The Pacific Legal Foundation identifies and litigates important legal issues to set landmark precedents that benefit Americans nationwide. Using strategic and principled litigation, communications, and research, PLF battles for freedom in the nation’s capitols, courts, and the court of public opinion. As a national nonprofit law firm, PLF has brick-and-mortar offices in Sacramento, California; Arlington, Virginia; and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, although approximately half of the staff work from home offices across the country. Interns work remotely by default, but they can request to work physically in any of PLF’s offices. Interns are expected to work part time (24 hours per week).

You: An inquisitive, creative, and self-motivated college junior, senior, graduate student, or recent graduate who understands the principles of liberty and wants to advance them. You have strong written and oral communication skills, enjoy external engagement, and are eager to solve problems.

Them: State and federal governments and their agencies that overstep their constitutional authority, impose burdensome regulations, and exercise powers that undermine individual liberty and economic opportunity. These actions affect Americans and industries across the country, threatening freedom, innovation, and constitutional limits on government power.

Us: We fight back. Pacific Legal Foundation is the nation’s first and most successful public interest law firm dedicated to vindicating individual liberty. PLF has an unmatched record in the U.S. Supreme Court, with 18 victories and nearly 200 active cases across the nation.

The Coalitions team extends this work by connecting PLF’s legal and policy expertise with external partners to advance our goals.

There are two verticals of the Coalitions team: Non-Profit Partnerships (NPP) and Private Sector Partnerships (PSP). Non-Profit Partnerships work with other think tanks, foundations, and non-profits to advance our legal and policy priorities and well as manage a grant program. Private Sector Partnerships works primarily with corporations and businesses, trade associations, and industry leaders. This role would work with both verticals but would primarily work with the PSP team.

The private sector relationships we build and maintain give us direct insight into the legal and regulatory challenges facing different industries and help us identify opportunities for PLF to make a difference. Through strategic partnerships, we expand the reach of PLF’s work, develop referral pipelines for potential clients and cases, and identify shared priorities to strategically build policy coalitions. Our goal is to become a preferred legal and policy partner to corporations, trade associations, and their members when government overreach threatens their livelihoods. At PLF, we look for creative, practical ways to make a lasting impact in a constantly changing legal and policy landscape.

As a member of the Coalitions team, you will work across PLF’s departments, including litigation, state and federal policy, strategic research, and communications. You will help maintain industry relationships, research businesses and trade associations to identify potential clients, develop materials that support our work, and coordinate across departments on Private Sector Partnerships initiatives that advance PLF’s mission and vision.

Your specific job duties will likely include:

• Conducting industry, company, and trade association research to support client and case development efforts
• Drafting one-pagers, briefing materials, and other supporting documents for Private Sector Partnerships to use at conferences, meetings, and other external engagements
• Researching relevant conferences, industry trends, and trade associations to identify potential partnership and outreach opportunities
• Organizing and maintaining contact databases, tracking relationship-building efforts, and assisting with spreadsheet updates and other administrative tasks
• Supporting outreach and follow-up with businesses, trade associations, and other industry stakeholders
• Opportunity to travel to select external events (optional)

This role is ideal for someone with:

• A passion for individual liberty, one that transcends private or other political interests

• Curiosity about the law and public policy
• Strong writing, research, and organizational skills
• An interest in a career in public policy, external affairs, coalition-building, or stakeholder engagement
• Attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities

How to Apply

If you think you might be a good fit, submit in ONE PDF:

• A résumé that includes relevant experience in the liberty movement and professional skills.
• A cover letter explaining why PLF is the place for you, why you want to fight for liberty, and what distinguishes you from typical applicants.

Applicants selected for an interview may be asked to provide:

• A writing sample.
• A semester schedule (if taking classes during the internship period).