Public Rights Project Staff Attorney, Litigation

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Public Rights Project (PRP) is a public interest legal nonprofit, headquartered in Oakland, with a remote team based throughout the United States. Our mission is to help local government officials fight for civil rights. Since its founding in 2017, PRP has litigated in more than 100 cases (either as a party or amicus), trained 131 prosecutors and government lawyers in 24 states, built a partner network of over 670 government offices, elected officials, and community‑based organizations in 43 states, and secured court victories on police accountability, abortion, immigrant, worker, and voting rights.

PRP supports local government partners in the face of an onslaught of federal and state abuses of power. We provide direct representation, legal analysis, research, training, and community partnerships to help local governments develop strategies that protect their residents’ civil rights. The Litigation Team works on behalf of dozens of local governments in significant cases that affect the rights and welfare of millions of people across the country.

Public Rights Project seeks to hire one or more Staff Attorneys to join its Litigation Team. The Staff Attorney will be a key member of PRP’s team advancing the work of local governments protecting civil rights in the face of hostility from the federal government, as well as state governments and private actors. The Staff Attorney will conduct and support case development and research, work with partners, and manage and contribute to various litigation and pre‑litigation activities.

The Litigation Team handles cases in which government clients are both plaintiffs and defendants, in both state and federal courts. This position reports to the Litigation Director and will work closely with members of the Litigation Team and other Program Team staff.

• Independently and as a member of a team, identify opportunities for advocacy and strategize pathways to action
• Represent PRP’s partners in litigation from idea generation through conclusion, including legal and factual development, case pitching, motions practice, discovery, oral argument, client management, coalition engagement, and more
• Conduct legal research and analyze laws across a range of jurisdictions
• Draft, review, edit, and provide feedback on written work product
• Effectively advise government clients, including on legal, political, and justice considerations of potential courses of action
• Participate in regular meetings for the Litigation Team and other crucial strategic meetings and discussions, including ensuring alignment, collaboration, and clear next steps
• Meet with government and non‑government stakeholders
• Synthesize input and feedback from internal and external stakeholders
• Contribute to an innovative, inclusive, and supportive group of advocates

• Licensed to practice law in a jurisdiction of the United States is required
• A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in litigation is preferred. Relevant experience may include clerking, government enforcement, and/or complex civil litigation
• Outstanding writing and editing skills, including drafting and editing complex briefs and legal analysis
• Excellent judgment about both legal issues and strategy
• Strong communication skills, both writing and speaking
• Demonstrated ability to handle aspects of litigation, including at least half of the following: client management, discovery, oral advocacy, brief writing, deadline management, electronic filing, navigating local rules, working with cooperating counsel, and expecting the unexpected
• Strong project management skills and the ability to use electronic tools to coordinate with other team members
• Demonstrated interest in working on issues of federal law, constitutional law, civil rights law, and other relevant legal topics
• Team player who can work with government partners, co‑counsel, community‑based organizations, and other advocates, as well as internal teams
• Demonstrated positive and respectful attitude, ability to work well with diverse people and communities, capacity to show presence, self‑confidence, common sense, and good…