best public interest law firms

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Types of Advocacy: Civil litigation, THE DWYER LAW FIRM Areas of Specialization: Consumer, criminal, employment/labor, environment, Social Security, sexual violence I like that I am able to take cases that attack inequities in society that wont be challenged otherwise. Other exceptions include the representation of clients such as not-for-profit organizations in defensive actions, including evictions, the protection of first amendment rights, employment matters, and contract disputes.

Description: Firm of about two dozen attorneys that specializes in representing unions in complex litigation. LABATON, SUCHAROW LLP Areas of Specialization: Child (abuse/neglect/welfare), domestic relations, LGBT rights, military, immigration, criminal, first amendment, Cuba travel PEOPLES LAW OFFICE

Public interest firms frequently get their cases by referral from other law firms, public interest agencies, nonprofits, bar associations, or clients. Private public interest law firms are involved in many of the same issues addressed by not-for-profit public interest legal organizations and government agencies but in a law firm setting. Areas of Specialization: Employment/labor, civil rights, low-income housing, Title VII, police misconduct, election law, child welfare, real estate PHILLIPS & COHEN, LLP Areas of Specialization: Criminal defense, antitrust violations, environmental violations, fraud and tax law I have a dream job because I can focus on the cases that I am interested in., Our cases are a million times more interesting [than commercial cases], attorneys get more responsibility, and were on the right side!, The most rewarding aspect of my job is that I can go to my desk and pull out at least 30 cases where I feel that I have really had an impact on something. Hiring: The firm occasionally hires full-time associate attorneys. The lawyers at my firm have religion; they really care about what they do. Areas of Specialization: Consumer/investor, antitrust, securities, corporate mergers Hiring: The firm does not regularly hire new attorneys.

Description: The firm has 12 attorneys and a staff of over 100 across three offices that specialize in personal injury claims.

Types of Advocacy: Individual cases, union representation, appellate, civil litigation. NIELSEN, MERKSAMER,PARRINELLO, GROSS & LEONI, LLP Description: Small civil rights law firm focused on housing discrimination. Areas of Specialization: Labor and employment law, government accountability, civil rights, whistleblowers, environmental law Areas of Specialization: Civil rights/liberties, labor/employment Hiring: The firm does not have a regular hiring schedule for associates. Areas of Specialization: Antitrust, consumer protection, securities fraud, civil rights violations Areas of Specialization: Employment/labor, civil rights/civil liberties, environment SPEAR WILDERMAN, PC

Types of Advocacy: General litigation, appellate, individual and group representation, MINAMI TAMAKI, LLP Similarly, a firm that handles the occasional personal injury case as a means of generating income to subsidize its public interest docket may self-identify as a public interest firm. Types of Advocacy: Mediation, arbitration, case analysis, deposition or trial assistance, witness preparation. SCHWARTZ & POSNOCK As another attorney described his practice, It combines the best of both worlds. Areas of Specialization: Employment discrimination, civil rights/civil liberties, whistleblower

Because every firm is unique in its specific goals and vision, applicants should be sure to use their cover letter to demonstrate that they believe in the firms mission. (See FL for main listing). Description: Represents executives, employees, and management in employment-related matters that may include severance negotiations and discrimination actions. Types of Advocacy: Lobbying,impact litigation, individual cases, MEHRI & SKALET, PLLC Types of Advocacy: Individual cases, class actions, complex litigation, LAW OFFICES OF DAVID J. BERNEY Some firms offering fellowships includeTycko & Zavareei; Gupta Wessler; Kohn, Kohn, and Colapinto; Neufeld Scheck & Brustin; Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman, & Fitch; Sanford Heisler Sharp; Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger; Gibbons Law; Bernabei & Kabat; and Cohen Milstein. Types of Advocacy: Class actions,individual cases, impact litigation. Description:Six attorneys who are exclusively dedicated to the practice of environmental law. Description: The 25+ attorney law firm specializes in government, land use, natural resource, and environmental law. Areas of Specialization: Criminal, immigration, appellate, and civil matters Description: The firm has 36 attorneys and offers a broad range of services for its commercial and individual clients. Firms that pursue more plaintiff-side worki.e., major tort or financial casestend to be bigger than those that do more traditional public interest work. Types of Advocacy: Class action and individual cases. Types of Advocacy: Impactlitigation, individual cases, class action, LAW OFFICES OFCARPENTER & MAYFIELD Areas of Specialization: Energy, environmental law, consumer protection Areas of Specialization: Real estate, labor/employment, antitrust,nonprofit, consumer, securities

