Counsel (Early Career)

Note: We are currently hiring for two separate counsel profiles. This role is for early-career candidates with 1-5 years of professional legal experience. Please apply only to the position that best reflects your years and depth of experience.

​Protect Democracy seeks highly motivated early-career lawyers 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. This is a unique opportunity for an attorney looking to develop and sharpen their litigation and advocacy skills in a moment where our democracy is facing unprecedented, exigent legal threats.

As counsel, 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 one to five years of experience as an attorney (which may include judicial clerkships, fellowships, etc.) 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. Ideal candidates for counsel bring 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.

Candidates must be committed to our mission and cross-ideological strategy for defending our democracy. 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, draft, and edit pleadings, motions, and other briefs filed in impact litigation related to our mission;

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

• Engage with clients, outside counsel, co-counsel, opposition counsel, and non-litigation external stakeholders (e.g. policymakers, agency staff);

• Research and help devise innovative legal arguments and potential litigation approaches, and help build our expertise as thought leaders on legal issues within the scope of our mission;

• Help develop ideas for litigation, policy reform, and other integrated advocacy projects consistent with our mission;

• Help with case management, including legal filings, organizing meetings, and maintaining case materials;

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

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

• Represent our organization in — and advance our mission through — key coalitions.

The ideal candidate brings:

• One to five years of legal experience (including clerkships);

• 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.

Preferred, but not required:

• Experience in election law or voting rights law;

• Experience in impact litigation or supporting policy advocacy.
  

Compensation

The starting salary range for this role is $100,000 - $110,000 commensurate with the candidate’s degree of experience, capabilities and skills, and in alignment with internal equity.

About Protect Democracy:

• *Flexible location. We are a remote-first organization based exclusively in the United States, meaning our staff work within the US 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 United States are welcome to apply, we may not be able to offer employment in your current location. If you proceed in the hiring process, we will discuss where you currently live and what is possible in our initial interview. All staff are also required to travel at least two times per year to team retreats, and this role also requires periodic travel. (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 4-5 weeks every year, along with 12 paid holidays, 6 weeks of paid family 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. Additionally, we cover employee medical premiums at 100% (with up to 95% coverage for dependents depending on plan selection), and employee and dependent’s dental/vision at 100%. All employees have access to long-term disability and life insurance, fertility benefits, a home office stipend, and bonuses at the discretion of the Executive Director.

• Ample opportunities for personal & professional development. Candidates who do not meet all listed criteria should still apply, as our organizational structure focuses on providing mentorship and opportunities for professional growth.

The priority application deadline for this role is May 14, 2026. To apply for this position, please complete the application linked at the bottom of this page. As part of your application, you will be asked to upload your resume and cover letter in PDF form. Your cover letter should discuss your relevant skills/experiences and your interest in our mission. Complete applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications missing any of the required materials will be considered incomplete and not reviewed.

Important notes

• Contact [email protected] if you require specific accommodations at any point in the hiring process.

• Keep an eye on your promotions/spam folders to avoid missed communication.

• We are unable to provide status updates for each application we receive. If you reach out and do not hear back, please know it is not for lack of appreciation or interest, but simply for lack of staff capacity to respond to individual inquiries.

• The application will include a voluntary EEO survey so that we can monitor the applicant pool as a whole for representation and equal employment opportunities, and to evaluate our progress as an organization toward a diverse and inclusive workforce, which we believe is a pillar of a thriving democracy. The categories used by the EEO survey are limited and may not reflect your lived experience; please feel free to opt out of any of the questions. Your responses to this survey are entirely separate from your application materials, are not accessible to those responsible for hiring decisions, and will not affect your candidacy in any way.