Free Speech For People is seeking a public interest attorney, preferably with social justice, campaign finance, and/or election law experience, to join a cutting-edge non-profit.

Free Speech For People, a national nonpartisan nonprofit organization, was founded on the day of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. FEC decision in January 2010. We’ve been working since then on a multi-part strategy to defend our Constitution and to reclaim our democracy:

1. Fighting for free and fair elections by challenging voter suppression and voter intimidation, the use of unreliable and insecure electronic voting systems, and unequal voting conditions.
2. Fighting to get big money out of politics by challenging foreign influence in elections, defending state campaign finance reform laws, advancing new scholarship, challenging super PACs, and advancing a constitutional amendment to end the dominance of big money in our elections.
3. Challenging unchecked corporate power by defending public interest laws threatened by corporate claims of constitutional rights and ensuring corporations can be held accountable under the law.
4. Challenging corruption to hold those at the highest levels of government accountable to the law.
5. Helping to lead the movement to amend the Constitution to reverse the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision and related rulings, abolish the electoral college, and ensure that all Americans have an equal vote and equal opportunity to participate in our elections.

Our current projects include litigation challenging voter suppression laws, illegal voter intimidation. and capture of election regulators by voting machine manufacturers; drafting and lobbying for cutting-edge legislation to fight political spending by corporations with significant foreign investment; and making the case that former President Trump is constitutionally ineligible for future office based on his incitement of a violent insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. We also write amicus briefs, advocate before administrative agencies, and work with grassroots activists around the country.

Job duties

We are seeking a public interest attorney to fight for democracy. Specific projects will emerge and evolve and job duties will vary over time, but the day-to-day will likely center on litigation (writing or assisting with briefs and/or working with outside counsel in affirmative litigation, amicus briefs, and/or defensive litigation if laws that we help pass are challenged in court) and legislation (drafting; grassroots and direct lobbying; testifying; and organizing supportive testimony). Job duties may also include occasional media interviews, public speaking, organizing panels, symposia, or similar events; and working with our campaign and communications teams on our grassroots campaigns.

The attorney will report to Free Speech For People’s Legal Director (Ron Fein), based in Newton, MA. When it becomes safe to travel, the position may require occasional travel to locations around the country.

Qualifications

• J.D. and membership in good standing in a state bar
• 5+ years experience, preferably with campaign finance, civil rights, and/or election law, and preferably including both legislation and litigation
• Dedication to public interest work and strong intrinsic motivation
• Strong written and oral advocacy skills
• Demonstrated ability to work independently in an entrepreneurial, startup nonprofit environment
• Preferred, but not required: Coursework and/or experience in First Amendment or elections law

Location: Free Speech For People’s Legal Advocacy office is in Newton, MA, just outside Boston. However, candidates living in other locations may be considered if they have a demonstrated ability to work independently and remotely.

Application instructions: Send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to Oske Buckley at
attorney (at) freespeechforpeople (dot) org.

Free Speech For People is an affirmative action employer and recruits, employs, retains, and promotes persons in a manner that does not discriminate against any person because of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, veteran status, or physical or mental ability which is unrelated to job performance.

 

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