Policy Counsel – Washington, DC
The Constitution Project promotes and defends constitutional safeguards. Through its Criminal Justice and Rule of Law Programs, the Project promotes dialogue across ideological and partisan lines, bringing together prominent Americans from a variety of experiences to achieve long-term consensus. Working with these influential and unlikely allies, the Project conducts strategic public education campaigns and helps create the political majorities needed to transform this consensus into sound public policy.
The Criminal Justice Program seeks to counter a broad-based effort to deny fundamental day-in-court rights and due process protections to those accused of crimes. Its scope covers criminal sentencing, federal criminal code reform, preservation of habeas corpus in state criminal cases, capital punishment, and indigent defense. It includes Death Penalty, Right to Counsel, and Sentencing Committees.
About the Job
The policy counsel will create a clearinghouse for new voices and coordinate the Project’s public education and advocacy activities in support of efforts to achieve criminal justice reforms in a wide variety of areas. He or she will work with high-level experts to develop consensus reports and recommendations for policy reforms and promote them to policymakers, litigators, and allies on the national, state and local levels. He or she will also work with major law firms on amicus briefs supporting these reforms in the courts. A competitive salary and benefits are available.
Qualifications
The position presents the opportunity to work on issues in the headlines in a challenging, fast-paced environment. Applicants should have:
• A law degree from an accredited law school
• Experience with policymaking and policy analysis
• Outstanding research and writing skills
• A proven ability to work as a member of a team
• The ability to manage competing demands
Ideal candidates will have some combination of:
• Experience working on constitutional or criminal justice issues
• Experience in bipartisan environments
• Experience on Capitol Hill or a state legislature, or as a public policy advocate, and with organizing diverse coalitions
• Experience with public speaking
More information about the Constitution Project is available at www.constitutionproject.org.
Please submit a resume, the names of at least two references, and a non-legal writing sample to the attention of Kristen Carson-Owens via email at kcarson@constitutionproject.org (including “Criminal Justice Policy Counsel” in the subject line) or via mail at 1200 18th Street, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036.
*No phone calls please.