Legal Counsel, Public Policy (Free Speech/Censorship)

Adflegal; Lansdowne (VA); On-site; USD 114,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

Alliance Defending Freedom is seeking a Legal Counsel, Public Policy (Free Speech/Censorship) to join the Government Affairs team in Lansdowne, VA. The role focuses on legal counsel for free speech legislation and policies, including domestic and foreign censorship issues, with significant travel for state legislatures and policy briefings.

Minimum qualifications include a J.D. and bar admission, plus 1+ year of public policy advocacy experience.

Qualifications

• J.D. and active bar license in at least one US state
• 1+ years of public policy advocacy or legislative experience
• Familiarity with federal/state legislative processes and constitutional issues related to free speech and censorship

Responsibilities

• Draft legislation and policies related to free speech and online expression.
• Review, track, and report on federal and state bills affecting free speech and censorship.
• Develop analyses, position papers, and summaries of legislation with issue-area experts.
• Research and report on court precedents impacting legislative priorities.
• Travel extensively to meet policy groups, legislators, and stakeholders.
• Provide testimony and presentations on proposed legislation.
• Foster relationships with government and policy allies.
• Speak to media and the public.
• Collaborate within the ADF team and with external partners.

Skills

Public policy advocacy

Legislative analysis

Education

J.D., active bar license

Job description

Legal Counsel, Public Policy (Free Speech/Censorship)

Make a difference with us! At Alliance Defending Freedom, we believe God has brought you here for His purpose—to stand for truth and defend the God-given right to live and speak it. Together, we protect religious freedom, free speech, the sanctity of life, marriage and family, and parental rights. Review our Statement of Faith to ensure we’re a fit for you.

Locations: Lansdowne, VA / Dallas, TX

Team Overview

The Legal Counsel, Public Policy will serve on the Government Affairs team that manages ADF’s legislative and public policy work, including in-depth legislative review and analysis. The position will work closely with the Center for Free Speech and the Global Censorship Group on legislative strategies that advance the goals and objectives of each team. This position will focus on providing legal counsel on legislation and policies regarding free speech, government censorship from both domestic and foreign sources, private sector censorship (online censorship, censorship via professional associations and licensing entities), state/private censorship collusion, artificial intelligence, and strategies to protect speech and expression in tech, online, financial services, and throughout the business/professional sectors.

Key Responsibilities

• Draft legislation and policies related to free speech, preventing government and private censorship, and protecting speech and expression online, in technology, in financial services and other essential services, and throughout the corporate/professional sectors.
• Review, track, and report on a large federal and state legislative portfolio of bills affecting ADF’s issues and strategic priorities related to free speech and censorship.
• Quickly develop a working knowledge of new legislation and its impact on ADF’s issue areas, with a primary focus on free speech and censorship.
• Work with issue area experts within ADF to develop analysis, position papers, and summaries of legislation affecting ADF’s core issue areas, with a primary focus on free speech and censorship.
• Conduct research and prepare reports analyzing the latest court precedent that impacts ADF's legislative priorities.
• Travel extensively (especially during state legislative sessions when travel will likely exceed 50% per month) to meet with policy groups, legislators, legislative staff, and other stakeholders to discuss policy, strategy, and how to effectively advocate to government officials and the public.
• Provide frequent in-person, virtual, and written testimony and presentations on the legal implications of proposed legislation.
• Encourage and facilitate effective working relationships with key government and policy allies.
• Speak publicly to the media and before crowds.
• Work collaboratively within the ADF team and with external allies.

Minimum Qualifications

• J.D., active license in at least one US state bar, and capable of meeting admission requirements in relevant jurisdiction within one year
• 1+ years of experience in public policy advocacy, governmental relations/affairs, or legislative work at the federal or state level.

Preferred Qualification

• Familiarity with federal and state legislative processes and procedures.
• Demonstrated knowledge of policy and constitutional issues related to free speech, preventing government and private censorship, and protecting speech and expression online, in technology, in financial services and other essential services, and throughout the corporate/professional sectors.
• Proven legislative advocacy and analysis skills, including demonstrated advanced verbal and written communication skills.
• Research, analyze, and evaluate federal and state governmental issues, rules, regulations, and legislation.
• Demonstrated high-level and effective interpersonal skills, including the ability to establish and maintain effective broad-range working relationships and proven ability to work independently and collaboratively on internal and external teams.
• Willingness to work in a frenetic and fluid legislative/political environment.
• Flexibility and effectiveness in handling multiple and complex projects simultaneously under stringent timeframes and changing conditions.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with key federal and state legislative staff, as well as other mission-related advocacy organizations.
• Awareness of the current political environment and ongoing strategic implications that affect the legislative activities of ADF.
• Ability to reach out and effectively use grassroots networks to advance a policy agenda.

At Alliance Defending Freedom, we offer competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package to support your well‑being and growth. Our benefits include 100% covered medical and dental insurance, medical and dependent care reimbursement, paid disability, long-term care, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan with a 4% company match. We prioritize work‑life balance with paid time off and 12 paid holidays each year.

Statement of Faith

Based on our adherence to the inspired, infallible, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God in Scripture, we profess with the Christian Church throughout time and around the world the faith expressed in the Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.

Doctrinal Distinctives

Also, based on this confession, we are committed to honoring God by obeying the two Greatest Commandments, loving God and loving neighbor, and based on that commitment and derived from the inspired, infallible, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God in Scripture, we profess the following as necessary for living the gospel:

• We believe in the spiritual unity and equality of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
• We believe that the Lordship of Christ requires us as disciples to seek to conform our actions, thoughts, and desires in obedience to Him.
• We believe God creates each person with an immutable biological sex — male or female — that reflects the image and likeness of God.
• We believe God designed marriage as a unique conjugal relationship joining one man and one woman in a single, exclusive, life-long union, and God intends sexual intimacy only to occur within that relationship.
• We believe God endows all human life with inherent dignity, and it must be respected and protected from conception to natural death.
• We believe that God has endowed all humans with the natural, and inalienable right of religious freedom to believe, pursue truth, and live within ordered liberty such that no civil government may justly infringe upon it.
• We believe that God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, calls all of us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him, knowing that He promises us abundant and eternal life.

Virginia Salary Range

$114,000 - $200,000 USD