Senior Legal Advisor (Civil Rights Focus)

Position Summary:

Democracy Forward Foundation is seeking attorneys to carry out its mission to promote pro democracy and progressive policies and ideals. These positions will be focused on the protection and advancement of civil rights via litigation. 

Senior Legal Advisors will develop their own matters focused on civil rights 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 on all aspects of litigation as well as work closely with leaders of the civil rights portfolio and 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.

This position is full-time. Democracy Forward Foundation’s office is located in Washington, DC; the employee is expected to be in the office an average of 2 days per week. Remote candidates within the United States will also be considered. If a candidate is outside of the DC area, travel to DC is expected 1-2 times per quarter.

Key Responsibilities:

• 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
• Experience with the federal Administrative Procedure Act and one or more of the statutes below is a plus:
  • Title VI
  • Title IX
  • Fair Housing Act
  • Equal Credit Opportunity Act
  • Mortgage Lending
  • Section 1981
  • Section 1983 
  • Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act
  • Administrative Procedure Act 
  • Automated Data Systems/AI
  • Data Collection/Analysis

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 $230,000 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.