Careers at Public Justice

Students’ Civil Rights Project Senior Attorney

(Washington, DC or remote)

PDF Job Description

Public Justice is a nonprofit 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. We seek to hire an attorney with at least eight years of civil rights litigation and advocacy experience for a Senior Attorney position in our Students’ Civil Rights 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 Students’ Civil Rights Project is one of several substantive areas of our work. Our other substantive areas include the Access to Justice Project, which seeks to make the civil court system a fair, equitable, and effective tool for those with less power; the Debtors’ Prison Project, which combats the criminalization of poverty; and the Environmental Enforcement Project, which fights climate change and secures environmental justice. For more information on Public Justice, please visit our website at www.publicjustice.net.

Students’ Civil Rights Project Overview

Public Justice’s Students’ Civil Rights Project (SCRP) combines high-impact litigation with other advocacy tools to combat discrimination in schools. We strive 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. We represent students at all stages of litigation, including pre‐suit negotiations, litigation in trial courts, appeals, and oppositions to cert petitions. Some of our ongoing and recent matters include:

• Doe v. South Carolina, a putative class action lawsuit on behalf of a trans student in South Carolina, and other trans students like him, who are prohibited by state law from using restrooms consistent with their gender identities
• Shelby v. Huntsville City Board of Education, a case on behalf of the parents of a student who died by suicide after experiencing anti-LGBTQ+ harassment and race discrimination at an Alabama school
• Williamson v. Heritage Preschools LLC, a suit on behalf of the family of a Black toddler who was singled out for excessive discipline at a private pre-school in Alabama and eventually expelled because of his race
• Brown v. State of Arizona, a successful appeal before the en banc Ninth Circuit, which we subsequently defended from a cert petition, concerning whether a school can be liable under Title IX for causing a student to be abused by a classmate in an off-campus residence

We also engage in policy and media advocacy on issues that affect our clients, create educational materials for students, families, and lawyers, and collaborate with other advocates. For more information about the SCRP’s work, visit our website here.

Job Responsibilities

• Serve as lead counsel or co-counsel in the development and and execution of impact litigation, amicus briefs, and special legal projects that further the strategic goals of the SCRP and the mission of Public Justice.
• Participate in the full range of the SCRP’s litigation responsibilities, which primarily include legal research and analysis, briefing, oral arguments, client communications, and settlement negotiations, as well as occasional factual investigation and discovery.
• Supervise junior attorneys and legal fellows working on SCRP matters.
• Develop and engage in a broad range of legal advocacy through and outside the courts (including reviewing legislation; drafting comments to agencies, letters, fact sheets, and other materials; participating in meetings and events; coordinating with student organizers; and working in partnership with members of the Communications division to develop and implement storytelling campaigns regarding the SCRP’s advocacy priorities.
• Build networks and collaborate with allies, including Public Justice’s Board of Directors and members, to fight the racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia that shape educational institutions’ policies, procedures, practices, and training, as well as how our civil rights laws and regulations are interpreted and enforced in the education arena.
• Speak at conferences, webinars, and other events about issues relevant to the SCRP’s work.
• Participate in strategic planning for the SCRP and other organizational planning initiatives.
• Assist with promoting and reporting on the SCRP’s work to prospective funders.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree with at least eight years of relevant litigation and advocacy experience, which can include clerkships or fellowships.
• Excellent analytical, legal research, writing, and public speaking skills, and the ability to modulate writing and speaking style for different types of audiences.
• Experience as the lead drafter of briefs, ideally in both trial and appellate courts.
• Litigation experience with progressively increasing responsibilities for case management.
• Experience supervising other attorneys or legal fellows.
• Strong organizational skills, excellent attention to detail, and commitment to follow-through.
• A passion for making our education system more equitable by eliminating race- and gender-based discrimination in schools and holding schools accountable when they allow such discrimination to impede students’ access to education.
• Self-motivation and proven ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Creativity, initiative, strong work ethic, and sound judgment.
• Ability to juggle multiple tasks at a time and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability and willingness to travel.
• Ability to work effectively with people from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.
• Admission to a state bar and willingness to gain admission to the DC bar if not based in DC.

Preference will be given to applicants with civil rights litigation experience in the education arena. Litigation and advocacy experience on racial and gender justice issues is a plus.

Compensation & Benefits

This is an exempt position that reports to the SCRP’s Litigation Director. 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, DC. 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 work culture, 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 employees 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 eight years out of law school is $120,250

Applications  

Interested candidates should submit a:

• Cover letter that conveys why you are drawn to the SCRP and how your experience makes you a strong candidate for this position.
• Resume.
• Your law school transcript (official or unofficial).
• Contact information for three references.
• Two writing samples, ideally legal briefs. Writing samples should be unedited or only lightly edited by someone other than you; if you submit an edited sample, please include an explanation of the extent of editing by someone else.

