Staff Attorney / Senior Attorney, Regulatory Affairs & Legal Research

Position Summary:

Are you a mission-driven attorney with a passion for administrative law and regulatory advocacy? Do you want to research and analyze cutting-edge statutory, administrative, and constitutional issues? If so, Democracy Forward Foundation ("Democracy Forward") is looking for a Staff Attorney or Senior Attorney to join our Regulatory Affairs & Legal Research team.

We are seeking a highly collaborative and analytically rigorous attorney to help lead Democracy Forward’s monitoring and engagement in the federal regulatory process and to support its litigation and advocacy efforts. The ideal candidate has a strong background in administrative law, legal research and writing, and a demonstrated commitment to pro-democracy and progressive causes.

This position is full-time. Democracy Forward’s office is located in Washington, DC. While this position offers flexibility to work remotely, it requires regular in-office presence eight (8) times per month (averaging 2 times per week) to effectively support the nature of the role. Remote candidates within the United States will also be considered. If a candidate is outside of the DC area, travel to DC is expected 1–2 times per quarter.

The Staff Attorney / Senior Attorney will report to the Director of Regulatory Affairs & Legal Research and work closely with staff across the organization, including the Legal, Policy, Communications, and External Affairs teams.

Key Responsibilities:

Below are the key areas of responsibility for this role. The specifics of each responsibility may vary based on the needs of the organization and department.

Regulatory Monitoring and Advocacy:

• Support the Director of Regulatory Affairs & Legal Research in monitoring federal regulatory activity, including proposed rules, executive actions, and other administrative actions.
• Analyze proposed rulemakings and administrative actions to identify opportunities for engagement.
• Draft public comments, responses to requests for information, and other regulatory submissions.
• Assist in coordinating timely responses to regulatory actions, including partner engagement and related advocacy materials.
• Help maintain systems for identifying, tracking, and prioritizing rulemakings of strategic interest.
• Prepare and deliver verbal and written presentations and briefings on legal and regulatory developments to internal teams and external partners.
• Help build and maintain relationships with partner organizations, policy experts, and external stakeholders to strengthen the broader pro-democracy coalition.

Legal Research and Strategic Support:

• Conduct rigorous legal research and analysis on emerging administrative, constitutional, and regulatory legal issues to inform Democracy Forward’s litigation and advocacy strategies.
• Draft high-quality legal work product—including legal memoranda, issue area guides, and policy papers—that explain complex legal issues for a range of audiences.
• Support the development and maintenance of internal research infrastructure to enable rapid, high-quality analysis across teams.
• Track legal and policy developments in key issue areas and provide regular updates to internal teams and coalition partners.
• Advance proactive engagement in the pro-democracy movement through research and analysis that supports affirmative litigation, amicus briefs, and coalition partnerships.

Qualifications:

We recognize that strong candidates may not meet 100% of the qualifications listed. If you believe you can contribute meaningfully to our team, we encourage you to apply.

• J.D. required; active membership in good standing in the bar of a state or the District of Columbia, or ability to become admitted.
• 3-6 years of relevant legal experience for Attorney role, 7+ years of relevant experience for Senior Attorney role.
• Demonstrated experience with legal research and writing, including the ability to produce clear, precise, and persuasive written work product
• Experience with or demonstrated interest in federal regulatory processes, Administrative Procedure Act litigation, and/or public-interest legal advocacy.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to translate complex legal doctrine for non-specialist audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple, competing deadlines and priorities and be nimble and flexible in response to fast-moving legal and policy developments.
• Experience working on teams in a collaborative structure.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills including demonstrated self-awareness, commitment to diversity and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Demonstrated commitment to Democracy Forward’s values of excellence, inclusion, accountability, collaboration, and impact.
• Demonstrated commitment to democracy and social progress.

Work Environment & Physical Demands:

• This role may require occasional travel for team retreats, conferences, or organizational meetings.
• This role may involve sitting for extended periods and working on a computer. Reasonable accommodations will be provided as needed.

 The salary range for this position is $120,000- $170,000 commensurate with experience plus excellent benefits. Compensation is commensurate with experience.