Attorney Jobs: AI and Democracy Legal Counsel

Remote $138,400 - $193,000 per year We are seeking multiple counsel to defend American democracy at the frontier of technology, driving creative impact litigation and legal strategies to safeguard and strengthen democracy in the AI era. Job description Protect Democracy is seeking experienced, highly motivated attorneys to join our team as Counsel, focusing on the legal dimensions of artificial intelligence and advanced technology as they intersect with American democracy. These roles are integral to our scaling of the AI for Democracy Action Lab—Protect Democracy’s multidisciplinary, nonpartisan “action tank” focusing on building tech tools and shaping law and policy to safeguard and strengthen democracy in the AI era. This position is remote based in the US.* We are hiring for two different tech counsel roles: The senior position is for candidates with at least 10 years of experience as an attorney, ideally bringing expertise in AI and emerging technology law, exceptional legal and analytical skills, entrepreneurial legal instincts, and a demonstrated ability to translate complex technical and legal questions for diverse audiences. The senior position is for candidates with at least 10 years of experience as an attorney, ideally bringing expertise in AI and emerging technology law, exceptional legal and analytical skills, entrepreneurial legal instincts, and a demonstrated ability to translate complex technical and legal questions for diverse audiences. The other position is for early to mid-career attorneys eager for opportunities to stretch and grow in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. The ideal candidate brings at least 4 years of experience as an attorney, with some exposure to AI and emerging technology law or related fields (such as national security or First Amendment law), exceptional legal and analytical skills, and entrepreneurial legal instincts. The other position is for early to mid-career attorneys eager for opportunities to stretch and grow in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. The ideal candidate brings at least 4 years of experience as an attorney, with some exposure to AI and emerging technology law or related fields (such as national security or First Amendment law), exceptional legal and analytical skills, and entrepreneurial legal instincts. In both roles, you will develop and advance legal strategies at the frontier of AI law and policy. From idea generation to execution, you will work with a small team driving creative impact litigation and other projects that integrate legal, regulatory, and communications strategies to constrain deployments of AI that are corrosive to our democracy. You will also help build the AI for Democracy Action Lab’s expertise and credibility on the legal questions that will define how AI shapes our democracy. As a member of this team, you will shape the AI for Democracy Action Lab’s legal advocacy priorities, building upon the team’s strategies to date. Our legal work has included advocacy to push back against the Pentagon’s retaliation against Anthropic for standing by its red lines, litigation challenging the administration’s attempt to chill online trust and safety work, and litigation and advocacy to stop the administration’s unlawful collection and aggregation of Americans’ personal data and deployment of technology for surveillance purposes. At Protect Democracy, we believe that diversity isn’t just a strength — it’s a necessity for tackling the complex challenges facing democracy. A broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences strengthen our ability to analyze problems, craft solutions, and drive meaningful change. We strongly encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and from across the political and ideological spectrum to apply. If you meet most but not all of the criteria listed below but believe nonetheless you’d be a stellar match for the role and could grow into it, we want to hear from you. In both counsel roles, team members will: Develop and shape integrated advocacy projects to advance the mission of Protect Democracy at the intersection of AI and democracy through the AI for Democracy Action Lab, including by:Bringing creative and high-impact litigation at the intersection of AI and democracy;Helping build Protect Democracy’s expertise and reputation as a thought leader on AI and emerging technology law as it relates to democracy; andCollaborating with the communications team to define and execute on integrated advocacy campaigns that advance the AI for Democracy Action Lab’s goals. Develop and shape integrated advocacy projects to advance the mission of Protect Democracy at the intersection of AI and democracy through the AI for Democracy Action Lab, including by: Bringing creative and high-impact litigation at the intersection of AI and democracy; Bringing creative and high-impact litigation at the intersection of AI and democracy; Helping build Protect Democracy’s expertise and reputation as a thought leader on AI and emerging technology law as it relates to democracy; and Helping build Protect Democracy’s expertise and reputation as a thought leader on AI and emerging technology law as it relates to democracy; and Collaborating with the communications team to define and execute on integrated advocacy campaigns that advance the AI for Democracy Action Lab’s goals. Collaborating with the communications team to define and execute on integrated advocacy campaigns that advance the AI for Democracy Action Lab’s goals. Senior counsel will: Identify, scope, and manage complex, high-stakes integrated advocacy projects to advance the AI for Democracy Action Lab’s goals; Identify, scope, and