Counsel

Protect Democracy seeks highly motivated early-career lawyers to join our team as counsel. In this role, you will develop and contribute to legal strategies in key areas relevant to our mission: preventing our democracy from declining toward a more authoritarian form of government. From idea generation through all stages of planning and execution, counsel work on creative impact litigation and other projects that integrate legal, policy, and communications strategies. Counsel also have opportunities to draw on our expert and advisory networks for guidance and support and to supervise and mentor law students.

The ideal candidate brings one to five years of experience as an attorney (which may include judicial clerkships) along with exceptional legal, analytical, and communications skills applicable to a range of advocacy strategies, including impact litigation, policy and legislative advocacy, and strategic communications; entrepreneurial legal instincts and an ability to generate impactful ideas; demonstrated interest in reasoning through novel or complex problems and developing judgment on identifying workable solutions; and the potential for developing strong external relationship skills.

Protect Democracy recognizes that there is strength in diversity, and strongly encourages candidates from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds and from across the political and ideological spectrum to apply. Counsel can work from any location in the United States.

We expect to hire multiple candidates for this role, and as a result, we do not expect that any one candidate will have all of the experiences and requirements listed below.

As counsel, you will:

• Research, draft, and edit pleadings, motions, and other briefs filed in impact litigation related to our mission.

• Participate in and manage discovery, including informal fact-finding and evidence gathering, document review, witness interviews, written discovery practice, depositions, and expert discovery.

• Research and devise innovative legal arguments and potential litigation approaches, and help build our expertise as thought leaders on legal issues within the scope of our mission.

• Help develop ideas for litigation, policy reform, and other integrated advocacy projects consistent with our mission.

• Help with case management, including legal filings, organizing meetings, and maintaining case materials.

• Work with the communications team to draft editorials and opinion pieces and develop communication strategies to build support for legal and advocacy strategies.

• Work with policy advocates to develop and advance legislative and other advocacy proposals.

The ideal candidate brings:

• A passionate commitment to the preservation of democratic norms and institutions, and an understanding that our democracy has never fully represented communities of color.

• An embrace of a cross-ideological and nonpartisan approach to protecting our democracy.

• One to five years of legal experience.

  • A background in constitutional law, legislation or statutory interpretation, administrative law or election law is preferred but not required.

  • Experience in impact litigation or supporting policy advocacy is preferred but not required.

• Exceptional analytical skills and writing and presentation skills directed at both lawyer and nonlawyer audiences.

• Ability to track, prioritize, and, where necessary, triage work in order to use time in the most efficient and productive way.

• Comfort with an open and transparent culture that values constant feedback up, down and sideways.

• Collaborative orientation, including willingness to take on tasks big or small as needed to advance our mission, and ability to work well with people with diverse backgrounds and to manage up, down, and sideways.

• Comfort working in a startup environment, proactively working to build the organization and figure out what’s needed to move your work forward.

Required:

• Bar membership in good standing in the counsel’s jurisdiction of residence and ability and willingness to waive into DC or other places as required.

Compensation

The starting salary range for this role for candidates with 1-3 years of legal experience is $85,994 – $101,169, and for candidates with 4 or more years of legal experience is $110,077 – $129,502, commensurate with the candidate’s relevant experience, capabilities and skills and in alignment with internal equity.

About Protect Democracy

• Flexible location. You can work remotely from any location in the United States. The only requirement is that your location be one that allows you to complete the demands of the position and mission. We currently have staff in Washington, DC, New York, Massachusetts, California, Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, Washington, and elsewhere around the country. Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we offered shared workspaces in those locations for staff members who enjoy working in an office environment, and we are reopening our workspaces in line with current guidance.

• Commitment to a diverse workplace. Protect Democracy is an equal opportunity employer. Our culture principles emphasize that there is strength in diversity as we believe diverse teams are more innovative, creative, and productive. Protect Democracy encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.

• Competitive pay and phenomenal benefits. In addition to a competitive salary, our benefits package includes an unlimited vacation and sick leave policy, along with 12 paid holidays, 4 weeks of paid family medical leave, and 18 weeks of paid parental leave. We also offer a 401(k) plan with up to 6% employer match that vests immediately, full coverage for an excellent health care plan that includes both dental and vision insurance, long-term disability and life insurance for all employees, a home office stipend, and as budget allows, discretionary bonuses.

• Ample opportunities for personal & professional development. Candidates who do not meet all listed criteria should still apply, as our organizational structure focuses on providing mentorship and opportunities for professional growth.