The People’s Parity Project (PPP) is a left-leaning legal advocacy group that mobilizes law students and early-career attorneys to oppose corporate influence and promote progressive judicial reforms. ¹ Founded in 2019, the organization seeks to “unrig” the legal profession by reforming clerkship hiring practices, opposing certain judicial nominees, and urging law firms to redirect bonuses toward public-interest legal work. ² The organization’s staff, board of directors, and advisory council include many graduates of Harvard Law School. ³

In 2025, PPP joined the “No Kings” protest coalition against the second Trump administration. ⁴

History

People’s Parity was founded in 2018 by Harvard Law School students Molly Coleman and Vail Kohnert-Yount. People’s Parity was founded to “reform the legal profession” with an emphasis on left-of-center policy implementation, specifically to oppose the right-of-center Federalist Society. ⁵

In September of that year, members of the group staged a walkout over the nomination of Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court following unproven allegations of sexual harassment made against him by Christine Blasey Ford. People’s Parity organized a student campaign to oppose Justice Kavanaugh’s confirmation based on Ford’s allegations, and the group claimed credit for forcing Justice Kavanaugh to cease teaching at Harvard Law School. ³

Activities and Advocacy

The People’s Parity Project (PPP) focuses on internal legal‐system reforms, often targeting what it characterizes as entrenched corporate power and elitism within the legal profession. Its “clerkship equity” campaign fights discriminatory hiring practices, harassment, and lack of accountability in judicial clerkships, advocating for stronger reporting systems and climate surveys to improve transparency. ⁶ The group’s “Pro Bonus Pledge” encourages Big Law associates to redirect year-end bonuses toward public interest legal work, casting this as a counterbalance to corporate dominance. ⁷

PPP also engages in judicial nomination campaigns, framing the federal courts as a battleground for democracy. On its website, PPP warns that “our democracy is in jeopardy” and urges blocking judicial nominees that it deems aligned with “authoritarian” agendas. The group advocates for “pro-people” judges, often drawn from legal aid or activist backgrounds, while opposing nominees with corporate or conservative affiliations. ⁸

Beyond judicial campaigns, PPP has pushed to eliminate mandatory arbitration clauses, labeling them tools that shield corporations from accountability. The organization frames its initiatives as part of a larger mission to “unrig” the legal profession and prioritize working-class and marginalized communities. ^{9 2}

People’s Parity Project publicly announced its “Law Student Firm Pledge,” which first started amongst the organization’s law school chapters, in April 2025. Those who sign the pledge agree to “refuse to work for any firm that gives in to Trump administration demands regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion,” and will only work at law firms that join amicus briefs opposing President Donald Trump’s “executive orders targeting law firms and lawyers,” refuse to release information about law firm employees, and publicly refuse to “audit or alter hiring practices” that follow diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles. ^{10 11}

People’s Parity Project has been a member of the Alliance for Justice (AFJ) since 2021. Alliance for Justice is a left-of-center legal policy coalition composed of over 135 organizations. AFJ opposes President Donald Trump and blames his Supreme Court nominees for ruling against AFJ’s left-of-center policy initiatives. It has criticized President Trump for appointing conservative justices, and AFJ has campaigned for “packing” the Supreme Court by adding additional justices to “dilute” conservative influence over the Court. Alliance for Justice also supports diversity, equity, and inclusion. ^{12 13}

No Kings Demonstrations

In 2025, People’s Parity Project joined the No Kings coalition, a nationwide protest network that organized more than 1,800 Flag Day rallies criticizing what it called “authoritarian excess” and President Donald Trump’s alleged “militarization” of government. ^{14 15}  PPP amplified the events on social media, stating, “On June 14, we’re joining the nationwide No Kings mobilizations to stand together against cruelty, corruption, and authoritarianism.” ⁴

Leadership

Molly Coleman, a Harvard Law School graduate and People’s Parity Project’s co-founder, now works as the group’s executive director and is one of the primary voices for its agenda. ¹⁶ According to its 2023 nonprofit tax returns, Coleman received approximately $60,000 from PPP. ¹⁷