Areas of Specialization: Civil rights, constitutional rights, employment, family law, administrative law, prisoner issues

Areas of Specialization: Criminal defense Areas of Specialization: Civil rights/civil liberties, consumer, employment, environment, health, labor, whistleblower/qui tam, personal injury, education The firm is affiliated with the law clinics at Stanford Law School and Harvard Law School. The firm does hire summer associates (1Ls and 2Ls) for both of its offices. Areas of Specialization: Labor/employment, government accountability, legal reform, whistleblowers, civil liberties

However, with that potential comes the responsibility for looking at the economics of every case. Clerkships, fellowships or other legal experience preferred, but not required. Areas of Specialization: Civil rights, election law, police brutality, intellectual property, employment discrimination, criminal defense Interested applicants should contact the firm directly. People are having fun. Description: The firm of nine attorneys specializes in labor and employment law, as well as representing labor organizations. Description: The 25+ attorney firm focuses exclusively on prosecuting or defending socially just actions through civil litigation. Areas of Specialization: False Claims Act, labor & employment, whistleblower, First Amendment Hiring: The firm does not have a regular hiring schedule for attorneys or summer associates. Hiring: The firm does not regularly hire or have a summer associate program. Areas of Specialization: Personal injury, criminal defense, civil rights, racial discrimination medical malpractice, wrongful death, trucking accidents (See WA for main listing). Types of Advocacy: Civil litigation, appellate, innovativeadvocacy, MCDONALD, LAMOND & CANZONERI Types of Advocacy: Individual representation, general litigation, WADDELL & MAGAN, PC Areas of Specialization: Police misconduct, wrongful convictions,civil rights Areas of Specialization: Nonprofit org tax law, election, employment environmental, nuclear safety First, we would like to thank the many attorneys who took the time to be interviewed for and quoted in this Guide. Description: Firm specialized in a range of civil law matters. Hiring: While the firm does not have a regular hiring schedule, it does accept resumes online for attorneys interested in joining as the firm grows. Description: The firms 16 attorneys specialize in a wide variety of civil and criminal defense matters. What is most important in considering a particular firm is to get behind the label to examine what kind(s) of cases the firm handles and whom they represent, and whether these cases and clients fit your own wants and needs. At most such firms, associates will usually be required to work on both kinds of matters. GUPTA WESSLER PLLC Description: This firm of 10+ attorneys advocates for employee, whistleblower, and consumer rights. Types of Advocacy: Class action, enforcement, impact litigation, innovative advocacy, ELLWANGER LAW

Description: With 17 attorneys, the firm is the largest firm in Northern California representing injured employees. Types of Advocacy: Client-oriented litigation, KOOB & MAGOOLAGHAN Types of Advocacy: Individual representation, civil litigation, STOWELL & FRIEDMAN, LTD. Hiring: The firm does not hire new attorneys or summer associates. Description: The firm specializes in class actions related to privacy and technology, mass torts, and consumer fraud. Areas of Specialization: Wrongful termination, employment law, workplace discrimination, labor law, and wage-and-hour Areas of Specialization: Veterans benefits, personal injury, wrongful death, disability insurance, ERISA claims, life insurance, commercial and contract disputes Some firms split their practice so that profit-driven client work can subsidize the public interest docket. Areas of Specialization: Education, criminal, personal injury, medical malpractice, products liability, family

HAGENS BERMAN SOBOlSHAPIRO, LLP Areas of Specialization: Personal injury, malpractice, motor vehicle accidents, products liability law, social security disability, workers compensation law, wrongful death, and premises liability Hiring: The firm does not have a regular hiring schedule; students interested in a summer associate position should contact Ginnie Smithern directly. Interested students should check with the firm in the fall to inquire about the application details, but offers are typically made during the winter. As one lawyer put it, Its not a crazed existence. Another described her work schedule as follows: If I dont have a trial coming up, I might just work one evening a week.

