Have you ever been a victim of the system?
Now and then, we find ourselves complaining about the infringement of our rights, systemic injustices, and lack of proper representation, as well as similar problems.
Furthermore, we care about social and environmental injustices. Most of us make efforts to conduct awareness campaigns and marches. Some of us write blogs about these problems.
However, did it ever occur to us that we could seek counsel from a lawyer regarding them? Are there any such lawyers that help with these issues?
The answer is “Yes”, there are, and they are called public interest lawyers.
Who Is A Public Interest Lawyer?
A public interest lawyer is a legal professional who wants to serve the community and its greater good.
- Moreover, the general idea is that these lawyers help people who can only hire cheap lawyers due to financial limitations.
- Lawyers dealing with public interest are committed to serving the greater good of society.
- Instead of practicing for personal gain, they dedicate their precious time and effort to fight for the rights of US citizens.
In this article, we will discuss the following:
- What is a public interest lawyer?
- What is their role?
- When you can hire them.
- And much more!
Public Interest Litigation: What Is It?
Before we learn about Public Interest Lawyers, we must understand what is Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the first place. To delve deeper, as the name suggests, public interest litigation is the legal action taken by an individual, a lawyer, or an organization to uphold the rights of the public.
A Bit Into Details
- Since these rights are public, the primary objective of this type of litigation is to address the issues bothering the public.
- We file lawsuits when there is an infringement of our rights or rights in general.
- Nevertheless, PIL cases are not the same. Public interest litigation cases are very different from the cases we see daily.
- They hold up the more significant social, public, and environmental concerns rather than personal or criminal rights.
- Did you know you can file a public interest litigation case even if you are not the victim?
History And Evolution Of The Role Of Public Interest Lawyers
Public Interest Litigation started in the United States way back in the 28th century. The Civil rights movements of the 1950s and 60s played a very important role in shaping PIL.
- The movement saw activists, lawyers, students, and citizens take part in challenging social and political corruption.
- Civil rights activists challenged racial segregation, voting restrictions, and other forms of social plagues.
- The earliest record of one of the PIL cases is Brown vs. Board of Education of 1954. In this ruling, the court abolished racial segregation in educational institutions in the US.
- Again, in the 1960s and 70s, the United States saw a number of environmental activists take active steps to challenge the system.
- The lawmakers came up with Major Federal legislation like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. The Natural Resources Defence Council and Earthjustice were a few of the bodies responsible for filing Public Interest Litigation lawsuits to protect the environment.
- Soon, the public became aware. Unsafe products on the market, fraudulent advertisement practices, and other forms of consumer harassment started taking center stage.
- This movement opened the eyes of the lawmakers. They took active steps to ensure consumer protection in the United States.
- Lawyers and legal professionals started to open up Legal Aid clinics. They gave low-cost legal representation to the low-income population group of the United States.
- They were Social Justice Warriors fighting for housing, employment, and equal opportunities.
- Public Interest Litigation has been crucial in addressing issues like Urban Development and fair housing practices. The public interest lawyers fought for equal rights through affordable housing and zoning laws.
- One of the most recent developments in the field of public interest litigation is the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights.
- The case of Obergeffel v. Hodges was a turning point. An advocate of the LGBTQ+ rights movement utilized the provision of PIL to protect the rights of the community.
Thus, it is safe to say that Public Interest lawyers and organizations have, over time, successfully used this democratic weapon (PIL) for the greater good of the community.
How Do Public Interest Attorneys Help Us?
A public interest lawyer has multiple roles and responsibilities. They are dedicated to making the society a better place. They Resort to legal means to fight for the rights of their clients.
What Are The Responsibilities Performed By These Lawyers?
A public interest attorney provides legal representation to his clients. These are clients who are financially challenged and cannot afford to try with attorneys.
So, a public interest attorney will fight for All legal matters, such as:
- civil rights violations,
- immigration disputes,
- housing disputes,
- environmental issues,
- and much more.
Systemic Injustice
A public interest attorney will identify the systemic injustices cells and address them. They are often the people you go to file class action lawsuits against big corporations in fringing you are rights.
Legal Activism
Have you ever seen the government pass a law on an issue after multiple people have suffered? If yes, chances are that public interest attorneys took these efforts to bring about change. They make distinct efforts to bring change in policies, regulations, and laws to address societal problems.
Legal Analogy
A public interest attorney will try and analyze the existing laws to identify the problems in them. There are specific groups of lawyers who are activists. These people raise their voices against proposed or existing laws that are limiting individual rights.
Activist Of The Community
The office of a public interest attorney is a very busy place. You will often see community members, Association heads, and other activists working towards general societal awareness. These are the people who conduct workshops and educate the public on rules, laws, and their rights. Engagement with the community is a big part of the PIL attorney job.
