Full-Time Hybrid Staff Attorney – Small Business and Nonprofit Unit

About Public Law Center

PLC, Orange County's pro bono law firm, works to increase access to justice and provides a voice to the county’s most vulnerable low-income communities. PLC provides free civil legal services through in-house staff attorneys and a vibrant pro bono network of 1,500 volunteer lawyers, paralegals and law students from throughout the county. PLC serves the community by providing counseling, individual representation, community education, and strategic litigation and advocacy in the areas of consumer law, immigration, housing and homelessness prevention, family law, health benefits, veterans’ benefits, and community-based nonprofit organizations and small businesses.

About the role

The Public Law Center (PLC)’s Small Business and Nonprofit Unit (SBNP) is seeking a passionate and energetic attorney to join our team. SBNP provides vital legal services to individuals, small businesses, and other nonprofit organizations on a wide range of transactional matters—from formation through dissolution including conducting initial consultations, responding to client inquiries, and handling follow-up communications. Our work includes entity structuring, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, contract drafting, and general legal counsel on risk management and best practices.

The attorney will manage matters from intake through resolution on a hybrid-optional schedule with at least one day in the office. The ideal candidate  is deeply committed to economic and social justice and enthusiastic about helping underserved entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders access the legal tools they need to not only survive but thrive.

What you'll do

• Conduct client callbacks and intake and continue communication with clients for the duration of their matters.
• Handle matters independently from inception to resolution with supervision.
• Provide direct legal assistance to individuals and organizations in forming small businesses and nonprofits, including choice of entity, formation filings, governance, and tax-exempt applications.
• Draft and review contracts such as memorandums of understanding, commercial leases, vendor contracts, and fiscal sponsorship agreements.
• Advise clients on compliance issues, licensing, risk management, and legal best practices.
• Coordinate referrals to other PLC units as needed to provide holistic legal services to low-income clients.
• Participate in collaborative advocacy efforts in coalition with other legal service providers and community partners.
• Conduct community education presentations to clients, partner agencies, and service providers.
• Oversee volunteer attorneys and law students through training, technical support and general supervision.
• Participate in and help to coordinate legal clinics and workshops.
• Assist with periodic compilation of data related to grant funding.
• Represent PLC at legal networking and community outreach events.
• Full time position with occasional evening and weekend work required.
  
  

Qualifications

• Active membership in the California State Bar or Bar Membership pending or eligibility to practice under State Bar Multijurisdictional Practice Program.
• Excellent oral/written communication skills.
• Strong public speaking skills and ability to communicate with a variety of audiences, from clients, community members to pro bono attorneys.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and work independently and as part of a team.