Senior Attorney, Democracy 2025

About the role

The Senior Attorney will lead strategic legal work for the Democracy 2025 initiative, coordinating analysis and response efforts to strengthen the pro-democracy legal movement. This role owns the research, analysis, and guidance that supports coalition partners in addressing threats to democratic governance. The Senior Attorney will shape strategic priorities, lead issue-area workstreams, and translate complex legal developments into actionable guidance for diverse stakeholders. This position serves as a key advisor to both internal teams and external partners, ensuring coordinated responses to abuses of government power. The role emphasizes collaboration, leadership, and the development of sophisticated legal materials to advance democratic resilience. The Senior Attorney will also mentor junior staff and contribute to organizational planning and cross-departmental initiatives. This is a non-litigation role focused on strategy, coalition leadership, and movement infrastructure.

Key facts

What you'll do

Lead legal research and analysis on emerging threats to democratic governance, including abuses of government power, weaponization of government institutions, threats to civil society, attacks on civil rights, politicized investigations and enforcement actions, agency leadership issues, and related constitutional and administrative law matters.

Support systems for tracking litigation, legal developments, administrative actions, and emerging trends affecting democratic governance and civil rights.

Produce high-quality written work product, including legal memoranda, issue-area guides, litigation analyses, strategic assessments, briefing materials, and public-facing resources.

Translate complex legal developments into clear, actionable guidance for diverse audiences, including coalition partners, advocates, policymakers, communications teams, and the public.

Lead and support Democracy 2025 working groups and cross-organizational initiatives focused on responding to anti-democratic threats and protecting democratic institutions.

Build and maintain strong relationships with partner organizations, legal advocates, policy experts, and movement stakeholders across the Democracy 2025 network.

Convene and facilitate meetings, strategy discussions, trainings, and briefings with coalition partners and internal stakeholders.

Regularly brief coalition partners and Democracy Forward staff on significant legal, policy, and litigation developments.

Identify opportunities for collaboration and alignment across partner organizations and issue areas.

Represent Democracy 2025 in external meetings, conferences, convenings, and public-facing engagements, as appropriate.

Requirements

J.D. required and active bar admission, or ability to become admitted to the appropriate bar.

5-7+ years of legal experience, including experience in government, nonprofit advocacy, litigation, policy, congressional, regulatory, or related legal settings.

Knowledge of and demonstrated interest in democratic governance, constitutional law, administrative law, civil rights, government accountability, abuses of government power, or related subject areas.

Actively seeks feedback from peers and stakeholders, thoughtfully incorporates that feedback into their work, and uses it as an opportunity for continuous improvement.

Exceptional legal research, analytical, writing, and strategic thinking skills.

Demonstrated ability to assess complex legal and policy developments and translate them into actionable guidance for varied audiences.

Experience managing complex projects and multiple workstreams in a fast-paced and evolving environment.

Strong relationship-building, coalition management, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills, including experience briefing senior leaders, partners, or external stakeholders.

Proven ability to collaborate effectively across teams and functions within complex organizations.

Sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism in managing sensitive issues and partner relationships.

Commitment to Democracy Forward's mission and to fostering an equitable, inclusive, and collaborative workplace culture.

Nice to have

Experience supporting coalitions or multi-organizational initiatives.

Experience working in a nonprofit, advocacy, policy, government, or mission-driven organization.

Familiarity with litigation tracking tools, legal databases, Airtable, CourtListener, PACER, or similar platforms.

Familiarity with Democracy 2025 partner organizations and the broader pro-democracy legal ecosystem.

Practical notes

This role is full-time. Democracy Forward's office is located in Washington, DC, and employees are expected to be in the office an average of two days per week. While candidates in the DC area are preferred, exceptional fully remote candidates will also be considered. Occasional travel, including to conferences, convenings, and partner meetings, is expected.