Litigation Fellowship, Separation of Powers (Fall 2027)

Pacific Legal Foundation; United States; Remote; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Pacific Legal Foundation is seeking a Litigation Fellowship for a recent law-school graduate to support the Separation of Powers practice. This year-long fellowship offers hands-on training in research, writing, and the development of public-interest cases, with involvement in pre-litigation, discovery, and appellate work.

The fellow works with a team of junior and senior attorneys, has latitude to think big, and may be considered for a permanent role after completion.

Qualifications

• Recent law-school graduate with keen interest in liberty and public-interest law.
• Strong legal research and writing skills demonstrated in coursework or internships.
• Interest in Separation of Powers and administrative law is essential.
• Ability to work independently and contribute remotely within the U.S.

Responsibilities

• Conduct legal research to support development of precedent-setting cases.
• Identify potential clients and help generate new cases.
• Participate in all stages of a case, from pre-litigation to discovery and appeal.
• Draft briefs, letters, and research memoranda.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Policy analysis

Public interest law

Job description

Litigation Fellowship, Separation of Powers (Fall 2027)

Work from Anywhere in the U.S.

This posting is for theSeparation of Powers practicearea. Please note that each practice area has a separate application. Please only apply to the oneyou'remost 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 21cases 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 assistthe Separation of Powersteamin ongoing cases, learn to develop a public interest case from the ground up, receive hands-ontraining inresearch and writing, and study theclassicalliberalprinciples 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
• A knowledge of and passion for the ideas of freedom and individual liberty
• Excellent legal research and writing skills

Pacific Legal Foundationidentifiesand litigates important legal issues to set landmark precedents that willbenefitAmericans 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 doctrineand 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 IIIjudicialpower, anddenying 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.