Career Development Office Blog

The Washington Legislative Office (WLO) in the ACLU’s National Office in Washington, DC seeks applicants for a full-time Legislative Counsel/Lobbyist.

The Legislative Counsel/Lobbyist will be part of an interdisciplinary team of lobbyists who will integrate and capitalize on the expertise of other national staff focused on litigation, communication, advocacy, and alliance and coalition building.  The Legislative Counsel/Lobbyist will work under the supervision of the WLO Chief of Staff.  The primary focus of the position will be on a designated portfolio of issues, which may change from time to time depending on organizational priorities.  The portfolio may include issues related to racial justice, disability rights, voting rights, and/or human rights.  The Counsel will be knowledgeable about a wide range of civil liberties issues, and will also be responsible for responding to emerging priorities as identified by the office.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Prepare and deliver testimony on pending legislation before Congressional committees.
• Research and draft legislative memoranda on federal bills and proposed administrative rules and regulations affecting civil liberties.
• Lobby members of Congress, their staff and administration officials to support ACLU positions on pending legislation and policy initiatives.
• Coordinate and conduct in-depth civil liberties briefings for Congressional and Executive Branch staff.
• Participate as the ACLU representative in meetings of ad hoc lobbying and policy coalitions.
• Work with national and local media to brief them on legislative and executive branch priorities.
• Collaborate with other ACLU national and affiliate staff and representatives of coalition allies.
• Organize, lead, and work with outside groups to bolster support for ACLU policy goals or to minimize opposition to those goals.
• Coordinate efforts across the organization including legal staff, communications staff, state strategists, and affiliates around the country to keep them abreast of and enlist their support for ACLU lobbying work on the relevant portfolio of issues.
• Supervise an administrative staff person, ACLU volunteers and interns.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• J.D. degree, other advanced degree, or equivalent legislative experience is required.
• Three (3) or more years of combined experience working on legislative and policy matters.
• Experience in racial justice, disability rights, voting rights, and/or human rights is preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze legislative and administrative policy.
• Ability to work independently, as well as within a team.
• An understanding of issues relating to law, public policy and the strategies and tools needed to achieve policy change using federal legislative, administrative, and regulatory processes.
• A capacity to organize, lead and work with coalitions to achieve lobbying goals.
• Litigation or lobbying experience involving civil liberties or related public interest issues is a plus.
• Commitment to the mission of the ACLU.

COMPENSATION:

The ACLU offers a generous and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with experience and within the parameters of the ACLU compensation scale.

For how to apply, visit Symplicity Posting ID #11740.