Senior State Law And Legislative Counsel

Summary

Join the Alliance for Justice (AFJ) as a Senior State Law & Legislative Counsel and become a vital part of the Bolder Advocacy team. You will provide crucial legal expertise and training to nonprofit and foundation staff, helping them navigate advocacy laws. This role involves managing and developing state law resources, conducting policy advocacy, and creating educational materials. The position offers flexibility with the option to work remotely or in the Washington, D.C. office, but requires regular travel for in-person events. You will play a key role in shaping AFJ's strategic plan by focusing on grassroots power-building and connecting with organizations working for positive policy change. The ideal candidate possesses a law degree, significant legal experience, and a strong commitment to social justice.

Requirements

• Law degree, bar membership in at least one state, and at least ten years of legal experience or legal advocacy working with (or for) nonprofit organizations (or 3 years as a Bolder Advocacy Counsel)
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice causes
• Solid understanding of nonprofit organization operations and familiarity with the progressive nonprofit sector and nonprofit advocacy, especially grassroots advocacy campaigns, GOTV work, other election-related activities, community organizing, and/or legislative advocacy
• Strong desire to participate in proactive outreach, networking, and communications (e.g. social media, podcasting, blog writing, public presentations, and attendance at coalition/ partner meetings)
• Experience conducting training programs and making public-speaking appearances
• Experience working with coalitions and community organizing groups
• Demonstrated ability to network and build relationships with nonprofits, particularly those engaged in grassroots advocacy or advocacy related to one (or more) of AFJ’s priority issue areas: Criminal Justice, Democracy & Voting Rights, Environmental Justice, Gender & Reproductive Justice, Health & Disability Rights, Labor & Economic Justice, LGBTQ & People with HIV, Racial Justice / Civil Rights / Immigration
• Excellent oral and written communications skills, with a demonstrated ability to write quickly and clearly in plain English
• Extensive experience drafting and editing legal resources (i.e. legal guides, motions, briefs, or other similar materials)
• Mastery of federal nonprofit advocacy laws (i.e. tax code lobbying limits for public charities, 501(c)(3) nonpartisan advocacy, 501(c)(4) primary vs. secondary purpose activities, etc.)
• Willingness and ability to engage in policy advocacy that impacts the rights of nonprofits and foundations who want to (or already engage in) advocacy
• Demonstrated thought leadership about nonprofit advocacy via the publication of legal documents and explainers, articles, or similar publications
• Demonstrated ability to provide appropriate and reliable advice to affiliated organizations and / or coalitions of organizations with members who have differing tax-exempt designations
• Ability to actively monitor emerging trends and legislation that may impact nonprofit advocacy and to make recommendations on how nonprofits should respond and adapt as needed

Responsibilities

• Master and stay up to date on federal tax and election law for tax-exempt organizations
• Master and stay up to date on state lobbying disclosure, ballot measure, and campaign finance law in the Senior Counsel’s state or jurisdiction
• Master and stay up to date on local lobbying disclosure ordinances and other local advocacy laws in Senior Counsel’s state or jurisdiction
• Manage State Practical Guidance series and relevant state law resources, including tracking and monitoring changes to state-level lobby, election, and campaign finance laws in all 50 states and DC. Ensuring that BA’s state law resources are updated regularly to accurately reflect changes to the law, and identifying local counsel in all 50 states, who can serve as experts when complex state-law questions arise
• Effectively convey the relevant federal, state, and local laws to a non-legal audience
• Provide technical assistance to nonprofits, AFJ member organizations, and foundations on federal exempt organizations tax and election law, as well as relevant state and local law that impacts advocacy organizations
• Regularly plan, conduct, and travel to provide nonprofit organizations with training on the laws impacting advocacy organizations. Senior Counsel is also expected to plan and conduct these trainings virtually
• Lead policy advocacy efforts, including lobbying, to protect the rights of nonprofits to engage in advocacy and other subjects as relevant opportunities arise. This could include the drafting of briefs, talking points, explainer memos, regulatory comments, statutory language, or amicus briefs. It could also involve testifying in front of legislative committees, directly communicating with federal and state legislators and other public officials and working with Communications and Outreach & Membership teams to build support to advance BA’s policy goals
• Write thought leadership pieces such as articles, op-eds, or blog posts that address current issues affecting nonprofit advocacy and foster discussion or attention around BA’s core issues
• Write relevant technical assistance guides, blog posts, factsheets, articles, op-eds, and regulatory comments
• Develop new written legal resources and training curriculum to meet the needs of the nonprofit advocacy community
• Train and mentor other BA team members on difficult and complex legal questions and the progressive nonprofit advocacy and advocacy funding landscape
• Regularly represent the organization at conferences and other gatherings of nonprofits and foundations. Seek out opportunities to present at conferences
• Proactively network and build relationships with nonprofits and foundations representing AFJ’s priority constituencies and issue areas
• Regularly attend AFJ member meetings and serve as a point of contact for members when questions arise regarding state laws that apply to nonprofit advocacy. Work with AFJ Outreach and Membership team to update members about new BA resources that could assist them in their work
• Identify training and resource needs of members and proactively work to outline and draft new guides, factsheets, blogs, and other legal resources as necessary
• On occasion, develop customized training programs and provide complex training that combines multiple topics and deviates from standard BA training content
• Learn how to use BA’s Advocacy Capacity Tools and develop an understanding of advocacy evaluation best practices. Conduct training on these tools and advocacy evaluation best practices as needed
• As needed, advise on or conduct AFJ Action (AFJ’s 501(c)(4) affiliate) activities such as grassroots lobbying to support policies defending nonprofit advocacy, developing state law resources related to 501(c)(4) organizations, and/or supporting internal compliance for AFJ Action state-based advocacy and elections activities
• Collaborate with staff from other AFJ programs to deliver appropriate program content, program activities, and special events
• Manage grants and contracts to ensure that deliverables are met and relationships with funders are maintained. Take a lead role in discussions with funders. Support BA leadership in proposing grant and contract deliverables and participate in drafting of grant proposals and contract scopes of work. Oversee implementation of BA grants and contracts, and draft grant reports in coordination with AFJ Development team
• Other duties as assigned

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing, leading, or participating in nonprofit advocacy campaigns at the local, state, or federal levels
• Experience handling federal or state compliance for a nonprofit advocacy organization
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in a relevant non-English language, including the ability to write clearly and quickly in that language in a professional setting
• Ability to draft technical assistance guides, blog posts, and factsheets into a relevant non-English language or to supervise the translation of such documents

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision benefits, as well as an employee assistance program for physical and mental well-being
• Employer matching 401K plan
• Generous paid time off policy
• Up to 16 weeks of parental leave and a range of paid and unpaid family leave programs that allow our employees to bond with and care for children and other dependents
• Flexible spending account, dependent care, life and disability insurance, as well as commuter benefits