Counsel

Job description

Note: We are currently hiring for two separate counsel profiles. This role is for mid-career candidates with 5-10 years of professional legal experience. Please apply only to the position that best reflects your years and depth of experience.

​Protect Democracy seeks a highly motivated lawyer with significant legal experience to join our team as counsel. Our organization is focused on protecting the integrity of the electoral process, including protecting electoral infrastructure and processes from interference in the 2026 elections and again in 2028. With the Trump administration turning the full power of the federal government against our own elections, protecting free and fair elections has taken on historic urgency.

In this role, you will develop and drive legal strategies that advance our mission of preventing our democracy from declining toward a more authoritarian form of government. From idea generation through all stages of planning and execution, counsel work on creative impact litigation and other projects that integrate legal, policy, and communications strategies. Counsel also have opportunities to draw on our expert and advisory networks for guidance and support and to supervise and mentor law students.

The ideal candidate brings five to ten years of experience as an attorney (which may include judicial clerkships) along with exceptional legal, analytical, and communications skills applicable to a range of advocacy strategies, including impact litigation, policy and legislative advocacy, coalition building, and strategic communications; entrepreneurial legal instincts and an ability to generate impactful ideas; demonstrated interest in reasoning through novel or complex problems and developing judgment on identifying workable solutions; and the potential for developing strong external relationship skills. We anticipate that the incoming counsel will be initially assigned significant responsibilities in impact litigation to counter federal interference in the midterm elections, and other forms of election subversion, though assignments may shift over time as the mission demands

Candidates must be committed to our mission and passionate about democratic norms. We strongly encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and from across the political and ideological spectrum. A commitment to our mission and cross-ideological strategy for defending our democracy is essential. The priority application deadline for this role is May 14, 2026. You can work remotely from any location in the United States.* (See details in “Flexible Location” section below.)

At Protect Democracy, we believe that diversity isn’t just a strength — it’s a necessity for tackling the complex challenges facing democracy. A broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences strengthen our ability to analyze problems, craft solutions, and drive meaningful change. We strongly encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and from across the political and ideological spectrum to apply. If you meet most but not all of the criteria listed below but believe nonetheless you’d be a stellar match for the role and could grow into it, we want to hear from you.

As counsel, you will:

• Research and devise innovative legal arguments and potential litigation approaches, managing case or project teams as needed
• Recruit and retain clients and plaintiffs engage with outside counsel, co-counsel, and opposition counsel; and represent Protect Democracy in non-litigation external settings (such as coalitions);
• Help build our expertise as thought leaders on legal issues within the scope of our mission;
• Participate in and manage discovery processes, including informal fact-finding and evidence gathering, document review, witness interviews, written discovery practice, depositions, and expert discovery;
• Develop, influence, and drive complex strategies for litigation, policy reform, and other integrated advocacy projects consistent with our mission;
• Research, draft, and edit pleadings, motions, and other briefs filed in impact litigation;
• Work with the communications team to deliver comms-based strategies to build support for legal theories of change (i.e. including legal memos, primers, editorials, and op-eds);
• In coordination with policy advocates, contribute to creative policy solutions and campaigns, working with legislators, agencies, experts, and coalitions to advance them;Contribute to culture-building initiatives across the organization.

Job requirements

The ideal candidate brings:

• Five to ten years of legal experience (including clerkships);
• Experience in election law or voting rights law and/or experience in impact litigation or supporting policy advocacy;
• Enthusiasm for and commitment to Protect Democracy’s cross-ideological, nonpartisan approach to protecting our democracy;
• Exceptional analytical skills and writing and presentation skills directed at both lawyer and nonlawyer audiences;
• Ability to track, prioritize, and balance a diverse set of responsibilities;
• Ability to foster collaborative relationships and work in a team environment with people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives;
• Growth mindset and enthusiasm for giving and receiving feedback up, down and sideways;
• Nimbleness and an ability to perform well in a dynamic, fast-paced environment;
• A passionate commitment to the preservation of democratic norms and institutions, and an understanding that our democracy has never fully represented communities of color.

About Protect Democracy:

• Flexible location. We are a remote-first organization based exclusively in the United States, meaning our staff work within the U.S. and primarily virtually. We also offer shared workspaces for those who enjoy working in an office environment. We are established for remote work in many states across the country, and while candidates based anywhere in the U.S. are welcome to apply, we may not be able to offer employment in your current location. If you proceed with the hiring process, we will discuss where you currently live and what is possible during the hiring process. All staff are also required to travel at least twice per year to team retreats, and this role may involve additional travel to meet with partners, vendors, or for planning meetings. (Accommodations to this requirement will be made only in exceptional circumstances.)
• Commitment to an inclusive workplace. Protect Democracy is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences strengthens our ability to analyze problems, craft solutions, and drive meaningful change. Protect Democracy encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.
• Phenomenal benefits. Our benefits package includes generous sick leave and a flexible vacation policy where we encourage team members to take on average 4-5 weeks off each year, and offer 12 paid holidays, 6 weeks of paid family and medical leave, and 18 weeks of paid parental leave. We also offer a 401(k) plan with up to 6% employer match that vests immediately, full coverage for an excellent health care plan that includes dental and vision insurance, long-term disability and life insurance, and a home office stipend.
• Ample opportunities for personal & professional development. Candidates who do not meet all listed criteria should still apply, as our organizational structure focuses on mentorship, support, and long-term growth.