Overview

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: Children’s Rights, Community Development, Consumer Rights & Economic Justice, Homelessness Prevention, Immigrants’ Rights, Veterans’ Rights, the Audrey Irmas Project for Women & Girls’ Rights, and our impact litigation project, Opportunity Under Law. 

Public Counsel has a full-time staff of over 150. 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.

 

ABOUT WGR

The Audrey Irmas Project for Women & Girls’ Rights (WGR) is one of Public Counsel’s eight legal projects focused on advancing gender justice for women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals. Founded in 2017, the project engages in direct legal services, impact litigation, and policy work at the intersection of race, poverty and gender. WGR has primarily focused on advocating on behalf of low-wage workers and students who face gender-based discrimination and violence at work and educational institutions. WGR’s direct services work includes: (1) a weekly workplace rights advice clinic; (2) direct representation in litigation and administrative proceedings involving discrimination and/or harassment in the workplace; wrongful termination; wrongful denial of   wages, leave and/or other employment benefits; and (3) direct representation in Title IX complaints of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and/or sex discrimination in higher education. 

 

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Directing Attorney, the Senior Staff Attorney will:

  • Provide trauma-informed legal services to WGR’s clients, focusing on the areas of workplace justice and Title IX. Direct services will include providing clients with legal advice and representing clients in administrative and litigation matters;
  • Prepare and present “Know Your Rights” trainings for community partners and members; 
  • Support WGR’s policy reform efforts at the local, state, and federal level;
  • Participate in coalitions with community partners and stakeholders to advance our policy advocacy;
  • Participate in impact litigation as needed; 
  • Work with social work team members to ensure clients have access to needed supports;
  • Assist with program development by helping to draft grant reports;
  • Work with and provide technical assistance to pro bono volunteers as needed;
  • Mentor and help supervise law clerk volunteers; and
  • Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

     

ESSENTIAL JOB SKILLS AND ABILITIES

  • Juris Doctor degree and admission to California bar;
  • A strong background in employment and/or civil rights litigation is necessary;
  • At least 6 years of litigation experience;
  • Experience   and/or desire to work with individuals of diverse cultural, racial, geographic, and economic backgrounds, including individuals with a history of trauma; 
  • Excellent organizational, case management, and analytical skills; 
  • Ability to be detail-oriented, multi-task, set priorities, and work independently, but in close coordination with other staff;
  • Ability to communicate in an empathetic and professional manner with supervisor, team members, and clients;
  • Commitment to gender justice, social justice, and the mission of Public Counsel.
  • Creative problem-solving skills;
  • Experienced with trauma-informed legal practice;
  • Interest in working in a multidisciplinary environment; and
  • Fluency in Spanish, Tagalog, Mandarin, Korean, or Armenian is a plus.