Legislative Policy Associate

Institute for Justice; Arlington (VA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Health, Dental, Vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

PTO + paid holidays

Life insurance

Job summary

Institute for Justice is seeking a Policy Associate for our Legislative team to promote liberty by advancing productive legislation in state legislatures. The role supports strategies, builds relationships with sponsors and grassroots advocates, and coordinates hearings and public testimony.

Based in Arlington, VA with flexibility for additional IJ offices nationwide, the position emphasizes research, communication, and cross‑spectrum collaboration with attorneys and policymakers to advance IJ’s

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum 3 years of professional work experience.
• Knowledge of IJ's pillars with ability to deepen expertise.
• Excellent interpersonal skills for persuasive communication with legislators and stakeholders.
• Ability to analyze bills and statutes with IJ attorneys.
• Strong organizational skills for lobbying across diverse coalitions.
• Ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Researching legislation with IJ’s Director of Legislation and Legislative Counsel.
• Developing and executing legislative strategies and building relationships with sponsors.
• Organizing grassroots advocates and coalitions to support IJ priorities.
• Planning media events and monitoring bills to align with IJ strategies.
• Lobbying and coordinating testifiers for committee hearings.
• Building IJ campaign web pages using government affairs software.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Policy analysis

Legislative advocacy

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Public speaking

Research

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s in Public Policy

Tools

Quorum

FiscalNote

Job description

The Institute for Justice, the national law firm for liberty, is excited to announce an opportunity to join our Legislative team as a Policy Associate. IJ is the country’s leading public‑interest law firm in the areas of economic liberty, free speech, private property rights, and educational choice. We’re committed to shaping a freer society, and this role is pivotal in our pursuit of justice, protection of individual liberties, and the defense of constitutional rights.

The position will promote individual liberties in state legislatures, primarily by advancing legislation that protects the right to earn a living free from unreasonable governmental interference and that protects property rights.

The position may be based at our headquarters in Arlington, VA, or at one of our regional offices located in Seattle, WA; Austin, TX; Miami, FL; or Phoenix, AZ.

Key Responsibilities

• Researching legislation with IJ’s Director of Legislation and Legislative Counsel, including:
  • Researching the need for legislation
  • Identifying bill supporters and opponents, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of bills
  • Meeting with key stakeholders
• Developing and executing legislative strategies with IJ’s Director of Legislation and Legislative Counsel, including:
  • Identifying, securing, and managing direct relationships with bill sponsors
  • Identifying and organizing grassroots advocates
  • Forming coalitions with members of politically diverse organizations
  • Planning and executing media events to build support for legislation
  • Monitoring bills and ensuring text remains consistent with IJ’s strategies
  • Lobbying and assisting grassroots advocates in meeting with state legislators
  • Organizing testifiers for committee hearings
  • Drafting written testimony and testifying at committee hearings
  • Building and managing IJ campaign web pages using government affairs software

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum 3 years of professional work experience
• Knowledge of and passion for IJ's pillars, with a demonstrated ability to build and deepen expertise in those areas
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate persuasively – both orally and in writing – with legislators, policy makers, activists, colleagues, coalition members, and media
• Ability to analyze bills and statutes in collaboration with IJ attorneys
• Top‑tier organizational skills, including executing detailed plans for lobbying with people from diverse backgrounds and external members of coalitions
• Ability to effectively manage multiple projects and competing demands on short deadlines
• Perseverance, optimism, and the ability to collaborate effectively with IJ attorneys
• Ability to work across the political spectrum and demonstrate exceptional professionalism in both appearance and demeanor
• Ability to support and advance sophisticated legislative efforts

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in political science, lobbying, or political communication
• One year of experience working in a state legislature or state government affairs
• Master’s degree in Public Policy
• Experience using government affairs software, such as Quorum or FiscalNote
• Experience supporting and managing grassroots campaigns
• Public speaking experience
• Experience testifying at legislative committee hearings
• Experience developing and building relationships

Additional Requirements

• Frequent travel to state capitols
• Some weekend work and weekend travel during state legislative sessions (January to May)
• Representation of IJ at 3-4 conferences during the summer and fall months

Benefits

• Hybrid work schedule, requiring three days in‑office each week; four fully remote weeks a year
• Flexible work hours with our core business hours of 10am and 4pm
• Smart casual dress code; casual Fridays
• Health, Dental, and Vision insurance (IJ covers 100% of individual premiums)
• Free Short‑Term Disability, Long‑Term Disability, and Life insurance plans
• HSA employer contributions
• 401(k) with employer matches
• Generous PTO including a paid personal day and 12 paid holidays

Salary

This position is posted at the Associate level with a salary range of $75,000–$85,000. This range reflects required qualifications; candidates with additional relevant experience or skills may be considered outside of this range.

To Apply

To apply, please submit your resume, a cover letter detailing how your experience and professional interests will ensure success in this position, and a writing sample. The interview process will include a written writing skills assessment.

IJ is an equal opportunity employer.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At IJ we value a diverse workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

To learn more about our culture and benefits, visit our Working at IJ page. No phone calls please.

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