manage complex, high-stakes integrated advocacy projects to advance the AI for Democracy Action Lab’s goals; Lead and drive the development of innovative legal arguments and potential litigation approaches at the intersection of AI and democracy; Lead and drive the development of innovative legal arguments and potential litigation approaches at the intersection of AI and democracy; Lead the process of researching, drafting, and editing pleadings, motions, briefs, and other legal filings in impact litigation; Lead the process of researching, drafting, and editing pleadings, motions, briefs, and other legal filings in impact litigation; Lead communication with opposing counsel and manage and grow relationships with clients, coalition partners, experts, and government stakeholders in high-stakes litigation and non-litigation settings; Lead communication with opposing counsel and manage and grow relationships with clients, coalition partners, experts, and government stakeholders in high-stakes litigation and non-litigation settings; Manage discovery processes, including informal fact-finding, document review, witness interviews, written discovery, depositions, and expert discovery; Manage discovery processes, including informal fact-finding, document review, witness interviews, written discovery, depositions, and expert discovery; Supervise and mentor paralegals, junior legal staff, and law students; Supervise and mentor paralegals, junior legal staff, and law students; Write, publish, and present to key audiences on legal issues that gain significant traction at the intersection of AI and democratic governance; Write, publish, and present to key audiences on legal issues that gain significant traction at the intersection of AI and democratic governance; Brief reporters and provide expert commentary on complex legal questions and developments in AI law and regulation, serving as a public face for projects; Brief reporters and provide expert commentary on complex legal questions and developments in AI law and regulation, serving as a public face for projects; Engage with policymakers, regulators, civil society partners, and the tech industry as a credible legal voice for pro-democracy AI governance. Engage with policymakers, regulators, civil society partners, and the tech industry as a credible legal voice for pro-democracy AI governance. Early to mid-career counsel will: Lead legal and policy projects or workstreams at the intersection of AI and democracy with managerial direction on strategy and pivots; Lead legal and policy projects or workstreams at the intersection of AI and democracy with managerial direction on strategy and pivots; Research, develop, and shape innovative ideas for litigation and policy strategies to advance the AI for Democracy Action Lab’s goals; Research, develop, and shape innovative ideas for litigation and policy strategies to advance the AI for Democracy Action Lab’s goals; Research, draft, and edit excellent legal pleadings and external-facing non-litigation products (including legal memos, primers, administrative comments, and op-eds); Research, draft, and edit excellent legal pleadings and external-facing non-litigation products (including legal memos, primers, administrative comments, and op-eds); Participate in and manage discovery processes, including informal fact-finding, document review, witness interviews, written discovery, depositions, and expert discovery; Participate in and manage discovery processes, including informal fact-finding, document review, witness interviews, written discovery, depositions, and expert discovery; Communicate in settings with significant stakes, including recruiting clients and retaining outside counsel and representing the organization with non-litigation external stakeholders (such as ecosystem or media briefings); Communicate in settings with significant stakes, including recruiting clients and retaining outside counsel and representing the organization with non-litigation external stakeholders (such as ecosystem or media briefings); Participate in convenings with policymakers, regulators, civil society partners, and the tech industry as a credible legal voice for pro-democracy AI governance. Participate in convenings with policymakers, regulators, civil society partners, and the tech industry as a credible legal voice for pro-democracy AI governance. Job requirements The ideal candidate brings: Relevant legal experience, specifically:For senior counsel, at least 10 years of legal experience (which can include judicial clerkships), with expertise in AI and emerging technology law, exceptional legal and analytical skills, entrepreneurial legal instincts, and a demonstrated ability to translate complex technical and legal questions for diverse audiences;For early to mid-career counsel, at least 4 years of legal experience (which can include judicial clerkships), with some exposure to AI and emerging technology law or related fields (such as national security or First Amendment law), exceptional legal and analytical skills, and entrepreneurial legal instincts. Relevant legal experience, specifically: For senior counsel, at least 10 years of legal experience (which can include judicial clerkships), with expertise in AI and emerging technology law, exceptional legal and analytical skills, entrepreneurial legal instincts, and a demonstrated ability to translate complex technical and legal questions for diverse audiences; For senior counsel, at least 10 years of legal experience (which can include judicial clerkships), with expertise in AI and emerging technology law, exceptional legal and analytical skills, entrepreneurial legal instincts, and a demonstrated ability to translate complex technical and legal