Litigation Fellow

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. You’re looking for an opportunity to work with the best liberty lawyers in the nation, immerse yourself in the nuts-and-bolts of public-interest law, and study the legal and philosophical principles of the liberty movement.

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. PLF has an unmatched record in the United States Supreme Court, with 18 victories out of 21 cases litigated at the Court. We have nearly 200 active cases 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.

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, and study the classical liberal principles that guide our work. You will also be encouraged and expected to take on additional challenges, including legal research projects and communications efforts.

You will work on teams with junior and senior attorneys, adding your skills and perspective to elevate our ability to win important victories for liberty. You will have the latitude to think big and the resources to execute your ideas. You will 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, someone who is confident and magnanimous, and someone who is 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

This role is ideal for someone with: 

• 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

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. Our mission comes to life through four practice areas: Property Rights, Equality & Opportunity, Separation of Powers, and 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: (1) reviving the nondelegation doctrine and enforcing meaningful limits on agencies' delegated authority, and (2) challenging in-house agency adjudication, where agencies act as judge and jury over their own enforcement actions — usurping Article III judicial power, and denying individuals their Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial before a neutral, independent court. 

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.

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.

PLF is committed to recruiting and retaining the highest-quality talent available nationwide, and we offer a competitive compensation package. 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 positively shape the future of our country and restore real limits on government power. Join us.

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.