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

Public Counsel

Latest Jobs

Managing Attorney