questions for diverse audiences; For early to mid-career counsel, at least 4 years of legal experience (which can include judicial clerkships), with some exposure to AI and emerging technology law or related fields (such as national security or First Amendment law), exceptional legal and analytical skills, and entrepreneurial legal instincts. For early to mid-career counsel, at least 4 years of legal experience (which can include judicial clerkships), with some exposure to AI and emerging technology law or related fields (such as national security or First Amendment law), exceptional legal and analytical skills, and entrepreneurial legal instincts. Bar membership in good standing in the jurisdiction of your residence; Bar membership in good standing in the jurisdiction of your residence; Experience developing and leading impact litigation or plaintiff-side civil litigation, including managing litigation teams for the senior role; Experience developing and leading impact litigation or plaintiff-side civil litigation, including managing litigation teams for the senior role; Entrepreneurial legal instincts and an ability to generate impactful, creative ideas that advance the goals of the AI for Democracy Action Lab; Entrepreneurial legal instincts and an ability to generate impactful, creative ideas that advance the goals of the AI for Democracy Action Lab; Exceptional analytical, writing, and presentation skills directed at both legal and non-legal audiences; Exceptional analytical, writing, and presentation skills directed at both legal and non-legal audiences; Ability to translate complex technical and legal questions for policymakers, journalists, and the public Ability to translate complex technical and legal questions for policymakers, journalists, and the public An embrace of a cross-ideological and nonpartisan approach to protecting our democracy; An embrace of a cross-ideological and nonpartisan approach to protecting our democracy; Growth mindset and enthusiasm for giving and receiving feedback up, down, and sideways; Growth mindset and enthusiasm for giving and receiving feedback up, down, and sideways; Collaborative orientation and willingness to take on tasks big or small as needed to advance our mission; Collaborative orientation and willingness to take on tasks big or small as needed to advance our mission; Rigorous attention to detail and the highest standards for excellence in execution; Rigorous attention to detail and the highest standards for excellence in execution; A passionate commitment to the preservation of democratic norms and institutions, and an understanding that our democracy has never fully represented communities of color. A passionate commitment to the preservation of democratic norms and institutions, and an understanding that our democracy has never fully represented communities of color. Compensation For senior counsel, the starting salary range is $170,000 to $193,000, commensurate with the candidate’s relevant experience, capabilities and skills and in alignment with internal equity. For early to mid-career counsel, the starting salary range is $138,400 to $157,000, commensurate with the candidate’s relevant experience, capabilities and skills and in alignment with internal equity. About Protect Democracy *Flexible location. We are a remote-first organization based exclusively in the United States, meaning our staff work within the US and primarily virtually. We also offer shared workspaces for those who enjoy working in an office environment. We are established for remote work in many states across the country, and while candidates based anywhere in the United States are welcome to apply, we may not be able to offer employment in your current location. If you proceed in the hiring process, we will discuss where you currently live and what is possible in our initial interview. All staff are also required to travel at least two times per year to team retreats, and this role may require periodic travel. Accommodations to this requirement will be made only in exceptional circumstances. *Flexible location. We are a remote-first organization based exclusively in the United States, meaning our staff work within the US and primarily virtually. We also offer shared workspaces for those who enjoy working in an office environment. We are established for remote work in many states across the country, and while candidates based anywhere in the United States are welcome to apply, we may not be able to offer employment in your current location. If you proceed in the hiring process, we will discuss where you currently live and what is possible in our initial interview. All staff are also required to travel at least two times per year to team retreats, and this role may require periodic travel. Accommodations to this requirement will be made only in exceptional circumstances. Commitment to an inclusive workplace. Protect Democracy is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences strengthens our ability to analyze problems, craft solutions, and drive meaningful change. Protect Democracy encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, or veteran status. Commitment to an inclusive workplace. Protect Democracy is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences strengthens our ability to analyze problems, craft solutions, and drive meaningful change. Protect Democracy encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, or veteran status. Phenomenal benefits. Our benefits package includes generous sick leave and a flexible vacation policy where we encourage team members to take 4-5 weeks every year, along with 12 paid holidays, 6 weeks of paid family medical leave, and 18 weeks of paid parental leave. We also offer