Legal Counsel, Public Policy (Free Speech/Censorship)

<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">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 <a href="https://adflegal.org/about-us/careers/statement-of-faith/" target="_blank">Statement of Faith</a> to ensure we’re a fit for you.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; color: rgb(35, 111, 161); font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 48, 87);">Locations:</span> </strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Lansdowne, VA / Dallas, TX</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; color: rgb(0, 48, 87); font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Team Overview</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Legal Counsel, Public Policy will serve on the Government Affairs team that manages ADF’s legislative and public policy work, including in-depth legislative review and analysis. The position will work closely with the Center for Free Speech and the Global Censorship Group on legislative strategies that advance the goals and objectives of each team. This position will focus on providing legal counsel on legislation and policies regarding free speech, government censorship from both domestic and foreign sources, private sector censorship (online censorship, censorship via professional associations and licensing entities), state/private censorship collusion, artificial intelligence, and strategies to protect speech and expression in tech, online, financial services, and throughout the business/professional sectors.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; color: rgb(0, 48, 87); font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Key Responsibilities</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Draft legislation and policies related to free speech, preventing government and private censorship, and protecting speech and expression online, in technology, in financial services and other essential services, and throughout the corporate/professional sectors.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Review, track, and report on a large federal and state legislative portfolio of bills affecting ADF’s issues and strategic priorities related to free speech and censorship.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Quickly develop a working knowledge of new legislation and its impact on ADF’s issue areas, with a primary focus on free speech and censorship.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Work with issue area experts within ADF to develop analysis, position papers, and summaries of legislation affecting ADF’s core issue areas, with a primary focus on free speech and censorship.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Conduct research and prepare reports analyzing the latest court precedent that impacts ADF's legislative priorities.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Travel extensively (especially during state legislative sessions when travel will likely exceed 50% per month) to meet with policy groups, legislators, legislative staff, and other stakeholders to discuss policy, strategy, and how to effectively advocate to government officials and the public.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Provide frequent in-person, virtual, and written testimony and presentations on the legal implications of proposed legislation.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Encourage and facilitate effective working relationships with key government and policy allies.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Speak publicly to the media and before crowds.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Work collaboratively within the ADF team and with external allies.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; color: rgb(0, 48, 87); font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Minimum Qualifications</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">J.D., active license in at least one US state bar, and capable of meeting admission requirements in relevant jurisdiction within one year</span></li> <li style="font-family: georg