Legal and Administrative Assistant

The Public Interest Law Project (PILP) seeks a legal assistant to support our legal and administrative team. We are looking for a detail-oriented, organized, and collaborative colleague committed to our mission and enthusiastic to play a critical role in pursuit of PILP’s mission. 

Since 1996, PILP has provided crucial litigation and advocacy support to local legal services and public interest law programs throughout California. Responding to the elimination of federal funding for state and national legal services support centers, PILP was established to ensure that local legal services programs could continue to participate in major litigation and advocacy on behalf of low-income people.

Today, PILP is one of California’s premier legal services support centers and works to advance racial and economic justice for and in partnership with low-income communities and communities of color by building the capacity of legal services organizations through impact litigation, trainings, publications, coalition building, and systemic advocacy. Our current priorities include work to increase and preserve affordable housing; fight displacement; eliminate discriminatory zoning; support unhoused communities; prevent homelessness; and expand access to public benefits, income support, and supportive services. 

Position Summary: 

The Legal and Administrative Assistant will provide support to our legal and administrative teams involving the full breadth of support staff activities, including administrative work, fundraising, communications, scheduling, document preparation and management, and assisting attorneys with preparing for civil litigation, trainings, and publications.  

Responsibilities will include: 

Administrative Support to Attorneys 

• Contribute to fact and cite-checking, document formatting, and other essential administrative tasks on PILP’s litigation and advocacy matters 
• Performing legal and data research as needed 
• Help prepare and file pleadings and discovery requests  
• Assist in coordination and materials production for trainings and other special events 
• Organize and manage case files, including developing and maintaining electronic case and document databases 

Administrative Support on Fundraising, Communications, and Special Projects 

• Assist with annual appeal letters and managing donation database  
• Support with communications, including posting to website and social media 
• Other administrative and program support items as assigned and special projects, including providing coverage for other roles as needed 

Administrative Support to Executive Director (10% FTE) 

• Assistance with scheduling and calendaring events both internally and externally 
• Assistance with executing and filing contracts and maintaining documents  
• Other administrative items as assigned 

Salary range: $58,000 - $66,000 depending on experience. This is a non-exempt hybrid position, based on a 35-hour full-time work week. PILP offers an excellent benefits package, including liberal vacation and leave policies, fully employer-paid medical, dental and life insurance benefits, including for dependents, a $1500 self-insurance health reimbursement policy, and a generous employer-contributed retirement plan ranging from 10% to 15% of salary that fully vests after three years. 

Although the majority of PILP staff currently work primarily remotely, all staff must be prepared and available to provide in-person services as business needs dictate. For this position, given the need to file and store documents in our Oakland office, the ability to work a minimum of once a week in person at our Oakland office will be required. 

How to Apply 

This position is open until filled, with priority given to applications received by June 30, 2025. Please upload a cover letter, resume, and list of three professional references. We value lived and diverse experiences; your cover letter should reflect how your identity and background have prepared you to work for PILP and support our mission. You may also send the documents as attachments to hiring@pilpca.org. 

Note: All positions are subject to funding; ongoing funding or employment cannot be assured. 

The Public Interest Law Project 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. 

Desired Qualifications  

• Associate or bachelor's degree preferred 
• At least two years’ legal experience, litigation experience preferred 
• Ability to prepare and edit legal documents under attorney supervision 
• Knowledge of OneLegal, TrueFiling, and similar e-filing systems 
• Outstanding organizational skills 
• Experience with data collection and creating reports 
• Demonstrated commitment to racial and economic justice, and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and in the communities PILP serves 
• High levels of emotional intelligence and cultural competency, including being curious, self-aware, cognizant of bias, empathetic, patient, and willing to listen, and having a growth and open mindset 
• Detail-oriented and demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks, set and respond to changing priorities, and flexibility to work independently and collaboratively 
• Excellent word-processing and computer skills, including proficiency with Adobe and Microsoft Office Suite 
• Familiarity with Salesforce databases and other cloud-based systems and/or aptitude for quickly learning new technology and software systems and ability to troubleshoot basic issues independently 
• Strong interpersonal skills, demonstrated ability to collaborate with internal and external teams to produce results 
• A self-starter

Equivalent education or experience can be substituted for all minimum qualifications.