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Legal Counsel, Church & Ministry Alliance Legal Program

Scottsdale, AZ; Lansdowne, VA

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

Team Overview

In this role, you will report to the Deputy Director. You will primarily serve as a resource to ministries and ministry leaders by providing the day-to-day operational and legal assistance in support of their religious missions. You will conduct legal review of church and ministry governing documents, handbooks, policies, and some contracts; consult directly with churches and ministries to advise on their legal rights and responsibilities; assist in preparing and revising legal resources; and engage in public advocacy such as speaking, blogging, and appearing in all forms of media upon ADF’s request. You will meet established legal service objectives and be responsible for providing exceptional service to Church & Ministry Alliance members.

Key Responsibilities

  • Provide day-to-day operational legal assistance to faith-based ministries to enable them to effectively carry out their religious missions.
  • Formulate and assist in the adoption, implementation, and consistent application of legal advice, policies, best practices, and resources addressing various aspects of ministry operations.
  • Advise ministries on threats to religious liberty—both general and specific—and on appropriate protective measures.
  • Educate ministries about religious liberty threats and responses through speaking engagements, publications, webinars, conference calls, and other formats.
  • Establish and cultivate relationships with churches across the evangelical and/or denominational spectrum, including networking with other non-ADF attorneys and ministry partners.
  • Cultivate a growing knowledge base related to churches, ministry organizations, and Christian schools; develop related legal resources.
  • Conduct legal research; interpret laws, rulings, and regulations; and provide sound legal advice tailored to churches and ministries.
  • Research, draft, and review legal resources; confer with colleagues to verify legal analysis.
  • Participate in recruiting and informing potential Church & Ministry Alliance members, including through speaking engagements and events.
  • Collaborate with colleagues and advise Allied Attorneys in areas of legal competence to advance legal advocacy.
  • Interact with media regarding cases and issues as requested.

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.
  • 3+ years of legal experience.
  • Ability to travel as needed.
  • Microsoft Office, WordPerfect, and Westlaw software experience.
  • Strong analytical, relational, project management, and public speaking skills.

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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