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Senior Legal Counsel, Free Speech

Scottsdale, AZ; Lansdowne, VA; Washington, D.C. 

Make a difference with us! At Alliance Defending Freedom, we believe God has brought you here for His purpose—to stand for truth and defend the God-given right to live and speak it. Together, we protect religious freedom, free speech, the sanctity of life, marriage and family, and parental rights. Review our Statement of Faith to ensure we’re a fit for you.

Locations: Scottsdale, AZ / Lansdowne, VA / Washington, D.C. 

Team Overview

You will be responsible for evaluating and leading complex litigation matters regarding free speech. In this role, you will report to the Senior Counsel, Director of Center for Free Speech. Your primary role will be to undertake the most advanced and complex litigation handled by ADF, carrying out the brunt of day-to-day litigation, training more junior attorneys to litigate within areas of particular interest to ADF, and supervising other attorneys in complex civil litigation with emphasis on freedom of speech. 

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead and litigate complex lawsuits in support of free speech.
  • Develop strategy, arguments, and testimony in preparation for presentation of cases. 
  • Produce high-quality legal papers, including briefs, motions, and memoranda.
  • Represent and argue on behalf of clients in court.
  • Conduct advanced research for free speech advocacy and resources.
  • Conduct fact and expert discovery, including taking and defending depositions. 
  • Review, edit, prepare, and file legal briefs.
  • Train and mentor mid-level and junior attorneys in all phases of the state and federal litigation
  • Represent ADF’s free speech advocacy efforts in the court of public opinion.
  • Provide legal advice regarding laws, rulings, and regulations for individuals and businesses
  • Partner with the Development team, including speaking engagements and other events.
  • Interview and interact with the media regarding cases and issues.
  • Advise allied attorneys on legal issues within areas of competence. 
  • Network and develop relationships with allied groups and attorneys, and/or potential allied groups and attorneys.

Minimum Qualifications

  • J.D., active license in at least one US state bar and capable of meeting admission requirements in relevant jurisdiction within one year.
  • Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office, WordPerfect, and Westlaw software.
  • Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
  • Strong attention to detail and proven project management abilities.
  • Outstanding verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

  • 10+ years of experience

Pay & Benefits

At Alliance Defending Freedom, we offer a competitive compensation and benefits package to support your well-being and growth. While we do not disclose specific salary ranges, our compensation is competitive with top non-profit law firms. Our benefits include 100% covered medical and dental insurance, medical and dependent care reimbursement, paid disability, long-term care, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan with a 4% company match. We prioritize work-life balance with paid time off and 12 paid holidays each year.

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Statement of Faith

Based on our adherence to the inspired, infallible, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God in Scripture, we profess with the Christian Church throughout time and around the world the faith expressed in the Apostles’ Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.

Doctrinal Distinctives

Also, based on this confession, we are committed to honoring God by obeying the two Greatest Commandments, loving God and loving neighbor, and based on that commitment and derived from the inspired, infallible, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God in Scripture, we profess the following as necessary for living the gospel:

  • We believe in the spiritual unity and equality of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • We believe that the Lordship of Christ requires us as disciples to seek to conform our actions, thoughts, and desires in obedience to Him.
  • We believe God creates each person with an immutable biological sex — male or female — that reflects the image and likeness of God.
  • We believe God designed marriage as a unique conjugal relationship joining one man and one woman in a single, exclusive, life-long union, and God intends sexual intimacy only to occur within that relationship.
  • We believe God endows all human life with inherent dignity, and it must be respected and protected from conception to natural death.
  • We believe that God has endowed all humans with the natural, and inalienable right of religious freedom to believe, pursue truth, and live within ordered liberty such that no civil government may justly infringe upon it.
  • We believe that God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, calls all of us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him, knowing that He promises us abundant and eternal life.
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