Sr. Counsel, Director of Center for Free Speech

Alliance Defending Freedom; Lansdowne (VA); On-site; USD 238,000 - 275,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% covered medical and dental

401(k) with company match

Paid disability

Paid holidays

PTO and family leave

Job summary

Alliance Defending Freedom seeks a Senior Counsel, Director of the Center for Free Speech, in Lansdowne, VA to lead litigation and advocacy efforts advancing free speech and opposing censorship. The role reports to the VP of Litigation Strategy and requires building strategic objectives, mentoring litigators, and coordinating across teams.

You will supervise senior attorneys, develop creative litigation strategies, and engage in public speaking and coalition-building with allies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree; JD, licensed to practice law in relevant jurisdiction.
• 10+ years of experience in practicing law, including supervisory role.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Westlaw software.

Responsibilities

• Assess, develop, initiate, and lead legal litigation and advocacy that advances the objectives of the ADF Center for Free Speech.
• Develop creative litigation strategies to combat censorship and maintain free speech in the AI era.
• Lead and supervise a team of attorneys, including training across all phases of state and federal litigation.
• Litigate complex cases before trial and appellate courts and administrative agencies.
• Build coalitions and coordinate with allies to protect free speech and oppose censorship.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Strategic thinking

Education

JD, licensed to practice law

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Westlaw

Job description

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.

Location: Lansdowne, VA

Team Overview

As Senior Counsel, Director of Center for Free Speech, you are a vital part of the Legal Advocacy Team. In this role, you will report to the VP of Litigation Strategy and are responsible for leading the Center for Free Speech. This includes, but is not limited to, working with ADF leadership to set strategic objectives for the Center for Free Speech; developing creative litigation strategies to combat censorship (particularly digital censorship), maintain free speech in the age of artificial intelligence, resist international censorship from creeping into the United States, and stop governments from pressuring private actors to silence speech; aggressively executing those litigation plans; managing and mentoring litigators; supervising and leading litigation and advocacy efforts to meet stated objectives; building coalitions among allies opposing censorship; speaking and presenting on free speech and censorship issues; coordinating across teams within ADF and coordinating allies outside of ADF to meet stated objectives; and other similar responsibilities related to directing the Center for Free Speech.

Key Responsibilities

• Assess, develop, initiate, and lead legal litigation and advocacy that advances the objectives of the ADF Center for Free Speech.
• Develop creative litigation strategies to combat censorship (particularly digital censorship), maintain free speech in the age of artificial intelligence, resist international censorship from creeping into the United States, and stop governments from pressuring private actors to silence speech.
• Aggressively and tenaciously executing litigation strategies to combat censorship.
• Lead and supervise a team of attorneys to undertake the most advanced and complex litigation handled by ADF. This includes:
  • ensuring that legal filings are of superior quality through drafting, review, and editing;
  • leading the team in conducting advanced legal research on novel questions of law;
  • training entry, mid-level, and senior attorneys in all phases of state and federal litigation;
  • leading the Center for Free Speech in administration, personnel, supervision, and litigation.
• Litigate complex cases and represent clients before trial and appellate courts as well as administrative agencies.
• Proactively investigate potential cases and review potential intake matters, and when necessary, initiate immediate legal action to protect free speech or oppose censorship in urgent circumstances.
• Build coalitions and develop collaborative relationships with allies that are protecting free speech and opposing censorship.
• Speaking publicly and in media appearances on free speech and censorship issues.

As Team Leader, You Will

• Act as a servant leader by training, encouraging, coaching, and developing your Team Members.
• Foster a spirit of trust, innovation, creativity, and excellence on your team.
• Meet regularly with your Team Members to discuss their progress and complete performance reviews.
• Approve PTO requests, timecards, and expense reports.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree; JD, licensed to practice law in relevant jurisdiction
• 10+ years of experience in practicing law, including in a supervisory role.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Westlaw software

Pay & Benefits

At Alliance Defending Freedom, we offer a competitive compensation and benefits package to support your well-being and growth. While we do not disclose specific salary ranges, our compensation is competitive with top non-profit law firms. 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.

Want to Know More About ADF?

This salary range is reflective of a position based in Lansdowne, VA. This range is a good‑faith estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on the candidate’s experience, skills, qualifications, and office location.

Virginia Salary Range

$238,300—$275,000 USD