Senior Staff Attorney, Election Protection Hub

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Public Rights Project (PRP) is a public interest legal nonprofit with an all-remote team based throughout the United States. Our mission is to help local government officials fight for civil rights.

Since its founding in 2017, PRP has litigated in more than 100 cases (either as a party or amicus), trained 131 prosecutors and government lawyers in 24 states, built a partner network of over 670 government offices, elected officials, and community-based organizations in 43 states, secured court victories on police accountability, abortion, immigrant, worker, and voting rights, and helped to recover over $46 million in relief for marginalized people. Learn more about our work.

PRP launched its Election Protection Hub (EPH) to support local election officials as they fight to protect the voting rights of their residents and secure safe and fair elections. The EPH provides training, technical assistance, and legal backup to election administrators to enable them to respond to election threats quickly and effectively.

In addition, PRP’s EPH team participates in broader election protection and pro-democracy coalition work, both to support litigation by partner organizations and to more effectively coordinate resources to defend against efforts to undermine free elections, threaten marginalized communities, and threaten the rule of law. 

JOB SUMMARY

Public Rights Project seeks to hire an experienced attorney to serve as a Senior Staff Attorney in its Election Protection Hub. The Senior Staff Attorney will be a key member of PRP’s team representing and advising state, local, and tribal election officials in support of election administration and the expansion of voting rights. 

The Senior Staff Attorney will help lead the EPH’s technical assistance efforts, oversee amicus brief production, conduct partnership meetings, and assist litigation activities. 

This position reports to the Election Protection Hub Director. This position will also work closely with the Chief Program Officer, other program team directors, Election Protection Hub staff, and other Program Team staff. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Draft, review, edit, and provide feedback on analytic and persuasive written work product, including legal technical assistance; 
• Effectively advise local election official clients, including legal, political, and justice considerations related to a particular matter;
• Create and lead training sessions for local election officials on issues related to federal and state election law;

• Provide guidance and analysis of federal and state election and voting laws, as well as, federal and state constitutional questions, across a range of U.S. jurisdictions;

• Participate in and sometimes lead regular meetings for the EPH Team and other crucial strategic meetings and discussions, including ensuring alignment, collaboration and clear next steps; and
• Contribute to grant proposals and reports.

Advocacy:

• Identify opportunities for advocacy and strategize pathways to action;
• Meet with government and non-government stakeholders at the state and national level to promote the EPH’s technical assistance and training programs;
• Synthesize input and feedback from internal and external stakeholders; 
• Support PRP’s communications about the EPH, including through public speaking, conversations with the press, and drafting press statements, “explainers,” and op-eds; and
• Contribute to an innovative, inclusive, and supportive group of advocates.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• Licensed to practice law in a jurisdiction of the United States;
• At least 10 years of relevant experience as an attorney. Relevant experience may include government enforcement, advice to government officials, and/or complex civil litigation;

• Election law and/or election administration experience is strongly encouraged, but not required.

• Legal advising experience, especially regarding regulatory matters, is strongly encouraged;
• Some litigation experience is preferred, but not required;
• Prior experience working in AZ, CA, GA, MI, NC, NV, NY, PA, WI, and VA state courts and/or their corresponding federal circuits is preferred; 
• Prior experience with remote work in large teams in support of fast-moving and mission-driven work is preferred.

• Experience working with state and local government officials is preferred. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Outstanding writing and editing skills, including drafting and editing complex briefs and legal analysis;
• Excellent judgment about both legal issues and strategy;
• Strong communication skills, both writing and speaking;
• Strong project management skills and familiarity with project management software to support the participation and contribution of other team members;
• Familiarity and comfort working on issues of election law, federal law, constitutional law, and other relevant legal topics;
• Team player who can work with government partners, co-counsel, community-based organizations, and other advocates, as well as internal teams;
• Demonstrated positive and respectful attitude, ability to work well with diverse people and communities, capacity to show presence, self-confidence, common sense, and good listening ability; and
• Belief in the power of state and local government to make positive change in the world.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIP

This position reports to the Election Protection Hub Director. This position will also work closely with the Chief Program Officer, other program team directors, Election Protection Hub staff, and other Program Team staff. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Requires sitting, talking, and listening for up to 8 hours per day. Certain situations may require lifting items up to 20 pounds. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Fully remote organization and team. This role requires travel several times a year to PRP events, case hearings, conferences or meetings. We currently have remote staff in Boston, Chicago, Kansas City (MO), Los Angeles, New York, Oakland, Seattle, and Washington, DC, as well as other cities.

COMPENSATION

The determined salary range for this role is set between $121,440 - $182,160, exact salary will be based on candidate experience. For internal equity purposes, PRP will not negotiate with candidates outside of the role’s designated range.

PRP HIRING COMMITMENT

PRP is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. A diverse and inclusive workplace, both at PRP and within the government offices we serve, is a key ingredient for achieving our mission of building equitable enforcement capacity within state and local government. 

We aim to assemble a team that reflects the world we live in and the communities we serve with respect to race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and immigration status. People with personal or family experience with the type of harms we seek to combat, including wage theft, predatory lending, fraud, discrimination, and environmental degradation are particularly encouraged to apply.