Senior Attorney, Democracy 2025

Position Summary: Democracy Forward Foundation ("Democracy Forward") seeks a highly collaborative, strategic, and experienced Senior Attorney to join its Democracy 2025 team. Democracy 2025 serves as Democracy Forward's infrastructure to support and strengthen the pro-democracy legal movement by coordinating legal analysis, strategic planning, coalition support, and rapid response efforts to emerging threats to democratic governance. The Senior Attorney will play a leadership role in advancing Democracy 2025's efforts to monitor, analyze, and respond to abuses of government power, increasing authoritarianism, threats to civil rights, and the politicization of government institutions.

This position sits at the intersection of legal strategy, coalition leadership, legal analysis, and movement infrastructure, serving as a key resource for Democracy Forward and its extensive network of partner organizations. The ideal candidate will bring 5-7+ years of legal experience, exceptional judgment, strong legal, analytical, and writing skills, and demonstrated success managing complex projects and relationships across diverse stakeholders. The Senior Attorney will help shape strategic priorities, help lead issue-area workstreams, produce sophisticated legal analysis, and serve as a trusted advisor to coalition partners and internal teams.

This position is full-time. Democracy Forward's office is located in Washington, DC, and employees are expected to be in the office an average of two days per week. While candidates in the DC area are preferred, exceptional fully remote candidates will also be considered.

Occasional travel, including to conferences, convenings, and partner meetings, is expected. The Senior Attorney will report to the Deputy Director of Democracy 2025 and work closely with the Democracy 2025 Director, colleagues across Democracy Forward, and partners throughout the pro-democracy legal movement.

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. Strategic Legal Research & Analysis Lead legal research and analysis on emerging threats to democratic governance, including abuses of government power, weaponization of government institutions, threats to civil society, attacks on civil rights, politicized investigations and enforcement actions, agency leadership issues, and related constitutional and administrative law matters.

Support systems for tracking litigation, legal developments, administrative actions, and emerging trends affecting democratic governance and civil rights. Produce high-quality written work product, including legal memoranda, issue-area guides, litigation analyses, strategic assessments, briefing materials, and public-facing resources. Translate complex legal developments into clear, actionable guidance for diverse audiences, including coalition partners, advocates, policymakers, communications teams, and the public.

Coalition Leadership & Partner Engagement Lead and support Democracy 2025 working groups and cross-organizational initiatives focused on responding to anti-democratic threats and protecting democratic institutions. Build and maintain strong relationships with partner organizations, legal advocates, policy experts, and movement stakeholders across the Democracy 2025 network. Convene and facilitate meetings, strategy discussions, trainings, and briefings with coalition partners and internal stakeholders.

Regularly brief coalition partners and Democracy Forward staff on significant legal, policy, and litigation developments. Identify opportunities for collaboration and alignment across partner organizations and issue areas. Represent Democracy 2025 in external meetings, conferences, convenings, and public-facing engagements, as appropriate.