Nonprofit & Advocacy Law: What to Know & Top Programs

Whether you're passionate about social justice, civil rights, environmental protection, or community organizing, nonprofit and advocacy law offers a meaningful path to make a lasting impact. This unique legal field focuses on helping mission-driven organizations navigate complex legal frameworks, advocate for change, and serve the public good. From forming and managing nonprofits to litigating for systemic reform, advocacy lawyers play a critical role in shaping a more just and equitable society.

In this article, we’ll break down the kinds of work involved in nonprofit and advocacy law and why it matters. We'll also highlight some of the top law schools that offer strong programs, clinics, and opportunities in this area. If you're considering turning your passion into a legal career, this is a great place to start.

What Is Nonprofit and Advocacy Law?

Nonprofit and advocacy law is the practice of using legal skills to serve mission-driven organizations, advance social justice, and influence public policy. Lawyers in this field often advise nonprofits on compliance, governance, and tax matters, but just as often, they’re litigating impact cases, drafting legislation, or working inside advocacy groups to protect civil rights, expand healthcare, reform education, or fight climate change.

This area of law spans multiple roles and settings, including:

• In-house counsel at 501(c)(3) organizations
• Policy advisors or legal strategists at advocacy nonprofits
• Litigators at public interest law centers
• Foundations or philanthropic legal teams
• Lawyers at hybrid orgs like B Labs or community benefit entities

If you're looking to align your career with values like equity, service, or systemic change, nonprofit and advocacy law offers a structured, sustainable path to do just that, with room to specialize, scale, and lead.

Quick Comparison: Top Law Schools for Nonprofit & Advocacy Law

Top Law Schools for Nonprofit and Advocacy Law

Many top law schools have strong public interest infrastructures, but some go above and beyond when it comes to nonprofit, advocacy, and social justice law.

What are the best law schools for nonprofit and advocacy law?

Top schools include Harvard, NYU, Berkeley, Yale, Stanford, UCLA, and Georgetown. These schools offer strong public interest clinics, nonprofit law courses, and generous summer funding and loan repayment for students pursuing advocacy careers.

Harvard Law School

• Course: Non-profit Organizations and Law
• Instructors:
  • Martha Minow
  • Sridhar Prasad
• Areas of Interest
  • Administrative and Regulatory Law
  • Tax Law and Policy
  • Trusts, Estates, and Fiduciary Law

Nonprofit and advocacy law focuses on using legal tools to advance social justice, support underserved communities, and influence public policy. Practitioners in this field often work with or within nonprofit organizations, engaging in activities such as impact litigation, policy advocacy, and direct legal services.

HLS offers extensive resources and programs to support students pursuing careers in nonprofit and advocacy law:

• Bernard Koteen Office of Public Interest Advising (OPIA): Provides specialized counseling, resources, and programs tailored to public interest career paths.
• Public Interest Career Resources: An extensive website with a wealth of career guides, templates, timelines, FAQs, podcasts, videos, and more to assist with researching, networking, and applying for public interest opportunities.
• Summer Public Interest Funding (SPIF): Offers guaranteed funding for students undertaking unpaid public interest internships during the summer.
• Low Income Protection Plan (LIPP): Provides loan repayment assistance for graduates working in relatively low-paying public interest jobs.

HLS's curriculum includes courses and clinics that provide hands-on experience in nonprofit and advocacy law:

Non-Profit Organizations and Law Course: Taught by Professors Martha Minow and Sridhar Prasad, this course explores the legal framework governing nonprofit organizations, including tax law, fiduciary duties, and regulatory compliance.

Clinical Programs: Students can participate in clinics such as the Legal Services Center, which offers opportunities to work on real cases involving housing, family law, and consumer protection.

Read: Harvard Law School: Program and Application Overview

Stanford Law School

• Course: Entrepreneurship Clinic: Clinical Coursework
• Instructors:
  • Bernice Grant
  • Monica Pelayo

Stanford’s Entrepreneurship Clinic gives students hands-on experience advising low-income entrepreneurs, social enterprises, and nonprofit organizations on corporate legal matters. As part of this full-time clinic, students work directly with real clients on issues like entity formation, governance, contracts, and intellectual property, while also leading legal workshops for underserved founders. It’s ideal for students interested in corporate law, transactional practice, or using business law to drive economic justice and social impact.

Read: Stanford Law School: Acceptance Rates, Deadlines, & How to Get In

Yale Law School

• Courses and Clinics
  • Community and Economic Development Clinic
  • Environmental Justice Clinic

Public Interest Resources:

• Arthur Liman Center for Public Interest Law: Offers fellowships and supports students pursuing public interest careers.
• Public Interest Law Center: Provides career counseling, summer funding, and hosts events focused on public interest law.

Yale Law School's commitment to public interest is evident through its extensive clinical programs and dedicated centers that support students aiming to make a societal impact.

Read: How to Get Into Yale Law School

New York University (NYU) School of Law

• Courses and Clinics:
  • Brennan Center Public Policy Advocacy Clinic
  • Civil Rights and Racial Justice Clinic
  • Education Advocacy Clinic
• Public Interest Resources:
  • Public Interest Law Center (PILC)
  • Root-Tilden-Kern Public Interest Scholarship

NYU Law's robust public interest infrastructure supports students through a combination of practical experience and financial assistance, fostering a strong community of future public interest lawyers.

Read: NYU School of Law: A Comprehensive Overview and Guide

University of California, Berkeley, School of Law

• Courses and Clinics:
  • Policy Advocacy Clinic
  • Samuelson Law, Technology & Public Policy Clinic
• Public Interest Resources:
  • Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice
  • Public Interest and Social Justice Certificate

Berkeley Law's emphasis on social justice and public interest is reflected in its diverse clinics and dedicated centers, providing students with opportunities to engage deeply with community-focused legal work.

