Counsel, Litigation

Common Cause • Washington, DC

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Common Cause is seeking a Counsel, Litigation to lead their work in protecting four key policy areas: Voting & Fair Representation, Anti-Corruption & Accountability, Media & Technology, and Civil Rights & Civil Liberties. This role involves contributing to impactful legal litigation in collaboration with partner organizations, pro bono law firms, and potential clients within the pro-democracy space. This is a full-time position based in Washington, DC, with an expectation of at least two days per week in the office. The role reports to the Vice President, Litigation.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree and active bar membership in good standing in the District of Columbia or another state.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex advocacy litigation; ideally, you have litigated on behalf of or against federal or state governments.
• Substantive knowledge of or experience in one or more of the following pro-democracy areas: voting and fair representation, including election law; civil rights and civil liberties; media and technology; anti-corruption and accountability; or constitutional law.
• Experience drafting complaints, pleadings, or other dispositive motions, with the judgment to know when litigation is the right tool to meet the moment.
• A track record of leading organization-wide change initiatives.
• Experience managing coalitions or groups that represent stakeholders with diverse interests to achieve a goal.
• Research and analytical skills, as demonstrated through an internship, clinical experience, or other work experience.
• Familiarity with office productivity tools including Microsoft Office and Zoom.

Nice To Haves

• A strong commitment to Common Cause’s nonpartisan mission and to advancing civil rights through our pro-democracy agenda.
• A commitment to equity in the goals of your work and in how you work with others.
• A track record of working with others, with the ability to build rapport, trust, and credibility with multiple stakeholders with diverse interests.
• Ability to navigate organizational and power dynamics, respectfully navigate conflict while maintaining your values, and influence others to adopt changes to meet common goals.
• Innovative and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to navigate through ambiguity to achieve goals, and a resourceful approach to solve problems.
• Ability to manage and meet deadlines for multiple short- and long-term priorities at once, with high attention to detail; strong organizational skills, and the ability to manage your time independently.
• Ability to compel action through both written and verbal communication, including distilling complex concepts for a broad audience, and to differentiate communications as needed for various audiences.
• Openness to feedback and awareness of your own strengths and areas for growth.

Responsibilities

• Lead Common Cause’s litigation and advocacy efforts through expertise in legal analysis, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for external counsel, overseeing day-to-day case management including assignment of reviews, coordination of discovery timelines, and overall case progress.
• Identify, develop, and bring forward creative litigation pursuits by identifying opportunities with partner organizations, pro bono law firms, and potential clients.
• Work on various legal actions including administrative complaints, regulatory comments, and open records requests.
• Maintain meticulous tracking of case progress and provide regular updates to team members and leadership.
• Collaborate and work closely with State teams and coalition partners to develop clear case theory, coordinate litigation strategy, share legal expertise, and ensure alignment with organizational goals.
• Review substantive pleadings and briefs critically, providing insightful comments to strengthen legal positions.
• Develop proficiency in emerging issue areas, applying creative, rigorous, and analytical approaches to address complex challenges.
• Offer sound legal counsel to the Vice President of Litigation, contributing legal insights to strategic decision-making.
• Build and sustain relationships with counsel and partner organizations by initiating new collaborations and fostering a network of reliable legal and organizational allies.
• Develop, manage, and participate in coalitions and represent Common Cause at conferences and external events.
• Prepare and present legal materials for internal and public speaking engagements.

Benefits

• A robust healthcare plan that covers 97% of employee’s medical care, 100% of employee’s vision and dental benefits, and 75% of family medical care and 100% of family vision and dental benefits.
• Long-term disability and life insurance.
• Generous Paid Time Off including 20 Days of Vacation and 10 observed Holidays per year, and additional days off for Thanksgiving and Winter break.
• 16 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• A 401k retirement savings plan, with immediate Employer Match.
• Dependent Care and Pet Care Support when you travel for work.
• Funds for professional development.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree