Counsel (First Amendment, Media, Telecommunications & Technology)

Protect Democracy seeks highly motivated lawyers to join our team as Counsel, focusing both on protecting free speech and the free press and on preventing abuses of technology and telecommunications infrastructure to undermine American democracy. The deadline to apply for this position is January 15, 2025.

In this role, you will develop and contribute to 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 at least 10 years of experience as an attorney, along with exceptional legal, analytical, and communications skills applicable to a range of advocacy strategies; entrepreneurial legal instincts and an ability to generate impactful ideas; and strong external relationship skills. The ideal candidate has expertise and advocacy experience in First Amendment law and law/policy relating to media, technology, and telecommunications.

Protect Democracy recognizes that there is strength in diversity, and strongly encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds and from across the political and ideological spectrum to apply. Counsel can work from any location in the United States. 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;

• Help build our expertise as thought leaders on legal issues within the scope of our mission (specifically legal issues relating to the First Amendment, media, and technology);

• 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;

• Participate in and manage discovery processes, including informal fact-finding and evidence gathering, document review, witness interviews, written discovery practice, depositions, and expert discovery;

• Work with the communications team to draft editorials and opinion pieces and develop communication strategies to build support for legal and advocacy strategies;

• Work alongside policy advocates to develop and advance legislative and other advocacy proposals;

• Contribute to culture-building initiatives across the organization.