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2020 | Winter Issue

Playbook

Here's what it takes to win against the government in court.

Legal precedent changes slowly, by increments. Good public interest lawyers must therefore be persistent.

— Larry Salzman, Pacific Legal Foundation

what’s inside

Four Steps to Set Precedent in the Nation’s Highest Court

Steven D. Anderson

On February 5, 2017, Tom Brady marched the New England Patriots down the field in overtime, scored the game-winning touchdown, overcame a 25-point deficit, and won Super Bowl LI. That day proved one thing: Great offense wins games. In public interest law, going on offense means winning the right cases to establish important legal precedent on your issues. But winning those cases doesn’t happen by accident. It takes organizational strategy, dedicated attorneys and clients, and an ability to adapt and adjust when the plan falls apart.

Quarterback for a Day: Reminiscing on Oral Arguments at the Supreme Court

Steven D. Anderson

What is actually like to deliver a Supreme Court oral argument?

The Achieve-Extend-Entrench Model for Embedding Liberty Deep in the Law

James S. Burling

Fighting legal battles against the government can feel like David versus Goliath.

Attorney’s 18-Year Fight Against Williamson County Is Finally Rewarded

Nathaniel Hamilton

Dave Breemer is a senior attorney at Pacific Legal Foundation who surfs in his free time and greets you with a cheerful “what’s up dude.”

President Trump Signs Executive Order with PLF Client Andy Johnson

Nathaniel Hamilton

In 2013, Andy Johnson built a stock pond on his Wyoming property to provide safer, more reliable access to water for his small herd of cattle. The pro-liberty public interest law movement was born out of a need to combat the escalating creep of government into people’s lives.

The Unlikely Rise of the Pro-Liberty Legal Movement, Explained

Steve Simpson

Vince Lombardi once said, “The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.”

Progressive Magazine Boldly Accuses PLF of Doing Public Interest Law

Larry G. Salzman

A recent article by The Intercept described, in worried tones, the case of Cherk v. County of Marin.

Not-So-Funny Money: Why the Left Attacks Our Donors

Chad Wilcox

“Who funds you?” This is a question that I, and many staff members of public interest law firms and mission-driven nonprofits, encounter frequently.
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Sword&Scales is a quarterly magazine with in-depth stories about liberty, equality, and justice. Published by Pacific Legal Foundation, a public interest law firm with a winning record at the Supreme Court, Sword&Scales features narratives from history, courtroom showdowns, and the real experiences of people fighting for their rights.

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