Managing Attorney

ABOUT PUBLIC COUNSEL

Public Counsel is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to advancing civil rights and racial and economic justice, as well as to amplifying the power of our clients through comprehensive legal advocacy. Founded on and strengthened by a pro bono legal service model, our staff and volunteers seek justice through direct legal services, promote healthy and resilient communities through education and outreach, and support community-led efforts to transform unjust systems through litigation and policy advocacy in and beyond Los Angeles.

Public Counsel organizes its work through seven legal teams: Child, Youth & Family Advocacy, Community Development, Consumer Rights & Economic Justice, Homelessness Prevention, Immigrants’ Rights, Education Equity, and our impact litigation team, Opportunity Under Law (OUL).

Public Counsel has a full-time staff of approximately 160. We are committed to building a diverse staff and encourage applications from people of color, people with disabilities, and people of all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexualities. We recognize the essential role of staff in achieving our goals, and we have set a long-term intention to provide competitive compensation, benefits, training, mentorship, and overall workplace wellness, making Public Counsel a leader among nonprofit law firms.

ABOUT OPPORTUNITY UNDER LAW

OUL brings community-based impact litigation to eliminate barriers to opportunity. We represent individuals and communities confronting structural injustice and discrimination In areas like education, housing, and immigration. Many of our cases arise from Public Counsel’s representation of individual clients who face persistent injustices. By working closely with the organization’s direct services programs and across its subject areas, OUL is uniquely positioned to bring meaningful impact cases in California and beyond, work closely with affected communities, and communicate broadly to advance public discourse. Our cases strategically pursue novel claims to address intersectional issues and secure landmark victories in doctrinal areas commonly regarded as off limits for civil rights advocacy.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Reporting to the Director of Litigation, the Managing Attorney provides leadership and management for Public Counsel’s impact litigation team. In partnership with the Director of Litigation, the Managing Attorney helps oversee OUL’s litigation docket and ensures the effective staffing and execution of high-impact cases arising from Public Counsel’s direct services work and community-identified needs. The Managing Attorney supervises, mentors, and supports OUL attorneys, fellows, and interns, fostering a collaborative, growth-oriented team culture and ensuring high-quality advocacy. The role includes responsibility for recruiting, hiring, onboarding, training, supervising, and performance management. The Managing Attorney may serve as lead counsel in select matters and works closely with Directing Attorneys and the Senior Special Counsel for Strategic Litigation to support coordinated cross-team litigation. The position involves OUL program administration, including budgeting, grant compliance, and pro bono engagement, as well as external communications and relationship-building to strengthen the reach and impact of OUL’s work.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Attorney, Fellow & Intern Supervision and Mentorship

• Along with the Director of Litigation, leads, mentors, and supports OUL’s attorneys and fellows, fostering excellence, collaboration, and growth
• Directly supervises OUL’s strategic litigation counsel, staff attorneys, and fellows (currently seven staff total), including by holding consistent individual and group check-in meetings, supporting their development, providing growth-oriented feedback, and conducting formal evaluations
• Along with the Program Manager, organizes and facilitates OUL meetings, retreats, strategic planning, and team-building activities
• Engages in active and intentional recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and training for OUL attorneys and fellows to attract and retain high-performing employees
• Recruits and supervises OUL’s academic year and summer law student interns, and supports the integration of social work interns into the team

Substantive Litigation, Cross-Team Collaboration, and Case Staffing

• Along with the Director of Litigation, oversees OUL’s docket and the development of novel or complex legal theories underpinning our cases as well as the related litigation plans and media strategies
• Collaborates with staff to identify, evaluate, and develop potential impact litigation matters for OUL arising from Public Counsel’s direct services work and from community needs on the local, state, and national levels—including by coordinating quarterly organization-wide system change meetings in four substantive areas (housing, economic justice, immigration, and child, youth & family/education)
• Serves as counsel in select pieces of OUL’s litigation, collaborating with teams of in-house staff and pro bono counsel through all phases of litigation, including investigations, discovery, motions, trial, appeals, settlements, and settlement implementation
• Implements amicus strategies for OUL’s cases, as well as identifying amicus opportunities and supervising the drafting and filing of amicus briefs by OUL
• Along with the Program Manager, administers OUL case staffing to ensure sufficient and equitably distributed case coverage, placing responsibility on staff members for ownership over their cases while supporting manageable workloads for staff retention
• Collaborates closely with Public Counsel’s Directing Attorneys and Senior Special Counsel for Strategic Litigation to ensure clear communication and coordinated staffing for cross-team litigation involving OUL

External Engagement and Program Administration

• Works with the pro bono team to recruit and support pro bono attorneys engaged in OUL’s impact litigation and amicus efforts and to ensure proper pro bono reporting
• Partners with the communications team and outside media relations firms to craft compelling messaging and elevate the visibility and impact of OUL’s active litigation and related campaigns, including by representing Public Counsel at conferences, trainings, and other public-facing events
• Builds and sustains strong relationships with community partners, co-counsel, coalitions, peer organizations, and external stakeholders to support coordinated and community-centered litigation
• Along with the Program Manager, develops, implements, and oversees internal guidelines, resources, templates, and systems to strengthen and maintain the quality and consistency of litigation within OUL
• Engages with the creation and tracking of OUL’s departmental budget and financial administration
• Monitors OUL's grant compliance and deliverables and assists with grant proposals and reporting
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