BEASLEY ALLEN LAW Areas of Specialization: Civil rights/ civil liberties, constitution, criminal, disability, family Types of Advocacy: Class action, complex litigation, LAW OFFICES OF PETER ALFERT We asked a number of private public interest firm lawyers for their advice to students interested in career opportunities in public interest firms.

(See CA for main listing). race, gender, religion; also includes sexual harassment), Insurance liability (e.g., bad faith claims), Product liability (e.g.

KOREIN TILLERY,ATTORNEYS AT LAW Type of advocacy: Individualrepresentation, class actions The competitive process is rolling, and interested applicants should send their materials to Tom Goldstein. Approximately three dozen attorneys across the four offices. Applications for the fellowship are online and are due October 15. Treasures collected from around the world, for the world. Areas of Specialization: Litigation, employment or civil rights law, civil rights, personal injury, womens rights

Types of Advocacy: Class action,individual cases, RUDY, EXELROD, ZIEFF &LOWE, LLP Description: Firm specializing in litigating cases on behalf of disabled veterans. Hiring: For students, volunteers are accepted and work-study is available Types of Advocacy: Individual cases, class action, civil litigation, investigations, ADR/mediation. Areas of Specialization: Civil rights/liberties, wrongful convictions, police misconduct, prisoner rights, whistleblower litigation Areas of Specialization: Business visas, green cards, work permits, naturalization and citizenship, employer assistance Areas of specialization: Employment, consumer, criminal defense, personal injury, elderly, discrimination Hiring: The firm does not regularly hire new attorneys and does not hire summer associates. (See TX for main listing). (See D.C. for main listing). Description: Firm representing employees whose rights have been violated in the workplace. Areas of Specialization: Employment/labor, civil rights/civil liberties Types of Advocacy: Individual representation, litigation, BERNABEI & KABAT, PLLC Types of Advocacy: Individual representation, class actions, general litigation. The firms pro bono cases are sent directly from legal aid offices all over Massachusetts. However, very interested students should check with the firm for possible opportunities. (See AL for main office), ZALKIND, DUNCAN & BERNSTEIN, LLP (See MD for main listing.).

At either end of the spectrum of what is purely public interest and what is purely commercial, it is relatively easy to characterize a given firm. SUTIN, THAYER & BROWNE, PC Types of Advocacy: Individual representation, class actions, arbitration, GONZALEZ OLIVIERI LLC (See CA for main listing). GIBBS LAW GROUP LLP Types of Advocacy: Class action, complex litigation, investigations Hiring: The firm does not have a regular hiring schedule for new attorneys. They explain that interest has increased as the field has become larger and more complex, and as law students seek alternative public interest careers (p2). Description: Three attorneys dedicated exclusively to immigration and nationality law. The firm offers a few summer positions to 2L and 3L (pre-clerkship) students. Description: Law firm specializing in business and employment issues. BERMAN TABACCO One way to approach this, which he suggests as practical, not value-laden, is to look at how the firm plans to make its fees. Description: Four attorneys who specialize in employment litigation and discrimination cases. Areas of Specialization: Labor/employment, non-profits, estate planning, real estate

Areas of Specialization: Unpaid commissions, wage & hour, FMLA, whistleblower, sexual harassment, employment discrimination, severance, robocalls, consumer fraud Areas of Specialization: Civil rights, real estate litigation, tenants rights Areas of Specialization: Labor/employment Interested students should contact the firm directly. Description: The three attorneys that work out of the firm focus on workers rights issues. Areas of Specialization: Labor/employment, civil rights/liberties