Please send your application to staffattorney@publicjustice.net. Reference “SCRP Senior Attorney” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning on January 5, 2026, until the position is filled.

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 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. 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.

PDF Job Description

Public Justice is a nonprofit 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. We seek to hire an attorney with at least five years of civil rights litigation and advocacy experience for a Staff Attorney position in our Students’ Civil Rights 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 Students’ Civil Rights Project is one of several substantive areas of our work. Our other substantive areas include the Access to Justice Project, which seeks to make the civil court system a fair, equitable, and effective tool for those with less power; the Debtors’ Prison Project, which combats the criminalization of poverty; and the Environmental Enforcement Project, which fights climate change and secures environmental justice. For more information on Public Justice, please visit our website at www.publicjustice.net.

Students’ Civil Rights Project Overview

Public Justice’s Students’ Civil Rights Project (SCRP) combines high-impact litigation with other advocacy tools to combat discrimination in schools. We strive 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. We represent students at all stages of litigation, including pre‐suit negotiations, litigation in trial courts, appeals, and oppositions to cert petitions. Some of our ongoing and recent matters include:

• Doe v. South Carolina, a putative class action lawsuit on behalf of a trans student in South Carolina, and other trans students like him, who are prohibited by state law from using restrooms consistent with their gender identities
• Shelby v. Huntsville City Board of Education, a case on behalf of the parents of a student who died by suicide after experiencing anti-LGBTQ+ harassment and race discrimination at an Alabama school
• Williamson v. Heritage Preschools LLC, a suit on behalf of the family of a Black toddler who was singled out for excessive discipline at a private pre-school in Alabama and eventually expelled because of his race
• Brown v. State of Arizona, a successful appeal before the en banc Ninth Circuit, which we subsequently defended from a cert petition, concerning whether a school can be liable under Title IX for causing a student to be abused by a classmate in an off-campus residence

We also engage in policy and media advocacy on issues that affect our clients, create educational materials for students, families, and lawyers, and collaborate with other advocates. For more information about the SCRP’s work, visit our website here.

Job Responsibilities

• Serve as lead counsel or co-counsel in the investigation and execution of impact litigation, amicus briefs, and special legal projects that further the strategic goals of the SCRP and the mission of Public Justice.
• Participate in the full range of the SCRP’s litigation responsibilities, which primarily include legal research and analysis, briefing, oral arguments, client communications, and settlement negotiations, as well as occasional factual investigation and discovery.
• Develop and engage in a broad range of legal advocacy through and outside the courts (including reviewing legislation; drafting comments to agencies, letters, fact sheets, and other materials; participating in meetings and events; coordinating with student organizers; and working in partnership with members of the Communications division to develop and implement storytelling campaigns) regarding the SCRP’s advocacy priorities.
• Build networks and collaborate with allies, including Public Justice’s Board of Directors and members, to fight the racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia that shape educational institutions’ policies, procedures, practices, and training, as well as how our civil rights laws and regulations are interpreted and enforced in the education arena.
• Speak at conferences, webinars, and other events about issues relevant to the SCRP’s work.
• Participate in strategic planning for the SCRP and other organizational planning initiatives.
• Assist with promoting and reporting on the SCRP’s work to prospective funders.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree with at least five years of relevant litigation and advocacy experience, which can include clerkships or fellowships.
• Excellent analytical, legal research, writing, and public speaking skills, and the ability to modulate writing and speaking style for different types of audiences.
• Experience as the lead drafter of briefs, ideally in both trial and appellate courts.
• Litigation experience with progressively increasing responsibilities for case management.
• Strong organizational skills, excellent attention to detail, and commitment to follow-through.
• A passion for making our education system more equitable by eliminating race- and gender-based discrimination in schools and holding schools accountable when they allow such discrimination to impede students’ access to education.
• Self-motivation and proven ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Creativity, initiative, strong work ethic, and sound judgment.
• Ability to juggle multiple tasks at a time and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability and willingness to travel.
• Ability to work effectively with people from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.
• Admission to a state bar and willingness to gain admission to the DC bar if not based in DC.

Preference will be given to applicants with civil rights litigation experience in the education arena. Litigation and advocacy experience on racial and gender justice issues is a plus.

Compensation & Benefits

This is an exempt position that reports to the SCRP’s Litigation Director. 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, DC. 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 work culture, 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 employees 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 five years out of law school is $100,100.

Applications   

Interested candidates should submit a:

• Cover letter that conveys why you are drawn to the SCRP and how your experience makes you a strong candidate for this position.
• Resume.
• Your law school transcript (official or unofficial).
• Contact information for three references.
• Two writing samples, ideally legal briefs. Writing samples should be unedited or only lightly edited by someone other than you; if you submit an edited sample, please include an explanation of the extent of editing by someone else.

Please send your application to staffattorney@publicjustice.net. Reference “SCRP Staff Attorney” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning on January 5, 2026, until the position is filled.

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 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. 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.

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