Public Interest/Non-Profit Jobs

"Public interest” law includes both advocacy on behalf of poor or underserved individuals and legal work on issues of importance to large numbers of people (e.g., illegal discrimination, child welfare, the environment, human rights). Public interest work is performed or supported by a variety of organizations, including charities and other non-profit organizations, foundations, international governmental organizations (IGOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private law firms doing pro bono work, “private public-interest” law firms and the government.

PRACTICING PUBLIC INTEREST LAW

Domestic Organizations

Legal services organizations (Legal Aid, etc.) generally provide direct representation to indigent individuals and families in civil matters before agencies and courts. Some also do community work (organizing, training, advocacy, etc.), as well as impact litigation. The matters these organizations handle vary widely and can include both transactional and litigation work. A non-exhaustive list of the issues typically handled by such organizations includes immigration, bankruptcy, predatory lending, housing, consumer, employment, welfare benefits and family law. (The counterparts to these organizations on the criminal law side are the public defender’s office and appellate advocacy organizations such as the Innocence Project.)

Other domestic non-profit organizations are limited to a certain constituent group (e.g., children, the elderly, abuse victims, certain minority groups) or may focus on litigating specific kinds of issues (e.g., environmental justice, civil rights). Well-known examples of such organizations include Lawyers for Children, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), National Right to Life (NRLC), NARAL Pro-Choice America, Southern Poverty Law Center, Human Rights Watch, the National Organization for Women (NOW) and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Still other public interest organizations focus only on trying to reform the law via lobbying or other legislative and regulatory channels. Many organizations do both client service and law reform work; some examples include the Sierra Club, the Family Research Council and Planned Parenthood.

International Organizations

Organizations that perform international public interest law include:

  • Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) like the World Bank, the Organization of American States, international tribunals, the International Criminal Court and the United Nations.

  • Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) like the Red Cross, anti-trafficking and anti-slavery groups, which partner with governments, although they are not part of the government itself.

Compensation

Most public interest work pays significantly less than private sector work. Larger organizations, with bigger budgets, tend to offer higher compensation packages than smaller organizations. For example, an Executive Director or CEO at a non-profit with a budget over $10 million may earn more than $250,000, while the same job at a small non-profit with a budget of less than $1 million may pay as little as $70,000. (In both cases, the CEO/Executive Director’s fundraising efforts are expected to cover the cost of his or her salary.)

In general, staff attorney jobs at domestic organizations with budgets of less than $1 million range from $40,000 to near $100,000, the latter of which may be earned only after many years on the job. Lawyers who climb their way up to supervisory or management positions in these organizations can often earn in the low six figures.

Qualifications & Experience

Despite their low pay, public interest jobs are fewer in number than the private sector and are, therefore, highly competitive. The attributes and skills that employers look for are the following.

  1. Demonstrated commitment to public interest work. The most important criterion for getting any public interest job is a demonstrated commitment to the work. If you have already done extensive pro bono work, either at your firm or elsewhere, or if you have served on a non-profit board or pro bono committee, that will be helpful. If you have not, consider volunteering for a public interest group (e.g., Public Counsel, Legal Aid) or a similar organization. Volunteer work might lead to a paying job there or elsewhere and is a good way to start developing a background in your targeted field. It also lets you try different types of work (e.g., assisting pro se litigants versus working with community leaders). Public interest law firms’ malpractice insurance usually covers volunteers.

  2. Public interest mindset – “eyes wide open." Public interest employers need to know that lawyers coming from big firms understand what it is like to (a) help non-business clients (especially indigent or mentally ill people); (b) work for little pay and with extremely limited resources (e.g., one copier for 50 people, no IT support); and (c) represent an individual (usually a plaintiff) rather than a large company. The mindset required for public interest work is very different from that required for big firm work, and public interest employers will want to see that you have already made that shift.

  3. Strong legal and related skills. Public interest organizations are leanly staffed, and they do not have the resources for extensive training. It is expected that lateral attorneys already have solid legal skills (e.g., writing, oral advocacy, litigation skills, negotiation skills, client management) and that they will seek out, on their own initiative, any other required skills. Legislative advocacy experience is another skill that is valued by many public interest organizations. One way to gain this experience is to join, and to become actively involved with, a state or county bar association committee that helps review legislation. An aptitude for teaching is another skill that may be valued, depending on the organization. In private practice, lawyers are paid to deliver work product to their clients. In contrast, part of the goal of many public interest organizations is to teach their clients to help themselves and their communities. Therefore, some public interest organizations make a special point to hire lawyers who are patient and skilled at teaching non-lawyers.

  4. Business development and networking skills. Public interest organizations do not want to hire lawyers who are fleeing private practice because they don’t want the pressure to develop business. In fact, candidates who voice an aversion to business development during interviews are often eliminated from consideration for that reason alone. Although public interest work does not generate revenue in the same way that law firms do, lawyers who practice in the public interest area must routinely interface with the community, develop relationships with many different types of private companies (including large companies that partner with or donate to the organization), fundraise, get media attention where appropriate and network.

  5. Foreign language ability. The degree to which foreign language skills are valued depends on the organization’s purpose and constituency. Many organizations serve indigent populations whose first language is not English, so foreign language skills can be quite important. Foreign language ability is also highly valued for international work.

  6. Management and leadership skills. Executive Director/CEO positions require managerial and leadership skills. These include significant amounts of fundraising. Other required skills include creating and managing budgets, managing and supervising employees, interfacing with the board of directors, developing and maintaining relationships with the government and private sector and handling the media and other public relations issues.

EXPLORING PUBLIC INTEREST JOBS

The following is a list of websites and resources that provide a good starting point for a public interest job search. For a more local list of such resources, check with your local bar association or a local law school’s Career Services Office.

 

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