Temporary Consumer Rights & Economic Justice Fellow

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 operates eight legal projects: Child Youth & Family Advocacy, Community Development, Consumer Rights & Economic Justice, Homelessness Prevention, Immigrants’ Rights, Veterans’ Advancement, Gender Justice, and our impact litigation project, Opportunity Under Law.

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 CONSUMER RIGHTS & ECONOMIC JUSTICE (CREJ)

Public Counsel’s Consumer Rights & Economic Justice (“CREJ”) Project is one of the oldest projects within Public Counsel. Our mission is to advance economic justice, with a specific focus on addressing structural racial inequalities that have long hampered individuals and communities of color. We provide legal counsel for, and advocacy on behalf of low-income individuals and their families, addressing inequalities in bargaining power, opposing those who take advantage of the vulnerable, and holding wrongdoers accountable.

We are a diverse team of dedicated and nationally-recognized attorneys and support staff who strive to lift up our clients and each other with excellence, dedication, tenacity, compassion and kindness.

JOB SUMMARY

The Temporary Consumer Rights & Economic Justice Fellow will primarily focus on advocating for low-income borrowers in a range of student loan matters, including issues related to for-profit schools, assisting borrowers with applications for federal student loan forgiveness, cancellation, and discharge programs, defending borrowers in private student loan collection cases, and representing borrowers pursuing student loan discharges in bankruptcy. The Fellow will also support the broader work of the Consumer Rights & Economic Justice Project as needed. The Temporary CREJ Fellow will deliver direct legal services, lead community education efforts, and contribute to systemic advocacy, working closely with the Supervising Attorney and the broader CREJ team. Comprehensive training and ongoing support will be provided.

Reporting to the Supervising Attorney, the Temporary CREJ Fellow will:

• Maintain a caseload of direct legal services matters, with a primary focus on student loan issues, while remaining available to assist with other consumer-related cases as needed;
• Develop educational materials and deliver community presentations and workshops;
• Advance systemic change by contributing to policy advocacy, impact litigation (as appropriate), and other strategic efforts under the guidance of the Supervising Attorney;
• Engage in community outreach and collaborate with legal services providers, community-based organizations and other stakeholders to ensure our work is informed by and responsive to community needs;
• Assist with grant reporting, data collection, and outcome tracking for our work;
• Participate in regular trainings & attend conferences; and
• Other duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL JOB SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Juris Doctor degree and 0-1 years of experience, or registered for the July 2025 California State Bar Exam;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Desire to learn as well as share knowledge with other team members;
• Ability to work well independently and as part of a team;
• Experience and/or desire to work with individuals of diverse cultural, racial, geographic, and economic backgrounds;
• Attention to detail;
• Strong organizational, and time management skills;
• Spanish-language fluency desirable; and
• Commitment to economic, racial, social justice and the mission of Public Counsel.

JOB TYPE AND BENEFITS

• Full-time/ exempt
• Salary for an attorney with 0-1 years of experience is $75,000. The salary will increase by a set step effective October 1, 2025 to $77,000.
• Non-Bargaining
• Position to be staffed on a temporary basis until May 29, 2026, unless otherwise extended.

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:

• 37.5 hour work week for all full-time employees
• 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
• 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