2027 /2028 Legal Fellow

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:

Public Rights Project (PRP) is a national nonprofit organization that helps local government officials fight for civil rights. We build their capacity to protect and advance civil rights, convene and connect them on key issues, and provide legal representation to help them win in court for residents. Since its founding in 2017, PRP has recovered significant financial relief for marginalized people; built a nationwide network of government offices, elected officials, and community-based organizations; trained prosecutors and government lawyers across the country; and secured court victories on rights for abortion, immigrants, workers, and voting. Learn more about our work.

JOB SUMMARY

Public Rights Project seeks to hire two fellows for a one-year fellowship, beginning September 2027. The fellowship is intended for recent law school graduates and lawyers with fewer than three (3) years’ experience, including graduating 3Ls, judicial law clerks, and candidates completing another legal fellowship.  

We are looking for candidates with a belief in the power of state and local government to make positive change in the world and a passionate commitment to economic, racial, gender, and environmental justice. A fellowship at Public Rights Project would be ideal for candidates interested in cutting-edge impact litigation, public service, and creative strategies to advance civil rights, combat federal or state abuses of power, and more. The fellow will have an opportunity to work directly with the Managing Attorney, Litigation Director, Civil Rights Hub Director, Election Protection Hub Director, Staff Attorneys, other Legal Fellows, multiple cities and states across the country, and community and nonprofit partners. The fellow will also have an opportunity to contribute to case generation, development, and strategy; draft comments and amicus briefs; support trainings and technical assistance to local governments; and gain valuable experience in organizational and program design.

The prospective fellow is encouraged to apply for any available external funding sources. PRP will guarantee a designated salary and benefits package, regardless of the external funding amount, and will also work to identify independent sources of funding for the fellowship.

We welcome applicants from all jurisdictions. The position will be based remotely, although some travel may be required.

The application window for this Legal Fellow position will close on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 5:00pm ET. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work on all facets of federal and state court litigation, taking ownership of substantive assignments with guidance from supervising attorneys;
• Conduct factual and legal research and provide guidance and analysis of laws across a range of jurisdictions; 
• Draft, review, edit analytic and persuasive written work product; 
• Participate in advising government clients, including legal, political, and justice considerations of each particular circumstance; 
• Meet with government and non-government stakeholders; 
• Support and potentially lead legal organizing and outreach efforts;
• Help oversee and coordinate the summer law clerk program; 
• Synthesize input and feedback from internal and external stakeholders; and
• Contribute to an innovative, inclusive, and supportive group of advocates. 
• Perform other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• J.D. from a U.S. law school (by Spring 2027);
• Licensed to practice law or applying for a license to practice law in a jurisdiction of the United States; and
• Experience through a judicial clerkship, legal fellowship, clinic, or other litigation-related work.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Excellent research, analysis, and writing skills, including sound reasoning and persuasive written work; 
• Attention to detail and accuracy in case records, supporting evidence, and legal citations;
• Familiarity with legal research databases, such as Westlaw or LexisNexis;
• Eagerness to learn, incorporate feedback, and collaborate with colleagues and clients;
• Passion for social justice and public service lawyering; 
• Curiosity about the role of government to promote social change;
• Ability to work well with others and diverse groups;
• Self-motivation and the ability to structure time effectively; and
• Experience working with underserved communities in and out of the legal context.

APPLICATION MATERIALS

A resume, cover letter, and law school transcript are required to submit an application. An unofficial transcript is acceptable. The application window for this Legal Fellow position will close on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 5:00pm ET. 

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIP

The Legal Fellow will report directly to the Managing Attorney within the litigation team and will have an opportunity to work with other PRP attorneys, multiple cities and states across the country, and community and nonprofit partners. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Requires sitting, talking, listening, reading, and writing for up to 8 hours per day. Certain situations may require lifting items up to 20 pounds. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Fully remote organization and team. This role may require travel a few times a year to PRP events or meetings. We currently have remote staff in Oakland, Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon), and Washington, DC, as well as other cities.

COMPENSATION

The determined salary range for this role is set at $75,000 (for internal equity, PRP can not engage in salary negotiations outside of this range).

PRP HIRING COMMITMENT

PRP is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. A diverse and inclusive workplace, both at PRP and within the government offices we serve, is a key ingredient for achieving our mission of building equitable enforcement capacity within state and local government. 

We aim to assemble a team that reflects the world we live in and the communities we serve with respect to race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and immigration status. People with personal or family experience with the type of harms we seek to combat, including wage theft, predatory lending, fraud, discrimination, and environmental degradation are particularly encouraged to apply.