving ambitious goals and ensuring they have opportunities for growth and development
• Set clear benchmarks for the team, regularly reflect on progress through data tracking and analysis, and adjust tactics as necessary to meet revenue goals
• Systems Building and Project Management
• Develop fundraising frameworks and systems that can be utilized across the organization with an eye towards efficiency, quality, and effectiveness
• Create and implement tracking systems in the database for solicitation, moves management, and expected revenue; develop systems to analyze giving data and trends
• Oversee all reporting, ensuring that all donors receive accurate, timely, and compelling reports, proposals, and other items as outlined in agreements
• Manage gala strategy, identifying and cultivating compelling honorees, and ensuring that supporters renew commitments and that new attendees engage with Public Justice

Who You’ll Work With

You will report to the Chief Executive Officer and be a member of the executive leadership team.

You will directly supervise at least two experienced fundraising professionals and have full oversight of a total development team of 3-5 members. .

Required Skills and Experience

• Commitment for Public Justice’s mission, with a passion for taking 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
• 10+ years of professional experience, with at least 5 years in a senior fundraising role
• Track record of cultivating, soliciting, stewarding, and closing six- and seven- figure gifts from individuals, institutions, government, and foundations in a non-profit setting; ideally with track record of creating new and inspiring major gift programs
• Exceptional relationship building and influencing skills, with the ability to develop trusting relationships internally and externally
• Experience working in close partnership with a Board of Directors, providing strategic direction and insight as it relates to driving effective fundraising initiatives
• Demonstrated success overseeing the hiring, managing, and mentoring of a high-performing team fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic environment with a collaborative spirit and willingness to support colleagues to meet goals
• Excellent and persuasive written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate a clear and compelling vision and generate buy-in for that vision

Compensation

Salary for this role is between $200,000 and $210,000, commensurate with experience.

Additional Details

Location and Work Environment

Public Justice operates as a remote organization, embracing the flexibility and inclusivity that remote work offers.

However, recognizing the value of in-person collaboration and the need for physical office space, Public Justice has an office in Washington, D.C. Anyone based elsewhere will work remotely and have access to financial support as needed to best perform their role for the organization.

Benefits

Equity at Public Justice

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 or 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. Please visit this link to read our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access policy statement.

Please Apply

Qualified individuals, please apply at: https://www.on-ramps.com/jobs/3549

Accessibility Language

PDF Job Description

Who We Are

Public Justice is a public interest legal advocacy organization dedicated to pursuing high impact lawsuits to combat social and economic injustice, protect the Earth’s sustainability, and challenge predatory corporate conduct and government abuses. Public Justice seeks to hire a litigator with at least eight years of relevant experience for a Senior Attorney position in our Access to Justice Project.

Public Justice Overview

Public Justice specializes in high-impact, cutting-edge litigation. We use that tool along with strategic communications and partnerships to take on the biggest systemic threats to justice of our time—abusive corporate power and predatory practices, the assault on civil rights and civil liberties, and the destruction of the earth’s sustainability. Our Access to Justice Project is one of several substantive areas of our work. Our other substantive areas include the Debtors’ Prison Project, which combats the criminalization of poverty; the Environmental Enforcement Project, which fights climate change and secures environmental justice; and the Students’ Civil Rights Project, which combats harassment and discrimination in schools.

Access to Justice Project Overview

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 areas of focus include combatting the use of forced arbitration and other contractual restrictions on bringing claims in court, restrictive standing doctrines, excessive court secrecy, federal preemption of state-law claims, undue limitations on class actions, and limits on accountability for law enforcement and detention abuses.

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

Job Responsibilities:

• Serve as lead counsel or co-counsel in the investigation and development of impact litigation that furthers the 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.
• Supervise junior attorneys and legal fellows engaged in Access to Justice 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 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.

Qualifications:

• D. degree and at least eight years of post-law school 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.
• Experience supervising other attorneys or fellows.
• 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.

Benefits & Compensation

This is an exempt position and reports to the Director of the Access to Justice Project. Public Justice operates as a remote organization, embracing flexibility and inclusivity that remote work offers. However, recognizing the value of in-person collaboration and the need for physical office space, Public Justice has an office in Washington, D.C. Because Public Justice handles litigation, education, and advocacy nationally, the position will entail some travel.

We offer a mission-focused work environment, a teamwork and community-oriented approach, and a competitive compensation package. We recognize and support healthy work-life balance policies, including operating on a four-day work week year-round. We also offer a generous benefits package, including flexible time off, two weeks of sick leave, all federal and some local holidays, end of the year office closure, employer-paid health, dental and vision insurance premiums for employee and eligible dependents, and a 401(k) plan.

Our attorneys are paid on a salary scale based on years out of law school. In 2026, the starting annual salary for an attorney 8 years out of law school is $120,250.

Applications

Interested candidates should submit a:

• Cover letter that conveys why you are drawn to Public Justice’s mission and how your experience fits with that mission. Please specify in your cover letter whether you are applying to work in the Washington, D.C. office or remotely.
• Contact information for three references.
• Writing sample, preferably a legal brief that is either unedited or only lightly edited by someone other than you. Please include a cover sheet explaining the extent of editing by someone else.

Please send your application to staffattorney@publicjustice.net. Reference “Access to Justice Project Senior Attorney” in the subject line. The application deadline is January 20, 2026. For more information on Public Justice, please visit our website at www.publicjustice.net.

Public Justice EEO Statement and 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

PDF Job Description

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 areas of focus include combatting the use of forced arbitration, restrictive standing doctrines, excessive court secrecy, federal preemption of state-law claims, undue limitations on class actions, and limits on accountability for law enforcement and detention abuses.

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 fifteen months, which may be extended at the end of the term depending on availability of 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 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 

• 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 $100,100.

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 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 Friday, October 31, 2025, 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

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 kbaker@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.