Legislative & Regulatory Specialist

Nielsen Merksamer LLP•Sacramento, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Nielsen Merksamer is one of the nation's preeminent political law, government law, and lobbying firms, serving a national clientele on campaign, lobbying, and ethics compliance; legislative and administrative advocacy; election law; and high-stakes political and constitutional litigation. The firm is the go-to choice in California for navigating state and local government, and nationally for guidance on the complex laws governing political participation. The Legislative & Regulatory Specialist supports the firm's lobbying and government affairs practice by monitoring legislative and regulatory activity, conducting policy research and analysis, tracking bills and rulemakings, and helping prepare clients and lobbyists for engagement with lawmakers and agencies. This role is well-suited for a detail-oriented policy professional who thrives in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment and wants hands-on exposure to the legislative and rulemaking process.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in political science, Public Policy, Government, Law, Communications, or related field
2–5 years of experience in a legislative office (state legislature), executive/regulatory agency, trade association, advocacy organization, or lobbying/government affairs firm
Strong understanding of the state legislative and regulatory process
Excellent research, writing, and analytical skills
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including comfort presenting to clients and speaking in formal settings (e.g., hearings, briefings)
Ability to synthesize complex policy issues into clear, concise materials
High attention to detail and strong organizational/project management skills
Ability to manage multiple clients’ matters and deadlines simultaneously
Discretion and sound judgment in handling sensitive and confidential client and political information
Strong interpersonal skills and professional presence with government officials and clients
Adaptability in a fast-moving, deadline-intensive environment
Nonpartisan, client-service orientation
Proficiency in Microsoft Office; comfort learning specialized policy-tracking and CRM tools

Responsibilities

Track pending federal and/or state legislation, committee hearings, markups, and floor activity relevant to client interests
Track and analyze legislative and executive branch hearings, identifying key takeaways and implications for clients
Monitor agency rulemakings, notices of proposed rulemaking (NPRMs), public comment periods, and guidance documents
Maintain and update legislative and regulatory tracking systems/databases for multiple clients
Draft bill summaries, regulatory analyses, hearing memos, and issue briefs
Analyze the potential impact of proposed legislation or regulations on client industries
Research legislator voting records, committee jurisdiction, and policy positions
Meet with clients to provide legislative and regulatory briefings and updates
Prepare briefing materials, talking points, and leave-behinds for client meetings and Hill/agency visits
Draft comment letters, testimony, and correspondence to legislators and regulators
Testify before legislative committees or regulatory bodies on behalf of clients, as needed
Assist in developing advocacy strategies and coalition-building materials
Assist with scheduling and staffing meetings with legislative offices and agency officials
Support planning of fundraisers, briefings, and stakeholder events
Build and maintain contact databases for legislative and agency staff