ESSENTIAL JOB SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• At least 10 years of legal experience
• Juris Doctor degree and a member in good standing of any state bar (if not a member of the State Bar of California, must be prepared to join)
• Significant management and mentorship experience, including assembling effective teams, providing sustained and meaningful supervision, overseeing case assignments, maintaining team morale, and teaching and cultivating the talents of more junior staff
• Significant experience creating, implementing, and sustaining systems and procedures designed to ensure the smooth functioning of legal teams and cases
• Experience in complex, high-stakes, or multi-party litigation, including in overall case management, investigations, pleadings, discovery, dispositive motions, trial work, appeals, settlements, and settlement implementation
• Exceptional brief writing and editing skills, with a record of producing or overseeing top-quality trial and/or appellate filings
• Experience with oral advocacy, including arguing motions or appeals in state and federal courts
• Demonstrated ability to conceptualize and refine novel or complex legal theories
• Experience developing strategic communications and engaging with press preferred
• Leadership experience and vision for—as well as demonstrated commitment to—advancing justice, with experience working in coalition with pro bono co-counsel, policy advocates, and community stakeholders preferred
• Demonstrated commitment to racial and economic justice, and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and in the communities Public Counsel serves
• Experience and comfort working with clients living in poverty, including clients experiencing addiction or mental health issues
• Demonstrated experience with and commitment to trauma-informed legal advocacy
• Ability to work cooperatively across teams, levels, and functions within the organization and to navigate difficult conversations and address conflict effectively
• Excellent judgment and discretion as well as excellent interpersonal, management, and organizational skills that gain and sustain respect internally and with external partners
• Inspiring, decisive, collaborative, transparent, and flexible leadership style
• High levels of emotional intelligence and cultural competency, including being curious, self-aware, cognizant of bias, compassionate, patient, and willing to listen, and having a growth and open mindset

JOB TYPE AND BENEFITS

• Full-time/exempt
• Salary range is $125,000–$142,000 and commensurate with abilities and experience
• Non-bargaining

Public Counsel offers a competitive benefits package including:

• Medical coverage with an option for 100% employer-paid employee and dependent child(ren)’s premiums; buy-up options are available for other HMO and PPO coverage
• Dental and vision coverage
• Option to enroll in a Flexible Spending Account
• Employer-paid life insurance and disability plans

Generous paid time off (per year):

• 15 accrued vacation days that increase to 20 days after 3 years of employment
• 12 accrued sick days that may be used for physical and mental health needs
• 2 personal observance days
• 11 paid holidays plus 2 one-week office closures (during the summer and winter)
• Up to 60 hours of compensatory time per calendar year (for exempt staff only)

Additional benefits:

• 403(b) retirement plan with an elective employee contribution, and after a year of employment a discretionary employer contribution
• Free on-site parking or public transportation reimbursement
• $45 per pay period for employees who use non-English language skills to perform work duties
• Up to 6 months of parental leave
• Organizational and team wellness activities to build team cohesion and camaraderie
• Professional development support and opportunities
• Annual payment of dues for required licenses or certifications (state bar dues for attorneys) and for a mutually agreed-upon professional organization
• Centrally located headquarters in the heart of Koreatown, a vibrant neighborhood with easy access to public transportation, diverse dining options, and cultural attractions

HOW TO APPLY

We value lived experiences and experiences working with clients across a range of settings. Please discuss such experiences in your cover letter, especially if they are not reflected in your resume. We strongly encourage interested candidates to apply no later than February 19, 2026. We plan to start interviewing candidates during the week of March 2, 2026. Please submit the following materials:

1. Your cover letter and resume in a single PDF

1. Two writing samples (maximum 25 pages total in a single PDF, each with a short explanatory cover page) that reflect your ability to:

• Analyze complex or novel legal issues
• Persuasively advocate in writing
• Communicate clearly to courts, clients, or partners

Samples may include briefs, motions, appellate filings, or legal memoranda. If you submit co-authored work, include a short note describing your role and contributions.

1. Three references, including at least:

• One person you supervised
• One person who supervised you

1. A litigation portfolio summary (maximum 2 pages) providing a concise overview of:

• Significant cases you handled (with descriptions of issues, posture, and outcomes)
• Roles you played (lead counsel, co-counsel, supervising attorney, etc.)
• Types of motions, briefs, and hearings you handled
• Experience you have had with class actions, impact litigation, trial work, and appellate work

If you are unable to submit any one of these materials through our portal linked below, please email it to Erica Garcia at egarcia@publiccounsel.org with the subject line: OUL MA Application Supplement.

PUBLIC COUNSEL VACCINATION POLICY AND COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

Public Counsel requires vaccination against COVID-19 for all employees, including new hires. Pursuant to federal and state laws, Public Counsel will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs, unless doing so would pose an undue hardship.

Public Counsel is generally office-based, but remote work was launched during the pandemic. All employees with Public Counsel are now required to work in the office at least one day per week, at the discretion of the head of department. Some positions require additional in-office days. This policy is subject to redesign by leadership. Public Counsel will work in a manner consistent with public health and local and state emergency orders.

PUBLIC COUNSEL EEO POLICY

Public Counsel is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate against employees or prospective employees on the basis of union membership or activity, race, religious creed, religious observance, ethnicity, color, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or predisposition, military service, military and veteran status, pregnancy, child birth and related medical conditions, marital and family status, national origin, ancestry, age, medical conditions as defined by state or federal law, or disability, or any other basis prohibited by law.

All qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

Our leadership team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities discipline, discharge and general treatment during employment.