Staff Attorney, Special Projects

About LWVUS

The League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS, the League) is a nonpartisan political organization that has fought for more than 100 years to improve American systems of government and impact public policies through citizen education, advocacy, and litigation. The enduring vitality and resonance of the League as a trusted force for change and good government comes from its unique decentralized structure: a national organization with strong partnerships at the grassroots level with more than 700 state and local Leagues across the country, including the District of Columbia.

At the national level, League activities are coordinated and staffed by two distinct but complementary organizations: The League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS) and the League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWVEF).

Position Description

The staff attorney, special projects will be a critical member of the LWVUS Litigation team, reporting to the director of legal and research. The staff attorney, special projects will serve a vital role in moving forward the League’s moonshot to abolish the electoral college and will also directly support state and local Leagues in litigation and legal matters relating to the League's core and emerging issues determined by our membership.

The League announced our focus on abolishing the Electoral College in the summer of 2022 and has outlined a plan for engagement with members, supporters, and the public. Core issue work includes voting rights, redistricting, improving elections, and money in politics. Our emerging policy issues cover immigration, health care, climate change, gun safety, and direct election of the President.

This role will manage a portion of the League’s federal litigation portfolio, work with other departments to launch and implement the electoral college work, support state and local Leagues in state litigation, assist in tracking League litigation across the country, conduct and coordinate legal research, maintain relationships with legal partners and pro bono counsel, and prepare educational materials about the litigation work of the League.

The staff attorney, special projects, will represent the organization with internal and external audiences and must have experience representing clients and supporting or leading litigation. The staff attorney, special projects will assist in balancing the needs of our membership and protecting our nonpartisan policy in often complex electoral and civil rights issues.

This position is grant-funded per fiscal year with potential renewal based on budget, performance, and funding. 

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload within our primary programmatic focus, the campaign for Making Democracy Work, which centers on voting rights, redistricting, improving elections, and money in politics;
• Manage research needs — legal and otherwise — related to our moonshot to abolish the electoral college and any resulting legal needs under the supervision of the director of legal & research and in collaboration with other LWVUS staff;
• Manage a limited caseload related to our moonshot and urgent issues portfolio;
• Assist Director of Legal & Research in assessing prospective state and federal litigation, including accurately applying policy positions to prospective litigation and reconciling policy work with litigation;
• Support state and local Leagues of Women Voters regarding prospective and ongoing state court litigation.
• Assist the Litigation team in tracking, updating, and reporting ongoing LWV litigation;
• Work with allied organizations to forward League policies, strategies, and mission;
• Represent the organization in oral and written briefings for Leagues, coalition partners, and allies;
• Represent the League in external settings, including on task force calls, panels, presentations, and events;  
• Work with other departments, including communications, to draft litigation press releases, issue-specific policy reports, fact sheets, action alerts, talking points, issue briefs, or op-eds;
• Supervise and support legal interns year-round;
• Depending on team needs, supervise and support fellows and junior attorneys; and
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Licensing

Must be a licensed attorney in good standing in at least one state in the United States; being barred in DC is a plus, or being willing to waive into DC at the earliest opportunity.

Qualifications

• 2-5 years of litigation experience;
• Experience with voting rights, election, or constitutional litigation in either a traditional law firm, nonprofit, or government setting is a plus;
• Clear interest or experience in electoral reform or constitutional amendments;
• Possession of excellent legal research and writing skills, analytical skills, strong verbal and written communication skills, attention to detail, and customer service-oriented attitude;
• Strong organizational skills and an ability to track a high volume of information at the local, state, and federal levels;
• Ability to translate legalese into plain language for non-legal audiences;
• Prior experience developing various educational and training materials, including planning webinars, communicating legal research and legal findings, and developing legal recommendations.
• The ability to consistently produce high-quality work products in a fast-paced environment;
• The ability to work with and center historically disenfranchised communities of different cultures and backgrounds. This includes having a mature understanding of how structural racism and prejudice impact communities of color and balancing the appropriate role for the League;
• A demonstrable commitment to working with and in diverse communities and promoting DEI in the workplace;
• Must understand and comply with rules of professional conduct and ethics on a consistent, ongoing basis;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including a commitment to teamwork and collaboration;
• Experience working with volunteers preferred.
• Personal and professional alignment with LWVUS mission and values.

Salary and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $82,000 - $92,000 contingent on experience for a one-year term with the option to renew based upon performance and funding.

We have a generous benefits package that includes 95 percent employer–sponsored health insurance, dental and vision insurance, paid holidays, vacation days, sick days, pre-tax transit benefits, and the opportunity to contribute to a 401(K) plan.

LOCATION

The League’s headquarters are in Washington, DC. The ideal candidate will be commutable to the DC, but exceptional candidates will be considered.

ADA Specifications

This position is primarily sedentary and is performed in an office setting. The physical demands of this position are limited to the ability to use a computer, telephone, and standard office equipment, lift up to 25 lbs., bend, stoop, and carry materials used in financial activities. Routine travel within the United States is necessary. 

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The League of Women Voters of the United States is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace based on equal opportunity. The League is committed to hiring staff that reflects this country's full range of racial, ethnic, cultural, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic identity; a workplace where true diversity is fostered, and different perspectives are valued and freely exchanged. We encourage women, minorities, and individuals from traditionally underrepresented communities to apply. 

HOW TO APPLY

Apply here.

Candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. If you have questions about this position, please direct them to the same email. No phone calls please.