Chief Counsel

Democracy Fund; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan with company match

Life insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Whistleblower Aid is seeking an experienced, mission-driven attorney to become Chief Counsel. You will lead our programmatic legal work, guide whistleblower disclosures, and publicly represent the organization as a senior leader.

The role requires discretion, strategic counsel, and a commitment to public accountability. This is a full-time, at-will position with a hybrid work arrangement, based in Washington, DC.

Qualifications

• J.D. and admission to at least one state bar.
• Hands-on experience producing and editing legal work under time pressure.
• Experience leading and growing organizations, preferably in non-profit or mission-driven contexts.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee WBA's programmatic legal work.
• Serve as chief counsel for whistleblower clients, government and corporate.
• Provide strategic counsel to the CEO and CSO on case-related and organizational matters.
• Conduct risk assessments, research, analysis, and develop risk mitigation strategies.
• Research, file lawful whistleblower disclosures with authorities and regulators.
• Review legal documents, maintain current case plans, and ensure quality control.
• Lead casework, including strategy, drafting, filing, and evidence review.
• Prevent retaliation against clients and manage external communications.
• Develop impact strategies for public awareness and policy change.
• Represent the organization at events and in media; build partnerships.

Skills

Public service

Public speaking

Leadership

Fundraising & development

Discretion & professionalism

Strategic counsel

Education

J.D. and Bar admission

Job description

Full Time
$180,000 - 240,000 Annually, Based On Experience

About Whistleblower Aid:

Whistleblower Aid (WBA) is a pioneering 501(c)(3) non-profit legal organization that helps government employees and private-sector workers report and expose wrongdoing. Our clients come forward at great personal risk to bring the transparency needed for public accountability and reform. Whether holding the government to account, protecting our democracy, defending the Constitution, safeguarding our national security, or reporting corporate malfeasance harming the public, our clients' truth-telling is driving much needed changes across industries and agencies and their impact is felt around the world.

We are a small team of lawyers, strategists and communications professionals who work tirelessly to keep our whistleblowers safe and their disclosures legal and effective.

About the position:

Whistleblower Aid is seeking to hire an experienced, mission-driven attorney as our next Chief Counsel. As a member of the leadership team, the Chief Counsel will help lead our growing organization by overseeing our programmatic legal work. This role will directly support, provide legal guidance and represent our clients, personally oversee the development and execution of whistleblower disclosures, build strategy to advance our entire legal program, and publicly represent the organization. Whistleblower Aid's work is highly sensitive and this position requires absolute discretion and professionalism.

This is a full time, at will, employee position. This role is hybrid, serving our office in Washington, DC with a minimum two days in office per week.

Responsibilities:

• Lead, oversee and manage WBA's programmatic legal work
• Serve as chief counsel for all our whistleblower clients - government and corporate - who risk much when they bring wrongdoing to light
• Provide strategic counsel and support to the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Strategy Officer on both case-related and organizational/operational matters
• Support organizational needs including making legal risk assessments, research and analysis as needed and producing risk mitigation strategies
• Research, create and file lawful whistleblower disclosures with law enforcement agencies, Inspectors General, Congress and other regulatory, investigative and law enforcement bodies with authority that generate impactful investigations and enforcement actions
• Review drafted legal documents/disclosures, ensure quality control on organization-wide matters and ensure lead counsel for each case updates and maintains current case plans for active matters
• Lead assigned casework including case strategy, team strategy, drafting, editing, filing, legal analysis, legal arguments and evidence review
• Prevent retaliation against our clients including but not limited to - adverse employment actions, attacks on credibility, and frivolous litigation or SLAPP suits.
• Work closely with our leadership team to develop and execute impact strategies that ensure disclosures by our clients lead to public awareness, policy change, institutional reform and accountability
• Serve as lead legal point of contact for all outside partners including co-counsel, subject matter experts, and consultants
• Recruit and manage direct-report legal staff, teams of co-counsel, investigators, paralegals, and other contractors
• Cultivate and create partnerships through targeted outreach and educational events.
• Represent the organization at industry events, conferences, and on panels as appropriate
• Expand and support our collaboration with a trusted network of advocacy partners, mission aligned NGO's, legal groups and policy-makers
• Work collaboratively with the leadership team and our communications team to establish thought leadership, ensure impactful media engagement, and build WBA brand awareness
• Represent the organization publicly in furtherance of our mission and brand
• Support the organization's advocacy and external relations strategies in service of cases and clients. Appear in media, print and television, in support of the same
• Participate in and support the organization’s fundraising and development activities
• Provide guidance and mentorship to the organization’s attorneys
• Some domestic and international travel
• Other duties as necessary

Requirements:

• A deep commitment and track record of public service
• J.D. and admission to at least one state bar
• 10 + years of supervisory legal experience
• Hands-on experience producing and editing legal work product including under time-sensitive pressure
• Hands-on experience managing and conducting document review
• Proven ability to lead and grow organizations, preferably in a non-profit or mission driven context
• Ability to publicly represent an organization including; effective public speaking, strong interpersonal skill, and professionalism
• Agility to function in dynamic circumstances with a creative problem-solving approach
• A strong track record in leading by example including modeling resourcefulness, responsiveness, empathy, collegiality
• Preferred work experience in government oversight such as DOJ, an OIG, an agency general counsel's office, a federal agency with investigative or civil enforcement authority, or congressional investigations
• Preferred legal experience in whistleblower law
• Preferred ability to practice law in Washington, DC

Generous benefits package including fully employer-paid health insurance, employer-sponsored retirement plan with company match, life insurance, and a generous paid time off policy.

Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.