Staff Attorney, Democracy 2025

As a Staff Attorney at Democracy Forward, your primary responsibilities will include conducting legal research, drafting pleadings and memoranda, and developing resources to support the Democracy 2025 community. You will also engage in coalition building, track legal developments, and present findings to partner organizations. While litigation is not the primary focus, your role may require supporting litigation efforts as needed.

To apply for the Staff Attorney position at Democracy Forward, you need a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and active membership in a relevant state bar. We prefer candidates with 3-5 years of experience, including at least one year in litigation or clerking. Experience in civil rights, constitutional law, and public/government litigation is ideal. Strong legal research skills and exceptional written and oral communication abilities are essential.

Yes, Democracy Forward considers fully remote candidates for the Staff Attorney position. While we prefer candidates in the DC area, if you reside outside this region, you should expect occasional travel to Washington, DC. Flexibility in work arrangements is part of our commitment to attracting a diverse workforce.

The salary range for the Staff Attorney position at Democracy Forward is between $130,000 and $145,000, based on experience. Our compensation package also includes excellent benefits, ensuring that our team members are rewarded fairly for their contributions.

Democracy Forward values excellence, inclusion, accountability, collaboration, and impact. We seek candidates who are committed to these values and passionate about promoting democracy and social progress. Our team is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workforce, welcoming all qualified individuals to apply.

When answering this question, provide specific examples of your legal research projects, emphasizing your approach to dissecting complex legal issues and presenting your findings. Highlight any memorable challenges you faced in past roles and how they prepared you for this position at Democracy Forward.

Share examples of your collaborative experiences, focusing on how you built relationships with partner organizations. Discuss strategies you employed to facilitate discussions and share resources effectively, showcasing your ability for teamwork and coalition management.

Express your personal motivations—whether they stem from prior experiences, education, or societal observations. Connect your desire to work in this field with the mission of Democracy Forward, demonstrating your understanding and alignment with the organization's goals.

Illustrate your time management skills by detailing a specific experience where you successfully prioritized multiple tasks. Describe how you organized your workload, communicated effectively with stakeholders, and ultimately achieved your goals, especially in a fast-paced legal environment.

Discuss your strategy for breaking down legal jargon into simpler terms. Provide an example from your past where you successfully communicated a legal issue to a non-legal audience, emphasizing clarity and accessibility while maintaining the essential information.

Share specific experiences where you drafted legal documents. Mention the types of documents you produced and the impact they had on your organization or case. Emphasize your attention to detail and ability to produce clear, concise, and persuasive legal writing.

Discuss current issues facing the pro-democracy movement and legal sector. Provide your insight on potential strategies or solutions that advocates could use to navigate these challenges, showcasing your knowledge of relevant legal landscapes.

Articulate your reasons for applying to Democracy Forward, focusing on your alignment with its mission and values. Highlight specific projects or aspects of the organization that resonate with you, demonstrating your commitment to its goals and potential contributions.

Detail your methods for staying current in legal fields relevant to the Staff Attorney position. Mention resources such as legal journals, professional networks, or continuing education and how these methods have helped you stay ahead in your legal practice.

Share a story about a complex legal challenge you encountered. Describe the steps you took to analyze the problem, the research and collaboration you engaged in, and the outcome. Emphasize your critical thinking and problem-solving skills relevant to the role at Democracy Forward.