Director of Litigation

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.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Reporting to the Interim Vice President Chief Advocacy Officer the Director of Litigation is charged with providing leadership and direction for Public Counsels impact litigation across its seven legal teams while honoring supporting and amplifying the expertise within each team. The Director of Litigation will work closely with Public Counsels leadership team Senior Special Counsel for Strategic Litigation Directors of Social Work and Pro Bono and eventually a Director of Policy & Coalition Building to promote and guide a cohesive and coordinated approach to high-quality impact litigation across the organization including embedding system-change cohorts within each Director will mentor and support attorneys at all levels of the organization. The Director will also serve as the leader of this role the Director will spearhead groundbreaking litigation arising in part from Public Counsels direct services work. The Director will provide management and strategic direction for OULs dynamic team of 11 advocates including attorneys fellows paralegals and a program manager.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Organization-Wide Litigation Strategy and Leadership

• Collaboratively develops an articulated and coordinated strategic vision and goals to guide Public Counsels impact litigation priorities across issue areas and ensures that this vision is manifest in the organizations work
• Guides and strengthens Public Counsels overall litigation strategy by aligning work across legal teams and embedding system-change approaches within each team
• Coordinates amicus strategies across Public Counsel including identifying amicus opportunities and supervising the drafting and filing of amicus briefs
• Proposes action steps to fill gaps and build capacity for impact litigation that advances Public Counsels mission
• Stays abreast of national state and local legal developments to ensure Public Counsel deploys the most effective strategies to meet its priorities and goals

Management and Leadership of OUL

• Leads mentors and supports OULs attorneys fellows paralegals and program manager fostering excellence collaboration and growth
• Oversees OULs docket and the development of novel or complex legal theories underpinning our cases as well as the related litigation plans and media strategies
• Serves as lead counsel in select pieces of high-profile litigation guiding teams of in-house staff and pro bono counsel through all phases of litigation including investigations discovery motions trial appeals settlements and settlement implementation
• Directly supervises OULs managing attorney program manager and senior counsel including by holding consistent individual check-in meetings supporting their development and providing growth-oriented feedback
• Engages in active and intentional recruiting and hiring for OUL staff and for impact litigators across the organization to attract and retain high-performing employees
• Oversees OULs departmental budget and compliance with grant terms and deliverables

Litigation Development Execution and Technical Expertise

• Collaborates with staff to identify evaluate and develop potential impact litigation matters arising from Public Counsels direct services work and from community needs on the local state and national levels
• Consults on factual investigations legal research case analysis and risk assessments to determine litigation viability
• Provides technical assistance and strategic thought partnership to attorneys throughout the organization at all stages of litigation
• Collaborates with the Vice President Chief Legal Officer to identify litigation training needs and facilitates or conducts litigation trainings
• Collaborates with the Director of Social Work to embed trauma-informed practices and client-centered approaches into litigation

Cross Department Collaboration Partnerships and External Engagement

• Works with the Director of Pro Bono to recruit and support pro bono attorneys engaged in impact litigation and amicus work
• Partners with the communications team and outside media relations firms to craft compelling messaging and elevate the visibility and impact of our active litigation and related campaigns including by representing Public Counsel at conferences trainings and other public-facing events
• Collaborates with the development team to secure grants donations and other support for impact litigation and related advocacy
• Builds and sustains strong relationships with community partners co-counsel coalitions peer organizations and external stakeholders to support coordinated and community-centered litigation
• Collaborates with the information technology team to identify and implement IT platforms and AI-based tools that enhance litigation management and effectiveness

ESSENTIAL JOB SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• At least 15 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)
• Extensive experience developing evaluating and selecting impact litigation and moving strategically and credibly in the face of emerging needs
• Demonstrated ability to conceptualize and refine novel or complex legal theories
• Substantial experience serving as lead counsel in complex high-stakes or multi-party litigation with a strong and creative command of all phases of litigation including 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 appellate filings
• Significant experience with oral advocacy including arguing motions or appeals in state and federal courts
• Experience developing strategic communications and engaging with press and funders
• Significant management and mentorship experience including assembling effective teams and teaching and cultivating the talents of more junior staff with experience in an organization-wide role in the non-profit and legal services sector preferred
• Significant leadership experience and vision foras well as demonstrated commitment toadvancing 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

JOB TYPE AND BENEFITS

• Full-time/exempt
• Salary range is $185000$200000 and commensurate with abilities and experience
• Non-bargaining

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:

• 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
• $45 per pay period for employees who use non-English language skills to perform work duties
• 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

HOW TO APPLY

We value lived experiences and experiences working with clients across a range of settings. Please discuss such experiences in your cover letter especially if they are not reflected in your strongly encourage interested candidates to apply no later than January 22 2026. We plan to start interviewing candidates during the week of February 2 2026. Please submit the following materials:

1. Your cover letter and resume in a single PDF

2. Two writing samples (maximum 25 pages total in a single PDF each with a short explanatory cover page) that reflect your ability to:

• Analyze complex or novel legal issues
• Persuasively advocate in writing
• Communicate clearly to courts clients or partners

Samples may include briefs motions appellate filings or legal memoranda. If you submit co-authored work include a short note describing your role and contributions.

3. Three references including at least:

• One person you supervised
• One person who supervised you

4. A litigation portfolio summary (maximum 2 pages) providing a concise overview of:

• Significant cases you handled (with descriptions of issues posture and outcomes)
• Roles you played (lead counsel co-counsel supervising attorney etc.)
• Types of motions briefs and hearings you handled
• Experience you have had with class actions impact litigation trial work and appellate work

If you are unable to submit any one of these materials through our portal linked below please email it to Erica Garcia at with the subject line: DOL Application Supplement.

PUBLIC COUNSEL VACCINATION POLICY AND COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

Public Counsel requires vaccination against COVID-19 for all employees including new hires. Pursuant to federal and state laws Public Counsel will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs unless doing so would pose an undue hardship.

Public Counsel is generally office-based but remote work was launched during the pandemic. All employees with Public Counsel are now required to work in the office at least one day per week at the discretion of the head of department. Some positions require additional in-office days. This policy is subject to redesign by leadership. Public Counsel will work in a manner consistent with public health and local and state emergency orders.

PUBLIC COUNSEL EEO POLICY

Public Counsel is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate against employees or prospective employees on the basis of union membership or activity race religious creed religious observance ethnicity color gender sex sexual orientation gender identity gender expression genetic information or predisposition military service military and veteran status pregnancy child birth and related medical conditions marital and family status national origin ancestry age medical conditions as defined by state or federal law or disability or any other basis prohibited by law.

All qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

Our leadership team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment hiring placement promotion transfer training compensation benefits employee activities discipline discharge and general treatment during employment.