Litigation
Like all other lawyers, whenever litigation is necessary, Public Interest attorneys will engage in it. They will file lawsuits, represent their clients, and advocate for their rights in front of judges and jury members.
Pro Bono
A big part of the public interest attorney job description is pro bono work. These are the attorneys who provide legal services to people who do not have the means to pay for them. They represent clients either free of charge or at very low charges.
Awareness
Public Interest attorneys educate the general public about their rights and responsibilities. They conduct workshops and give out educational material at various community events. They also help out students in need (from the low-income population) who are willing to study law.
Collaborations
Public Interest attorneys collaborate with other lawyers and non-profit organizations to give legal representation to the ones in need.
Policy Changes
The work carried out by public interest attorneys has often led to major policy changes. This only goes on to show that these lawyers ensure that their efforts are leading to good outcomes in society.
Legal Research
Public Interest lawyers often take part in legal arguments and policy proposals. Before any proposed law makes it to Congress, they help gather data and research to back up their proposals. Behind every law that gives you the rights you enjoy today, a group of activists and lawyers fought very hard to enact it.
Help With Grants
Have you heard of public grants? There are Federal grants that the government allows you for various purposes. Public Interest attorneys help nongovernmental organizations get these grants to carry out their good work. They also argue with the government to pass proposals related to financial support to underprivileged organizations.
Execution Of Rulings
In a lot of cases, the court itself asks public interest attorneys to monitor the execution of court decisions and policies. This is especially the case in class action lawsuits where victims are heavily Reliant on the court.
When Should You Hire A Public Interest Lawyer?
Hiring a public interest attorney can serve multiple purposes. They are not your usual lawyers. From representing your court to serving as a member of your NGO, they have a lot under their belt. Their roles are an intersection between social matters and public issues. You can consider hiring a public interest lawyer in these cases.
Are You A Victim Of Civil Rights Violations?
If you have reason to believe that there is a violation of your civil rights, you can address a public interest attorney. Even if the issue seems trivial to you because it has been happening for as long as you can remember, go for it.
Your issue may be instances of discrimination, police misconduct, or someone hampering your freedom of speech. Say it all to your public interest attorney, and they will help you seek justice.
Victim Of Toxic Tort
A public interest attorney can even be a toxic tort lawyer. If you struggle with environmental problems that are causing significant harm to your health or property, they can help you.
The issues can be pollution, toxic waste, or violations of environmental regulations by a company. A public interest attorney will look after the well-being of affected communities and file a PIL to address the issue.
Infringed Rights Of The Consumer
As we talked about previously, if you’ve been harmed by unfair business practices, go see a public interest attorney. If it is a product that is harmful to the masses or fraudulent practices of a business, your public interest attorney will guarantee your rights under the consumer protection laws.
Employee Right Violations
These lawyers address a range of social, political, and economic issues. Wage theft, unsafe working conditions, or workplace discrimination can address it all. However, different public interest lawyers have different areas of expertise. In case of these problems, you must look for a public interest attorney specializing in labor law.
Wrongful Evictions
Did you know that a public interest attorney can even help you out in case of a wrongful eviction? Be it homelessness or housing discrimination, a public interest attorney can help you. They can get you in touch with government welfare programs or NGOs for the troubled.
Specializing In Education Law
Public interest attorneys also specialize in educational discrimination. For example, if a disabled citizen is not getting the help they deserve in school, college, or uni. In these cases, their legal guardians can contact a Public interest attorney. They will go through school policies and lead to the proper execution of the rules and guidelines.
Immigration Issues
Are you facing issues with immigration but don’t have the means to hire a financial attorney? No worries, a public interest immigration lawyer has your back. They assist immigrants and refugees through the complexities of legal matters. Be it asylum claims, legal representation during deportation, or family reunification, they take care of it all.
Healthcare Laws
Millions of Americans struggle with expensive healthcare. They rely on healthcare services from the government for their medical needs. If you are facing issues with getting your rightful access to healthcare, public interest attorneys who have expertise in healthcare law can help you.
Moreover, if you or a loved one is facing criminal charges and don’t have the financial capacity to hire a criminal defense lawyer, a public interest lawyer can help you, too. They can assist you in cases of wrongful convictions or help negotiate for a better prison sentence.
Final Word: What Is The Salary Of A Public Interest Lawyer?
Oftentimes, we find ourselves Googling “Public Interest Lawyer Salary” because, as we know, most of their work is pro bono or free of charge. Now, if you are giving out your services free of charge, how do you support yourself?
Well, it turns out that their average yearly earnings do not vary that much. A report from May 1, 2023, states that the average annual salary of a Public Interest Lawyer in the United States is $69,965. It comes down to $33.64 an hour, $1,345 in a week, or $5,830 in a month. While they do not make as much as legal professionals in other fields do, the respect and blessings they get for all that good work has got to do it!
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