PPP’s board includes Jacob Lipton (president), Lijia Gong (vice president), Alexandra Vail Kohnert-Yount (treasurer), and Cecilia Landor (clerk), with additional members Rachel Deutsch, Anna Prakash, Nikolas Bowie, David Seligman, Sheila Maddali, David Pringle, and Ashlyn Woods. ¹⁸

Finances

Since People’s Parity Project’s formation in 2019, the organization has received over $1.5 million in public support. ¹⁹ In 2023, the organization reported revenue of $655,216, expenses of $499,297, and assets of $455,781. ¹⁷ Major grants that year include $150,000 from the Democracy Fund and $327,000 from Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund. ^{20 21}

In 2024, the CS Fund, a private left-wing grantmaking foundation, awarded PPP $45,000 in “General Support” and $25,000 for the “State Courts Organizing Network Convening.” ²²

1. “About.” People’s Parity Project. Accessed July 18, 2025. https://peoplesparity.org/about/.
2. “Join Our Team: Now Hiring A Policy & Program Manager.” People’s Parity Project. Accessed July 18, 2025. https://peoplesparity.org/hiring/
3.  Griffin, Kelsey J. “The People’s Parity Project Is Trying to Change Law in America.” The Harvard Crimson, May 27, 2020. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2020/5/27/commencement-2020-ppp/.
4. People’s Parity Project. “People’s Parity Project on Instagram: “On June 14, we’re joining the nationwide No Kings mobilizations to stand together against cruelty, corruption, and authoritarianism. Find an event near you at link in bio.”” Instagram. Accessed July 18, 2025. https://www.instagram.com/p/DKzclEdOQgL/
5. Boguslaw, Daniel. “Taking on Corporate Law, in Both Parties.” The American Prospect, March 16, 2021. https://prospect.org/justice/taking-on-corporate-law-in-both-parties/.
6. “Clerkships.” People’s Parity Project. Accessed July 18, 2025. https://peoplesparity.org/our-work/past-campaigns/legal-profession/clerkships/.
7. “Pro-Bonus Pledge.” People’s Parity Project. Accessed July 18, 2025. https://peoplesparity.org/pro-bonus-pledge/
8. “Federal Judicial Nominations.” People’s Parity Project. Accessed July 18, 2025. https://peoplesparity.org/our-work/federal-judicial-nominations/.
9. ^[1] “Firms.” People’s Parity Project. Accessed July 18, 2025. https://peoplesparity.org/our-work/past-campaigns/legal-profession/firms/
10. Patrice, Joe. “Law Students Signing Pledge To Refuse Offers From Collaborating Biglaw Firms.” Above the Law. April 23, 2025. Accessed June 9, 2025. https://abovethelaw.com/2025/04/law-students-signing-pledge-to-refuse-offers-from-collaborating-biglaw-firms/
11. “People’s Parity Project – Law Student Firm Pledge.” Google Docs. Accessed June 9, 2025. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd-pIf_6A0Y7OIRJiiFdHIZip_bOgzHlnkMnzpRRhZ7SqGevA/viewform.
12. “About Us.” Alliance for Justice. Accessed June 9, 2025. https://afj.org/about/.
13. “Supreme Court Reform.” Alliance for Justice. Accessed June 9, 2025. https://afj.org/why-courts-matter/supreme-court-reform/
14. “Partners.” No Kings. Accessed July 18, 2025. https://www.nokings.org/partners
15. “No Kings.” No Kings. Accessed July 18, 2025. https://www.nokings.org/.
16. “Molly Coleman.” LinkedIn. Accessed July 18, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-coleman-9b274764/.
17. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). People’s Parity Project. 2023. Part I – Summary.
18. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). People’s Parity Project. 2023. Part VII. Section A – Officers, Directors, Trustees, Key Employees, and Highest Compensated Employees.
19. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). People’s Parity Project. 2023. Part II. Section A – Public Support.
20. ^[1] Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Democracy Fund Inc. 2023. Part XIV. Section 3 – Grants and Contributions Paid During the Year or Approved for Future Payment.
21. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund. 2023. Part II – Grants and Contributions Paid During the Year or Approved for Future Payment
22. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). CS Fund. 2024. Part XIV. Section 3 – Grants and Contributions Paid During the Year or Approved for Future Payment.