Pros
The original design of PILPG is inspired. Acting as pro bono counsel on behalf of opposition groups and others who cannot afford high-level legal counsel can meaningfully further peace and justice. This does not really reflect PILPG's current work, however. The full-time employees in the DC office are wonderful people whose collegiality and kindness to one another are exceptional.
Cons
While PILPG's initial approach to pro bono international work was creative, it currently does very little of the peace negotiations and constitution drafting it advertises. Very few if any new hires will work on these flagship projects - do not assume you would. The work new hires will most likely do instead focuses on advocacy training, civil society capacity building, and atrocity documentation. This, too, is worthwhile. But other international human rights organizations in DC also do this work and generally pay about 30-40% more in salary plus better benefits. Understandably, many PILPG staff have recently chosen to work for these organizations instead. In addition to paying well under market, PILPG also does not really train its attorneys. Counsel do not have many opportunities to do legal writing, as PILPG gives its most interesting legal writing assignments to its RAs and externs. Former interns or RAs should not assume that the cool work they did at PILPG while in undergrad or law school will continue if they are hired as a full-time employee. Instead, PILPG counsel spend most of their time managing budgets, writing grants, preparing trainings, and editing others' written work - good preparation for becoming a development professional, but poor preparation for a career in law, international or otherwise. PILPG also provides little feedback on legal writing assignments to full-time employees and does not conduct performance reviews to help them know where they can improve. Furthering your personal portfolio and career is also tough at PILPG. Rather than having time to publish under their own name, full time employees - including senior counsel - are routinely forced to work on Paul Williams' personal academic projects in addition to their program work. They are rarely listed as co-authors and often are not credited at all for their substantial contributions. Counsel and fellows are also often excluded from meetings with key clients, funders, and law firm partners that might help them build their networks and further their careers. Finally, while morale seems better in other offices, PILPG's DC office has become a pretty toxic work culture over the past few months. Senior leadership are flung across the country and are increasingly out of touch with DC office dynamics. They have recently implemented opaque, top-down, and frankly absurd decisions (such as a poorly implemented hotdesking/hotelling policy) that have frustrated and confused full time staff in the DC office. Low salaries and cursory or non-existent performance reviews have added to poor office morale. PILPG is a noble idea that has deteriorated into a substandard career option. While its short-term internships can still provide good experience (without pay), I do not recommend taking a full-time position there.