Staff Attorney

Wisconsin Legislative Council; Madison (WI); Hybrid; USD 76,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule after six months

Job summary

The Wisconsin Legislative Council is a nonpartisan service agency in the Wisconsin Legislature that employs attorneys and analysts who provide legal and policy research services to legislative committees, legislators, and legislative staff. The Legislative Council staff is required, by statute, to be strictly nonpartisan.

The Legislative Council seeks a staff attorney to join the agency, with an anticipated start date of October 2026.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Wisconsin law license or expectation to obtain within six months.
• Ability to work well in a nonpartisan role; strong knowledge of legal principles.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal interpretations and analyses on bills, amendments, and state/federal law.
• Assist in developing bills and amendments with analyses of effects.
• Advise on Open Meetings Law, Public Records Law, and committee procedure.
• Staff standing and study committees; briefings to members; answer questions.

Job description

The Wisconsin Legislative Council is a nonpartisan service agency in the Wisconsin Legislature that employs attorneys and analysts who provide legal and policy research services to legislative committees, legislators, and legislative staff. The Legislative Council staff is required, by statute, to be strictly nonpartisan.

The Legislative Council seeks a staff attorney to join the agency, with an anticipated start date of October 2026. The Legislative Council is in downtown Madison, across from the State Capitol. The position is in the unclassified state service and offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. There is an opportunity for a hybrid work schedule after the first six months of employment. The starting salary is $84,000 and may be negotiable based on relevant work experience.

Primary Responsibilities

Research for Individual Legislators

• Provide legal interpretations and analyses on bills, amendments, and federal or state law, either orally or in writing.
• Assist in the development of bills and amendments, including providing analysis on the practical and legal effects of changes to state law.
• Provide advice on the Open Meetings Law, Public Records Law, and legislative procedure.

Committee Staffing

• Prepare for and attend each public meeting of assigned standing committees or study committees to answer questions during the meetings. Typically, an attorney is assigned to staff three to six standing committees during the legislative session and to staff one to two study committees during the interim period.
• Respond to questions from the committee and provide legal interpretation and analysis on bills and amendments that are being considered by the committee, as well as relevant federal or state law.
• Provide written legal interpretations and analyses on bills, amendments, and federal or state law.
• Provide briefings to committee members on bills being considered by the committee.
• Provide advice on topics such as the Open Meetings Law and committee procedure.
• Assist in the development of bills and amendments, including providing analyses on the practical and legal effects of changes to state law.
• Advise the committee in its oversight of state agencies.
• Develop expertise in the subject matter areas under the jurisdiction of the committee.
• Develop strong working relationships with the chair, ranking minority member, and other members of the committee.
• Review and prepare reports on proposed administrative rules that are promulgated by state agencies, including analyzing whether a state agency has statutory authority to promulgate a rule.

Publications

• Write act memos for bills that are enacted into law.
• Write amendment memos for amendments that are adopted by a committee or house of the Legislature.
• Write publications on topics of interest to the Legislature.

Qualifications

A qualified candidate will have a Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and a license to practice law in the State of Wisconsin (or an expectation to obtain a Wisconsin law license within six months of employment). In addition, a qualified candidate will have the ability to work well in a nonpartisan role; have a strong knowledge of basic legal principles and constitutional law, as well as federal, state, and local government organization and functions; be able to work well in a visible and time-sensitive manner; and have an interest in working in a collaborative environment.

An ideal candidate will also possess interest in working in the legislative branch, strong oral and written communication skills, experience in interpreting and advising on statutory and case law, significant knowledge and experience in at least one policy area, and knowledge of parliamentary procedure.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer seeking a diverse and talented workforce.