Read: University of California-Berkeley School of Law: Program and Application Overview

Georgetown University Law Center

• Courses and Clinics:
  • Social Enterprise & Nonprofit Law Clinic
  • Community Justice Project
  • Center for Applied Legal Studies
• Public Interest Resources:
  • Office of Public Interest and Community Service (OPICS)
  • Public Interest Fellows Program

Georgetown Law's extensive clinical offerings and dedicated public interest support structures make it a leading institution for students aiming to serve the public good through legal avenues.

Read: Georgetown University Law Center: Program and Application Overview

UCLA School of Law

• Courses and Clinics:
  • Community Economic Development Clinic
  • Immigrants' Rights Policy Clinic
  • Human Rights Litigation Clinic
• Public Interest Resources:
  • David J. Epstein Program in Public Interest Law and Policy
  • Office of Public Interest Programs

UCLA Law's commitment to public interest is demonstrated through its specialized programs and supportive infrastructure, preparing students to become leaders in social justice advocacy.

Read: How to Get Into UCLA Law

Where Can This Path Take You?

A JD in nonprofit or advocacy law opens the door to a wide range of high-impact roles across legal, policy, and nonprofit sectors. Whether you’re drawn to litigation, systemic reform, or organizational leadership, this path offers meaningful, mission-driven work with real societal impact.

Here are just a few directions graduates often take:

Civil Rights and Impact Litigation

Many graduates go on to work at organizations like the ACLU, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, or Lambda Legal, using litigation to challenge systemic injustice, defend constitutional rights, and shape case law around racial equity, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration, policing, and more.

Policy, Advocacy, and Think Tanks

Lawyers also play crucial roles in shaping legislation and public policy. Graduates often join policy-focused nonprofits or legal think tanks like the Brennan Center for Justice, Center for Reproductive Rights, or Education Law Center, helping draft laws, conduct legal research, and advocate for reform at the local, state, or federal level.

Legal Counsel for Mission-Driven Organizations

Some become in-house counsel at nonprofits, foundations, or hybrid entities like 501(c)(3)s, B corps, or fiscal sponsors, advising on compliance, governance, employment law, and nonprofit regulations. These roles combine legal expertise with strategic leadership in service of a social mission.

Environmental and Climate Justice

For those passionate about sustainability, organizations like Earthjustice, NRDC, or Sierra Club offer the chance to litigate environmental protection cases, fight for environmental justice in underserved communities, and influence regulatory policy on climate and energy.

Entrepreneurship and Movement Lawyering

Many graduates go on to launch their own nonprofits, community justice initiatives, or legal collectives. Others join local grassroots organizations where they act as embedded “movement lawyers,” supporting organizing efforts with legal strategy and protection.

Bottom line

A career in nonprofit and advocacy law is dynamic, diverse, and deeply rooted in real-world impact. Whether you're in court, at the Capitol, or inside a nonprofit boardroom, you'll be using your legal training to drive change that matters.

Choose the Best Law School for You with Help from an Expert

A career in nonprofit and advocacy law allows you to serve your local communities in unique and specialized ways. Your work will help influence public policy and change social outcomes for the better. It all starts with finding a law school program that can grant you the education and experience you’ll need to succeed in your field, but you don’t have to get through this part of the process alone.

Working with a law school admissions coach, you’ll receive expert one-on-one guidance when selecting and applying to the best law schools for you.

Read next:

• T14 Law Schools: Acceptance Rates & Class Profiles
• How to Get Into a T14 Law School
• How to Write a Powerful Personal Statement for Your Law School Applications
• Part-Time Vs. Full-Time JD Programs
• How Many Letters of Recommendation for Law School: A Comprehensive Guide

FAQs

Can law firms be nonprofits?

• Yes, some nonprofit law firms do exist, typically structured as tax-exempt organizations under IRS rules. These firms often focus on public interest work, civil rights, or representing underserved communities. They usually operate as 501(c)(3) public charities or social welfare organizations, and their missions must align with the tax-exempt status requirements.

How much do nonprofit lawyers charge?

• Many nonprofit lawyers work for organizations offering free or low-cost services. Those in private practice serving nonprofits may charge reduced hourly rates or flat fees depending on the client’s size and budget. General legal needs, like nonprofit incorporation, corporate governance, and the tax exemption process are often priced differently than complex matters like joint ventures or intellectual property issues.

Do lawyers make $500,000 a year?

• Yes, but usually not in the nonprofit arena. Lawyers at large corporate firms, especially partners at Magic Circle or elite U.S. firms can exceed $500K annually. In contrast, attorneys in nonprofit law or public interest roles earn significantly less, though some senior roles like general counsel or managing attorney at major foundations or nonprofits can offer competitive compensation, especially with experience.

What are the magic 4 law firms?

• The term "Magic 4" isn't commonly used, but “Magic Circle” refers to five elite London-based law firms. In the U.S., equivalents might include firms like Cravath, Skadden, Sullivan & Cromwell, and Wachtell, which are known for their high-profile corporate work, not for representing tax-exempt organizations or other nonprofits.

What kind of lawyers work for nonprofits?

• Lawyers in the nonprofit sector come from various backgrounds. Some are generalists, handling governance, compliance, and regulatory challenges, while others specialize in areas like tax law, intellectual property, or employment law. Many serve as general counsel or work in policy advocacy, providing practical solutions to pressing legal and strategic issues faced by public charities, private foundations, and social enterprises.