Senior Legal Advisor

Position Summary:

Democracy Forward Foundation ("Democracy Forward") is hiring a Senior Legal Advisor to join our Legal team.

Senior Legal Advisors will develop their own matters, including being willing to perform at times, all aspects of DF's legal and regulatory work (matter development, outreach, drafting, strategy, and participation in all stages of litigation). They will also spend a substantial portion of their time supporting and/or supervising the development of matters by other members of the legal team. Senior Legal Advisors will utilize their expertise to assist in sophisticated matter development, legal work, and participation in the progressive legal sphere.

The Senior Legal Advisor will report to our Legal Directors and will work closely with the entire Legal team. This role will be based in the Washington, DC area and the individual should be available to work in Democracy Forward Foundation's Washington, DC offices multiple days a week.

Key Responsibilities:

Below are the key areas of responsibility for this role. The specifics of each responsibility may vary based on the needs of the organization and department.

Litigation

• Draw on extensive litigation and legal experience, legal networks, and strategic judgment to develop and support the execution of legal strategies to challenge abuses of power by government officials at the state, local, and federal level.


• Draw on extensive litigation and legal experience, legal networks, and strategic judgment to develop and support the execution of legal strategies to empower the state, local, and federal government to address the needs of people and communities, including regulatory strategies and legal support strategies.


• Support organizational leadership in cultivating a culture of excellence, including through (as needed) supervising litigation, regulatory work, legal advocacy, and providing real-time support and skills-development for attorneys.


• Act as a thought-partner and provide needed support to the development of progressive jurisprudence strategies.


• Facilitate creative case development, brainstorming, and other strategic advocacy strategies through providing support, enthusiasm, research, and real-time feedback and judgment.


• Leverage deep relationships within the legal community to support the work of Democracy Forward and Democracy Forward's continued organizational growth and sphere of influence, including creating opportunities for Democracy Forward staff to build deeper professional relationships. 


• Partner with teams throughout the organization in the development of strategic narratives and other written pieces to help educate the philanthropic community, legal community, and progressive communities on pressing issues.

Qualifications:

We recognize that strong candidates may not meet 100% of the qualifications listed. If you believe you can contribute meaningfully to our team, we encourage you to apply.

• JD Required.


• 20+ years active legal experience.


• Deep legal networks in your area of expertise.


• Experience mentoring and supporting junior staff members.

Work Environment & Physical Demands:

• This role may require occasional travel for team retreats, conferences, or organizational meetings.


• This role may involve sitting for extended periods and working on a computer. Reasonable accommodations will be provided as needed.

The salary for this position is $245,000 plus excellent benefits. 

Democracy Forward Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals. We strongly encourage people of color; LGBTQIA+ people; women; people with disabilities; and veterans to apply. Please note that all lawyer positions require a law degree and active membership in the bar of a state or the District of Columbia. 

Not sure you meet all of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement.  If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you are new to mission-based legal and policy work, returning to work after a gap in employment, or simply looking to transition or take the next step in your career path, we welcome the opportunity to have you on our radar.  Please include in your cover letter the nature of your interest in legal and policy work promoting democracy and progress and what you hope to bring to our team and the role for which you are applying. 

Democracy Forward is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete this application, interview, or otherwise participate in the hiring process, please direct your inquiries to [email protected] or 833-391-4732.