Types of Advocacy: Civil litigation, appellate, class action, SEARCY, DENNEY, SCAROLA BARNHART, & SHIPLEY, PA Areas of Specialization: Contract and commercial disputes, First Amendment and media law,Constitutional law, consumer, employment, environmental, intellectual property Interested applicants for summer law clerk positions may submit resumes and writing samples to Gerard Waites also at the firms D.C. office on a rolling basis. Hiring: The firm does not have a regular hiring schedule for associates. Types of Advocacy: Individual representation, civil litigation. (See also MA, CA), LABATON SUCHAROW LLP Description: Focuses primarily on housing and real estate issues throughout California. HAGENS BERMAN SOBOL SHAPIRO, LLP A firm that handles court-appointed criminal defense work for indigent clients or represents immigrant workers against sweatshop employers is doing what almost everyone would agree is public interest work. Areas of Specialization: Matrimonial, civil rights of children and families Likewise, the firm typically hires6-8 summer associates (2Ls or 3Ls only). Areas of Specialization: Consumer Class Actions; Whistleblower & False Claims Act; Employment Litigation; Business Disputes; Defamation & First Amendment Litigation; Overtime/Wage and Hour. There is no official test for what establishes a firm as a private public interest law firm. (See NY for main listing). SR HOLGUIN, PC Interested students should check the firms website for updates or contact the firm directly in the late fall or winter. (See NY for main listing). Types of Advocacy: Individual cases, FAIR WORK P.C. WIGGINS, CHILDS PANTAZIS, FISHER & GOLDFARB LLC. CARNEY, JR. & ASSOCIATES My firm is much smaller than a corporate firm and hence has a more personal atmosphere. Description: The 40+ attorney firm is dedicated to the labor movement and aiding workers in civil litigation. Types of Advocacy: Civillitigation, individual representation, WALKUP, MELODIA, KELLY& SCHOENBERGER In contrast to not-for-profit organizations and government agencies, most public interest law firm lawyers also have the potential to receive a bonus in a profitable year. We advise students contemplating working for a private public interest or plaintiffs-side firm to investigate to make sure that they share the mission of the firm that they are considering. Areas of Specialization: Civil rights, employment, estate planning, housing, police misconduct, whistleblower suits, womens rights, tenants rights Description: Three attorneys who specialize in environmental law. Areas of Specialization: Land use, CEQA, historic preservation, endangered species act, coastal act, timber harvesting, NEPA, clean air and water laws, mining and oil drilling laws we look for people who have the ability to handle a lot of pressure and people who are committed to civil rights in a very aggressive way. Likewise, due to the typically smaller nature of many firms, public interest lawyers stress the importance of judging how well an applicant will fit at the given firm; they are also particularly interested in team players and people who can work closely with clients. Description: Over 25% of the practice is dedicated toward providing pro bono legal services to those clients who most need representation. Types of Advocacy: Litigation, administrative advocacy,individual clients, CASCADIA LAW GROUP Types of Advocacy: Civil litigation, appellate, criminal defense, capital defense, POTTER BOLANOS LLC On average, lawyers work 50 to 60 hours a week, with longer hours when on trial. While the firms may take the case in furtherance of a genuine public interest in, say, deterring future negligent conduct or improving public safety, those decisions are frequently infused with an assessment of the economic viability of the case. He says that the distinction should be more functional than looking at the substance of the practice area. Areas of Specialization:Employment, whistleblowers Description:Plaintiffs side firm specializing in high impact and public interest litigation Description: Firm specializing in student loan law and policy. Types of Advocacy: Alternative dispute resolution, class action, impact litigation, client-based, IMMIGRANT LAW GROUP PC Types of Advocacy: Individual representation, union representation, general litigation, negotiation, PAULSON COLETTI TRIAL ATTORNEYS PC

defender. Types of Advocacy: Complex litigation, appellate, individual representation, MUSKOVITZ &LEMMERBROCK, LLC

Description: A group of ten lawyers specializing in fraud and whistleblower retaliation cases across various practice areas. Types of Advocacy: Individual cases, research and publications, document drafting. Hiring: The firm does not have a regular hiring schedule but individuals interested in applying for an associate position should send a resume and cover letter to Kelly Dermody via mail.

(See D.C. for main listing). Description: Firm focused exclusively on employee benefits cases. Alexa Shabecoff, former Harvard Law School and OPIA Assistant Dean for Public Service, provided the original idea for this Guide and contacts, oversight and editorial assistance for all versions of this Guide.