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Bolder Advocacy Counsel or Senior Counsel – Northern California

Employer
Alliance for Justice
Location
San Francisco, California
Salary
up to $118,000
Closing date
Aug 11, 2021

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Focus Areas
Civil Rights / Advocacy
Job Function
Advocacy / Lobbying, Legal
Position Type
Full Time
Degree Level
JD
Willingness to Travel
up to 25%
Experience Level
Professional

Job Details

Alliance for Justice (AFJ) is a national association of over 120 organizations, representing a broad array of groups committed to progressive values and the creation of an equitable, just, and free society. For over 40 years we have been leaders in the fight for a more equitable society on behalf of a broad constituency of civil and women’s rights, environmental, consumer, LGBTQIA+, children’s, senior citizens’ and other groups. Alliance for Justice is premised on the belief that all Americans have the right to secure justice in the courts and to have their voices heard when government makes decisions that affect their lives.

Alliance for Justice’s Bolder Advocacy program is the nation’s leading resource for foundations and nonprofits who want to engage more actively and knowledgeably in the policymaking process. Bolder Advocacy’s legal experts help organizations move from cautious to courageous across lobbying, election-related activity, ballot measures, grantmaking, capacity building, and other efforts necessary to change the world. Bolder Advocacy also offers capacity assessment tools for nonprofits and foundations looking to build strength in advocacy and/or community organizing. By tracking and responding to legislation that affects nonprofit advocacy, fighting for the rights of nonprofits and foundations to conduct advocacy, and responding to potential threats to nonprofit advocacy, we lay the groundwork for more nonprofit organizations to advocate effectively on behalf of their communities. AFJ is headquartered in Washington, DC, with offices in Northern and Southern California and Texas. For more information about Bolder Advocacy, please visit www.bolderadvocacy.org.

Job purpose

The Counsel or Senior Counsel, as a part of AFJ’s Bolder Advocacy team, will provide training, technical assistance, write plain language legal guides, and engage in a variety of other communications with nonprofit and foundation staff, board members, and volunteers to help them understand their rights and abilities to advocate, lobby, engage in election related activities, and fund advocacy. The Counsel or Senior Counsel reports to the California Director who is stationed in AFJ’s Southern California office in Los Angeles. This position is based in AFJ’s Northern California office in San Francisco, CA, but currently working remotely. 

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Provide technical assistance to nonprofits and foundations on federal tax and federal election law as well as California state law and relevant local law that impacts advocacy organizations.
  • Plan, conduct and travel (when safe) to trainings/workshops on laws impacting advocacy organizations as well as on capacity assessment for advocacy and community organizing.
  • Write relevant technical assistance guides, blog posts, factsheets, articles, op-eds, regulatory comments, and occasional amicus briefs. 
  • Develop programs and resources to meet the needs of the nonprofit advocacy community.
  • Participate in policy advocacy impacting the rights of nonprofits to engage in advocacy and other subjects as relevant opportunities arise. Ideally, senior counsel will lead these efforts.
  • Represent the organization at conferences of nonprofits and foundations.
  • Network and build relationships with nonprofits and foundations representing priority constituencies and issue areas.
  • Assist with publicity/outreach and logistics as needed to reach the desired audience.
  • Collaborate with staff from other AFJ programs to deliver appropriate program content, program activities, and special events.
  • Support the Development team and the California Director in fundraising and grants management efforts.
  • Master and stay up to date on federal tax and election law for tax exempt organizations and effectively convey the material for a non-legal audience. 
  • Master and stay up to date on California state law on lobbying disclosure, ballot measure, and campaign finance issues impacting advocacy organizations and effectively convey the material for a non-legal audience.
  • Become familiar with local lobbying disclosure ordinances and other local advocacy laws in California.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

 

 

  • Law degree, California bar membership, and a minimum of 2 years of experience as a practicing attorney or advocate. Lawyers with over 5 years specializing in lobbying and/or campaign finance law may be considered as senior counsel.
  • Excellent oral and written communications skills, including the ability to write clearly and quickly (Spanish or other relevant non-English language skills a plus).
  • Strong collaborator, and ability to adapt quickly to changing situations.
  • Ability to work with a wide range of individuals and interests.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Highly organized and detail oriented.
  • Commitment to social justice causes.
  • Experience working at or representing nonprofit organizations preferred. Senior counsel must have experience working with affiliated advocacy organizations.
  • Knowledge of the nonprofit sector, especially nonprofit advocacy campaigns.
  • Experience handling federal or state compliance for advocacy organizations required for senior counsel.
  • Experience conducting training programs and working with coalitions and community organizing groups preferred for counsel and required for senior counsel
  • Experience with California state or Northern California local lobbying or advocacy campaigns preferred and required for senior counsel.
  • Knowledge of federal tax and election law and California Political Reform Act preferred and required for senior counsel.

Alliance for Justice provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Racial Equity

Our employees share our commitment to increasing racial diversity in our movement and organization, integrating justice and equity into the work we do and ensuring an inclusive organizational culture.

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment.  This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and other office equipment.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.

Direct Reports

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work


This is a full-time position.  Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Some occasional evening and weekend hours may be required.

AFJ’s non-management staff members are unionized under the Baltimore-Washington Newspaper Guild.

Other Duties


Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position.  Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Compensation

Salary range is $75,000-90,000 for a Counsel position and $95,000-118,000 for a Senior Counsel position, commensurate with experience. Position includes health and other benefits.

Application Instructions

 

 

Qualified applicants please reference Bolder Advocacy Counsel or Senior Counsel – Northern California in your subject line and submit a letter of interest, resume and writing sample to alliance@afj.org (NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE).   Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Company

Alliance for Justice believes that all Americans have the right to secure justice in the courts and to have their voices heard when government makes decisions that affect their lives. We are a national association of 130 organizations, representing a broad array of groups committed to progressive values and the creation of an equitable, just, and free society.

AFJ works to ensure that the federal judiciary advances core constitutional values, preserves human rights and unfettered access to the courts, and adheres to the even-handed administration of justice for all Americans. It is the leading expert on the legal framework for nonprofit advocacy efforts, providing definitive information, resources, and technical assistance that encourages organizations and their funding partners to fully exercise their right to be active participants in the democratic process.

Company info
Website
Telephone
202-822-6070
Location
11 Dupont Circle, NW Suite 500
Washington
DC
20036
US

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