At a critical time for lower-income communities and people of color, the Public Interest Law Project (PILP) seeks an experienced attorney to join one of California’s premier legal services support centers. Our experienced team engages in systemic, anti-racist advocacy with local and regional legal services offices to advance racial and economic justice and equity. We work to increase and preserve affordable housing, fight displacement, eliminate discriminatory zoning, support unhoused communities, and protect and expand people’s entitlement to public benefits, income support, and supportive services. PILP is a State Bar-certified legal services support center providing local legal services organizations with the expertise and capacity to engage in impact litigation, policy development, and legislative advocacy. Join our team!

Since 1996, PILP has provided critical litigation and advocacy support to local legal services and public interest law programs throughout California. Responding to the elimination of federal funding for state and national legal services support centers, PILP was established to ensure that local legal services programs could continue to participate in major litigation and advocacy on behalf of low-income people. PILP advances justice for low-income people and communities by building the capacity of legal services organizations through impact litigation, trainings, publications, and by advocating for low- income community groups and individuals.

We are looking for an attorney with at least five years of experience and expertise in housing, public benefits, homelessness prevention, or a related public interest field, and an enthusiasm for our mission. The position combines direct involvement in PILP’s law, litigation, and policy advocacy to help support statewide systemic change.

Responsibilities will focus on co-counselling, technical assistance, training, and policy advocacy throughout the state. The work will involve collaboration with other PILP attorneys, local legal services attorneys, and other state support centers. The attorney may be assigned to work in more than one substantive area.

Responsibilities.

• Co‐counseling impact litigation in state and federal courts with local program attorneys, other state support centers, and our private bar pro bono partners
• Advice and research assistance to local programs
• Training local program attorneys and grassroots advocates in relevant areas of law and litigation
• Advocacy regarding local, state, and federal laws and policy in conjunction with local programs and other support centers
• Participation and coordination of statewide legal working groups and task forces, and working with state and regional advocacy groups
• Travel to other parts of California for litigation, advocacy, task forces and training
• Assist in preparing and updating our resource and training manuals and materials as appropriate
• Supervision of law clerks and legal interns as needed
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications.

• Membership in the California State Bar, or if licensed in another state, willing to sit for the next available Bar Exam
• At least 5 years of litigation or other relevant legal experience
• Strong preference for experience and expertise in affordable housing, public benefits, homelessness prevention, or related public interest field
• Passion for fighting for systemic change and advancing social and economic justice for low-income communities, persons of color, and other groups that experience systemic discrimination or oppression
• Experience working with and a demonstrated sensitivity to persons from diverse backgrounds, as well as a genuine recognition of the role implicit bias has in society and interpersonal actions and decisions
• Excellent analytical, research, writing, and oral advocacy skills
• Ability to work independently, or collaboratively with colleagues, local program attorneys, and clients
• Ability to work under demanding deadlines

Compensation and Working Environment.

Salary range $78,000 to $110,000, based on a fixed scale and grounded on years of experience. PILP offers an excellent benefits package, including liberal vacation and leave policies, fully employer‐paid health benefits (including dependents), and a generous employer-contributed retirement plan. We are in the process of a thorough internal salary and benefits review.

Our office is located in Oakland, California, but we are allowing full-time remote work through May 2022. We anticipate that staff will return to the office in 2022 on a schedule to be determined and engage in work-related travel when it is safe to do so. Candidates are encouraged to apply even if they do not have the ability to work in-person at our Oakland office.

How to Apply.

Please send a cover letter, resume, legal writing sample (e.g., trial or appellate brief), and list of three professional references as attachments to hiring@pilpca.org. If you prefer an alternative method of submitting these materials please contact us at this email address.

The Public Interest Law Project (PILP) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We strongly encourage people of color, women, people with disabilities, older adults, LGBTQ+ people, and individuals from other underrepresented groups to apply. It is PILP’s policy to prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type and to establish and maintain equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, disability, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, medical condition, veteran status, national origin, marital status, familial status, or any other protected status.