Nonprofit Organizations / Public Interest Jobs
Legal Services - These organizations represent indigent clients in civil proceedings, involving, for example, housing, welfare, social security, and family law. They may be defined by geographical area - e.g., Legal Services of Northern California- or by a particular group - immigrants, the disabled, and the elderly.
Public Interest Law Centers/Advocacy Organizations - These organizations are concerned with law reform and class action litigation in specific areas such as employment discrimination, housing, civil rights, and the environment. They may be local, national, or international. Work may include - community organizing, legislative advocacy, drafting legislation, appellate advocacy.
Other Nonprofits - These include labor unions, NGOs (non-governmental agencies, sometimes based in other countries), social action organizations and other nonprofits. In addition to staff attorneys, many will employ at least one attorney to serve as in-house counsel, doing a broad range of day-to-day legal activities. They may be local, national or international.
For non-profit public interest employers in California, see below:
