Staff Attorney

Public Rights Project is looking for a skilled and dynamic attorney who is passionate about the power of local democracy to advance racial and economic justice. As part of a new partnership, the Staff Attorney will lead the Local Solutions Support Center’s Legal Team, which works to reframe and respond to the misuse of state interference in local policy making to promote equity, inclusion, justice, and civic participation.

ABOUT PUBLIC RIGHTS PROJECT AND LOCAL SOLUTIONS SUPPORT CENTER

Public Rights Project (PRP) is a non-profit organization (fiscally sponsored by the Tides Center) that catalyzes equitable enforcement and impactful initiatives by state, local, and tribal governments. Our mission is to bridge the gap between the promise of our laws and the lived experiences of marginalized groups. We work to transform the way that these agencies enforce and protect the rights of their residents by operating at the intersection of community organizing and government practice.

PRP’s Legal Team furthers the organization’s mission by representing local governments in litigation (PRP recently filed a case as co-counsel to the cities of Portland and Oakland to challenge federal overreach); placing and training fellows in state, local, and tribal governments to do affirmative litigation and equitable enforcement; organizing and writing amicus briefs on issues ranging from immigration, reproductive justice, housing, and more; and publishing guides and public writing on equitable enforcement. 

PRP has launched a new partnership with Local Solutions Support Center (LSSC) to support efforts to counter the abuse of state preemption (when states prohibit local regulations around a particular issue area) and strengthen local democracy. LSSC is a national hub for this work and its goals are to counter the misuse of preemption and raise awareness of its consequences, reduce the use of this threat to local autonomy, and strengthen the power of local governments to advance policies that promote equity, inclusion, justice, and civic participation. In particular, state preemption has stifled local efforts to make progress racial and economic equity, including workers’ rights, LGBTQ rights, environmental protections, police reform, public health, broadband, local fiscal issues, and more. LSSC legal team is composed of consultants, partner attorneys from the Defending Local Democracy campaign of A Better Balance, and a panel of leading local government legal scholars.

ABOUT THE STAFF ATTORNEY ROLE

PRP is hiring a Staff Attorney who will have the unique opportunity to lead its new partnership with LSSC. The Staff Attorney will serve as the Legal Team Lead for LSSC and will be responsible for developing and driving LSSC’s legal strategy while overseeing and producing myriad legal products and resources. The Staff Attorney will also be integrated as a core member of PRP’s Legal Team and involved in litigation efforts and research to support our government partners and strategic issue priorities. Approximately two-thirds of the Staff Attorney’s time will be dedicated to the partnership with LSSC. 

The salary range for this position is between $90,000 and $110,000, and is based on the number of years of relevant legal experience as well as other qualifications.

The job is full-time, and location is flexible.

GENERAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Representing LSSC and PRP with state and local government attorneys, policymakers, partner organizations, advocates, funders, and other stakeholders
• Finding and leading opportunities for connection between the work and strategic priorities of LSSC and PRP 
• Engaging in public education speaking as well as including leading or participating in webinars and other online forums to deliver content and analysis to LSSC and PRP partners as well as other stakeholders 

 LSSC Legal Team Lead-specific duties

• Prioritizing, managing, and reviewing work product for the LSSC legal team, which is comprised of consultants, partner attorneys, and a panel of local-government legal scholars
• Providing technical assistance and legal analysis to local government partners and state campaign advocates and partnering with LSSC’s state campaign team members to ensure state and local legal technical assistance is integrated into state campaign plans. 
• Convening weekly LSSC legal team meetings, including setting and distributing agendas, work plans, and relevant materials
• Producing high-quality legal guides and other public-facing materials that enable LSSC and its partners to engage in affirmative and defensive work to counter preemption and strengthen local democracy
• Monitor legal team capacity and identify gaps and needs to inform budgeting and resource allocation
• Coordinate, monitor, and report on the work of LSSC’s legal team members
• Participate in LSSC’s ongoing work to center race and deepen our ability to incorporate anti-racism efforts into our work
• Support LSSC’s efforts to fundraise by contributing to reports and funder briefings.

 PRP Staff Attorney-specific duties

• Litigating in state and federal courts, with a focus on research and writing to support a robust amicus practice, and developing creative litigation theories and strategies for government-driven impact litigation
• Producing high-quality legal guides and public writing on strategic issues priorities for PRP to guide government partners and advocates

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• J.D. degree
• Appropriate bar membership permitting legal practice in the jurisdiction where they are based 
• A demonstrated commitment to racial justice and public interest law
• A demonstrated ability to foster and contribute to multiple collaborative team environments, as well as the ability to work independently 
• Excellent legal research, analysis, and writing skills and demonstrated ability to provide critical feedback to less experienced attorneys and law students to produce high quality legal work product
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Excellent project management skills and demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
• Strong supervisory skills, with the ability to provide effective guidance and feedback for other staff as well as interns involved in projects and deliverables

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• At least 5 years of experience practicing law
• Demonstrate a passion for and commitment for the missions of PRP and LSSC, particularly a commitment to racial justice and understanding how racial justice connects to misuse of state preemption and state and local government affirmative litigation 
• Familiarity with state and local government law and preemption 
• Management experience, with a focus on successful delegation and feedback

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Requires sitting, talking and listening for up to 8 hours per day. Certain situations may require lifting items up to 20 pounds. Position requires the ability to travel by car or plane for local and national travel up to 30 days per year (once we are able to travel again pursuant to public health guidelines).

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Public Rights Project is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. A diverse and inclusive workplace, at PRP within the government offices we serve, and at LSSC is a key ingredient for achieving our collective missions.

We aim to assemble a team that reflects the world we live in and the communities we serve, including with respect to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, 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.