Staff Attorney

Staff Attorney

FAIRVOTE SUMMARY

FairVote, headquartered in Silver Spring, MD, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that is associated with FairVote Action, a 501 (c)(4) advocacy organization. Our focus is electoral reform that gives voters a greater choice, a stronger voice, and a more representative democracy. Since 1992, FairVote has been the national leader in developing and distributing the educational tools and analysis necessary to increase public appreciation of the value of ranked-choice voting (RCV).

POSITION SUMMARY

The Staff Attorney will support FairVote’s advocacy mission by providing legal analysis, including drafting and reviewing legislation, analyzing state and local laws and regulations, and responding to requests from FairVote colleagues and from movement partners.

They will also act as a facilitator of the RCV Legal Roundtable. The RCV Legal Roundtable consists of representatives from 8 organizations who work on RCV and proportional RCV and it is a space for prioritizing and coordinating on projects and building shared alignment around legal strategy and policy recommendations.

Position Type:

This is a full-time exempt, benefits eligible position. Exempt employees are expected to work the appropriate and necessary time to complete key assignments and related tasks on schedule. This is a union role. The Staff Attorney will report to the Director of Research and Policy.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Draft, edit, and monitor legislation and regulations related to RCV and proportional RCV.
• Analyze state and local laws and regulations impacting the ability to adopt and implement ranked choice voting.
• Support FairVote staff and movement partners by serving as a resource for legal and policy-related questions.
• Prepare public-facing materials to serve legal and policy needs.
• Represent FairVote on and facilitate the work of the RCV Legal Roundtable, a group of lawyers from 8 organizations working on RCV and proportional RCV. This includes evaluating and responding to incoming requests, spearheading on project development and execution, and facilitating regular communication and coordination between members.
• Develop partnerships with external stakeholders and coalition partners, particularly in the voting rights space where we have identified growth opportunities for proportional RCV.
• Participate in discussions on policy best practices and recommendations.
• Work efficiently in a collaborative environment, including with internal and external stakeholders.
• Participate in Planning, Measurement, Evaluation and Learning (PMEL) as appropriate for the position.

Knowledge, Education, and Experience:

• Enthusiasm for FairVote’s central reform priorities: ranked choice voting (RCV) and proportional RCV.
• JD and at least two years of legal experience in the democracy or voting rights field, or a related field.
• Experience drafting and reviewing legislation in service of external clients or stakeholders, including balancing competing goals to deliver a product that meets the needs of multiple parties.
• Experience building relationships with other individuals and organizations in the democracy and voting rights space.
• Excellent writing skills, including public-facing persuasive writing.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively and build relationships with groups and individuals with a diversity of experiences and political views.
• Willingness to pursue new avenues of inquiry and develop new skills in a self- directed manner.
• Ability to appreciate and contribute to a work environment that values integrity, adaptability, reliability, collaboration, and a commitment to learning.

LOCATION

Work may be conducted at our Silver Spring, MD office or remotely. If remote, the Staff Attorney would be expected to join the team in Silver Spring roughly 3-6 times per year for in-person meetings.

SALARY & BENEFITS

This is a full-time, exempt position. FairVote offers a competitive benefits package for all full-time employees. The salary range for this position is $85k - $95k.

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply using this link Career Center | Recruitment. A Cover Letter and Resume are required to consider an application complete. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Due to the volume of applications, we will unfortunately not acknowledge receipt of all applications. No phone calls, please.

FairVote is an equal opportunity employer committed to maintaining a non-discriminatory work environment. FairVote places a high value on fostering an inclusive workplace, and we are committed to building a team as diverse as the American people. We do not make hiring or advancement, or other employment decisions based on race, religion, gender, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, political affiliation, pregnancy, disability, or any other status protected by law. Individuals from across all spectrums who are passionate about fixing our broken political system are strongly encouraged to apply.