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The Institute for Justice (IJ) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit libertarian public interest law firm in the United States. Its mission is to provide pro bono legal advice and representation, litigating strategically to pursue its goal of a rule of law under which individuals can control their destinies as free and responsible members of society. It litigates in four core areas: economic liberty, property rights, free speech, and school choice. IJ has state chapters in Minnesota, Texas, Arizona, and Washington as well as a clinic on entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago Law School.

In addition to litigation, "the Institute [takes its cases] to the court of public opinion with a blitz of editorials and op-eds in leading local and national newspapers." The Institute also conducts training programs for law students, and publishes the bimonthly newsletter, Liberty and Law and several strategic research reports per year.

History
IJ was founded in 1991 by Chip Mellor and Clint Bolick. The inaugural speech launching the Institute for Justice was given on September 10, 1991.

Notable Cases
The Institute has been involved in numerous high-profile lawsuits. Particularly noteworthy cases include school choice lawsuits in Cleveland, Milwaukee, Arizona, and Florida. They have also been closely involved in several important eminent domain lawsuits, including Coking vs. C.R.D.A, in which they defended the right of Vera Coking to stay in her home despite the intent of Donald Trump to use her land for a parking lot, and the landmark eminent domain lawsuit of Kelo v. City of New London, winning the former and losing the latter. A list of IJ's cases can be viewed here.

Supreme Court Cases
Kelo v. City of New London Zelman v. Simmons-Harris Swedenburg v. Kelly Garriott v. Winn Arizona Free Enterprise Club Freedom Club PAC v. Bennett

Funding
In fiscal year 2010, 79 percent of IJ’s total contributions came from individuals. Another 20 percent was raised through donations from foundations, with 1 percent coming from businesses. No government funds are accepted. The initial funding for the Institute came from the Koch Family Foundations which also fund the libertarian Cato Institute and Citizens for a Sound Economy.

Honors and Accolades

 * For the ninth consecutive year the Institute for Justice received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.


 * Washingtonian Magazine recently named the Institute for Justice as one of the top places to work.

The rest of IJ's awards can be viewed here

Leadership

 * William H. Mellor - President and General Counsel


 * John E. Kramer - Vice President for Communications


 * Beth Stevens - Vice President for Development


 * Deborah Simpson - Managing Vice President


 * Steven Anderson - Chief Financial Officer

Senior Attorneys

 * Dana Berliner


 * Scott Bullock


 * Bert Gall


 * Michael Bindas


 * Dick Komer


 * Clark Neily


 * Jeff Rowes


 * Steve Simpson


 * Tim Keller


 * William R. Maurer


 * Lee McGrath


 * Matt Miller

There are also 10 staff attorneys and various support staff that can be viewed here.

Castle Coalition
The Castle Coalition, a project of the Institute for Justice, was founded in March 2002 to train home and business owners how to stand up to governments and developers who seek to use eminent domain for economic development. The Castle Coalition provides resources to private property owners threatened by eminent domain, giving them tips and strategies for fighting these land grabs. The Castle Coalition also hosts workshops nationwide training communities to be effective advocates for property rights. Individual activists and communities across the country have successfully used their tactics to save homes and businesses.

Activism and Coalitions
IJ’s Activism and Coalitions team organizes grassroot campaigns in support of economic liberty, private property rights, school choice, and free speech. This includes training and mobilizing activists and communities across the country to fight for individual rights, as well as providing legislative support to lawmakers.

Strategic Research
IJ has a strategic research team that produces social science and policy research on issues central to IJ's mission. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, the studies examine important questions by applying techniques from public policy, economics, political science, sociology and other disciplines to reach findings borne out by data. IJ conducts much of their research in-house, but also commissions leading scholars where appropriate.

Notable Reports:
Policing for Profit Public Power, Private Gain City Studies Power of One Entrepreneur

You can find an expanded list of IJ reports here.

IJ Clinic on Entrepreneurship
The IJ Clinic on Entrepreneurship is a joint project of the Institute for Justice and The University of Chicago Law School. The IJ Clinic teams lower-income entrepreneurs with law students to provide entry-level business people with pro-bono legal support they need to pursue entrepreneurial endeavors.

"MakeNoLaw" Blog
IJ's free speech blog, "MakeNoLaw" was created as a complement to the Institute for Justice’s fight, both in courts of law and the court of public opinion, to defend the freedom of speech from government encroachments—particularly campaign finance laws.