a 401(k) plan with up to 6% employer match that vests immediately. Additionally, we cover employee medical premiums at 100% (with up to 95% coverage for dependents depending on plan selection), and employee and dependent’s dental/vision at 100%. All employees have access to long-term disability and life insurance, fertility benefits, a home office stipend, and bonuses at the discretion of the Executive Director. Phenomenal benefits. Our benefits package includes generous sick leave and a flexible vacation policy where we encourage team members to take 4-5 weeks every year, along with 12 paid holidays, 6 weeks of paid family medical leave, and 18 weeks of paid parental leave. We also offer a 401(k) plan with up to 6% employer match that vests immediately. Additionally, we cover employee medical premiums at 100% (with up to 95% coverage for dependents depending on plan selection), and employee and dependent’s dental/vision at 100%. All employees have access to long-term disability and life insurance, fertility benefits, a home office stipend, and bonuses at the discretion of the Executive Director. To apply for this position, please complete the application linked below. You will be asked to upload your resume and cover letter as PDFs. Applications missing any of the required materials will be considered incomplete and not reviewed. Please note that interviews for these roles will be conducted on a rolling basis. Important notes Contact hiring@protectdemocracy.org if you require specific accommodations at any point in the hiring process. Contact hiring@protectdemocracy.org if you require specific accommodations at any point in the hiring process. Keep an eye on your promotions/spam folders to avoid missed communication. Keep an eye on your promotions/spam folders to avoid missed communication. We are unable to provide status updates for each application we receive. If you reach out and do not hear back, please know it is not for lack of appreciation or interest, but simply for lack of staff capacity to respond to individual inquiries. We are unable to provide status updates for each application we receive. If you reach out and do not hear back, please know it is not for lack of appreciation or interest, but simply for lack of staff capacity to respond to individual inquiries. The application will include a voluntary EEO survey so that we can monitor the applicant pool as a whole for representation and equal employment opportunities, and to evaluate our progress as an organization toward a diverse and inclusive workforce, which we believe is a pillar of a thriving democracy.The categories used by the EEO survey are limited and may not reflect your lived experience; please feel free to opt out of any of the questions. Your responses to this survey are entirely separate from your application materials, are not accessible to those responsible for hiring decisions, and will not affect your candidacy in any way. The application will include a voluntary EEO survey so that we can monitor the applicant pool as a whole for representation and equal employment opportunities, and to evaluate our progress as an organization toward a diverse and inclusive workforce, which we believe is a pillar of a thriving democracy.The categories used by the EEO survey are limited and may not reflect your lived experience; please feel free to opt out of any of the questions. Your responses to this survey are entirely separate from your application materials, are not accessible to those responsible for hiring decisions, and will not affect your candidacy in any way. or Fill out the information below International AfghanistanAfghanistan Upload your CV or resume file Upload your cover letter Please fill in additional questions Equal opportunity employer survey Help us be an equal opportunity employer and answer the questions below. They are voluntary but it means a lot to us! Protect Democracy is committed to equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination. Federal law requires us to reach out to, hire, and provide equal opportunity to qualified people without regard to race, color, religion sex, national origin, age, veteran status, genetic information, disability or any legally protected status. We are also subject to certain nondiscrimination recordkeeping and reporting requirements which require us to invite employees to voluntarily self-identify their race/ethnicity and gender. To help us comply with our recordkeeping and reporting obligations under federal and state law, please answer the questions below. Submission of this information is voluntary and refusal to provide it will not subject you to any adverse treatment. The information provided will be used only in ways that are not inconsistent with the provisions of applicable laws, executive orders, and regulations. Why we ask about this? Protect Democracy wishes to voluntarily collect information about protected veteran status in order to voluntarily take affirmative action to employ protected veterans and advance them in employment. As described in 41 CFR § 60-300.2, the categories of protected veterans are defined as follows A “Disabled Veteran” is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability. A “Recently Separated Veteran” means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service. An “Active Duty Wartime or Campaign Badge Veteran” means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense. An “Armed Forces Service Medal Veteran” means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985. PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete. All fields marked with * are required. All done! Your application has been successfully submitted! 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