Washington, District of Columbia, United States · Hybrid
$111k–$133k/yr
We are looking for a Counsel, Litigation to lead Common Cause’s work in protecting our four policy pillars in Voting & Fair Representation, Anti-Corruption & Accountability, Media & Technology, and Civil Rights & Civil L…
Skills: Litigation Strategy, Case Management, Legal Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement, Administrative Complaints
Minnesota, United States · Hybrid
$74k–$92k/yr
We are seeking a proactive and collaborative Senior Organizer to join the Common Cause team in Minnesota. This role is critical in growing and diversifying our base of supporters, building partnerships, and driving civic…
Skills: Community Organizing, Civic Engagement, Policy Advocacy, Volunteer Coordination, Public Relations
Massachusetts, United States · Hybrid
$74k–$92k/yr
We are seeking a proactive and collaborative Senior Organizer to join the Common Cause team in Massachusetts. This role is critical in growing and diversifying our base of supporters, building partnerships, and driving c…
Skills: Community Organizing, Civic Engagement, Public Interest Advocacy, Volunteer Coordination, Strategic Communications
Washington, District of Columbia, United States · Hybrid
$133k–$149k/yr
We are looking for a Senior Policy Director & Counsel, Voting & Fair Representation, to lead Common Cause’s work to protect voting rights, ensure free and fair elections, and strengthen representative democracy. This lea…
Skills: Strategic Leadership, Policy Development, Litigation Strategy, Legislative Advocacy, Coalition Management
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Lead litigation and advocacy efforts to protect policy pillars including voting rights, anti-corruption, and civil liberties. Manage external counsel, coordinate case progress, and collaborate with state teams and coalitions to develop legal strategies.
Requires a Juris Doctor degree, active bar membership, and demonstrated experience leading complex advocacy litigation against government entities. Candidates must have substantive knowledge of pro-democracy legal areas and a track record of managing diverse stakeholder coalitions.
We are looking for a Counsel, Litigation to lead Common Cause’s work in protecting our four policy pillars in Voting & Fair Representation, Anti-Corruption & Accountability, Media & Technology, and Civil Rights & Civil Liberties. This individual will contribute to impactful legal litigation in collaboration with partner organizations, pro bono law firms, and potential clients across the pro-democracy space.
This is a full-time role, reporting to the Vice President, Litigation. This role is based in Washington, DC, with an expectation to come into our office at least two days per week. We hope our new Counsel, Litigation will start in October.
\nResponsibilitiesLitigation Strategy & Case Management
Lead Common Cause’s litigation and advocacy efforts through expertise in legal analysis, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement
Serve as the primary point of contact for external counsel, overseeing day-to-day case management including assignment of reviews, coordination of discovery timelines, and overall case progress
Identify, develop, and bring forward creative litigation pursuits by identifying opportunities with partner organizations, pro bono law firms, and potential clients
Work on various legal actions including administrative complaints, regulatory comments, and open records requests
Maintain meticulous tracking of case progress and provide regular updates to team members and leadership
Internal Collaboration & Advisory
Collaborate and work closely with State teams and coalition partners to develop clear case theory, coordinate litigation strategy, share legal expertise, and ensure alignment with organizational goals
Review substantive pleadings and briefs critically, providing insightful comments to strengthen legal positions
Develop proficiency in emerging issue areas, applying creative, rigorous, and analytical approaches to address complex challenges
Offer sound legal counsel to the Vice President of Litigation, contributing legal insights to strategic decision-making
External Relationships & Partnerships
Build and sustain relationships with counsel and partner organizations by initiating new collaborations and fostering a network of reliable legal and organizational allies.
Develop, manage, and participate in coalitions and represent Common Cause at conferences and external events
Prepare and present legal materials for internal and public speaking engagements
You will thrive in this role if you have:
A strong commitment to Common Cause’s nonpartisan mission and to advancing civil rights through our pro-democracy agenda
A commitment to equity in the goals of your work and in how you work with others
A track record of working with others, with the ability to build rapport, trust, and credibility with multiple stakeholders with diverse interests
Ability to navigate organizational and power dynamics, respectfully navigate conflict while maintaining your values, and influence others to adopt changes to meet common goals
Innovative and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to navigate through ambiguity to achieve goals, and a resourceful approach to solve problems
Ability to manage and meet deadlines for multiple short-and long-term priorities at once, with high attention to detail; strong organizational skills, and the ability to manage your time independently
Ability to compel action through both written and verbal communication, including distilling complex concepts for a broad audience, and to differentiate communications as needed for various audiences
Openness to feedback and awareness of your own strengths and areas for growth
Familiarity with office productivity tools including Microsoft Office and Zoom
The following is required:
Juris Doctor degree and active bar membership in good standing in the District of Columbia or another state
Demonstrated experience leading complex advocacy litigation; ideally, you have litigated on behalf of or against federal or state governments
Substantive knowledge of or experience in one or more of the following pro-democracy areas: voting and fair representation, including election law; civil rights and civil liberties; media and technology; anti-corruption and accountability; or constitutional law
Experience drafting complaints, pleadings, or other dispositive motions, with the judgment to know when litigation is the right tool to meet the moment
A track record of leading organization-wide change initiatives
Experience managing coalitions or groups that represent stakeholders with diverse interests to achieve a goal
Research and analytical skills, as demonstrated through an internship, clinical experience, or other work experience
Additional information about this role:
This position is included in a union-represented collective bargaining unit and specific employment terms and conditions are subject to collective bargaining negotiations
Common Cause is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time; please note that if hired, you will be asked to produce documentation for authorization to work in the US
Note that as this role is based in Washington, D.C., there would be a 3% increase on the offered salary as part of our geographic adjustment.
In order to ensure greater equity and transparency as an organization, Common Cause sets salary ranges consistently based on job responsibilities, and we determine salary for each staff member based on relevant years of experience (you can read more about our approach to compensation here, including where we offer geographical adjustments). For these reasons, we do not negotiate on our salary ranges or our specific salary offers.
In addition to salary, we also offer a generous benefits package, including:
A robust healthcare plan that covers 97% of employee’s medical care, 100% of employee’s vision and dental benefits, and 75% of family medical care and 100% of family vision and dental benefits
Long-term disability and life insurance
Generous Paid Time Off including 20 Days of Vacation and 10 observed Holidays per year, and additional days off for Thanksgiving and Winter break
16 weeks of paid parental leave
Flexible spending accounts
A 401k retirement savings plan, with immediate Employer Match
Dependent Care and Pet Care Support when you travel for work
Funds for professional development
Common Cause is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants of any race, creed, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, income class, political affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, or marital status, as well as applicants who have been previously incarcerated.
Common Cause (501(c)(4)) and Common Cause Education Fund (501(c)(3)) are nonpartisan, nonprofit grassroots affiliate organizations dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. We work to create an open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity, and representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in the political process.
Founded in 1970 and headquartered in Washington, DC, Common Cause has members and supporters living in every congressional district in the United States, and offices in 23 states around the country.
Holding Power Accountable
Common Cause is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to restoring the core values of American democracy, reinventing an open, honest and accountable government that serves the public interest, and empowering ordinary people to make their voices heard in the political process.
Offices: 805 Fifteenth St NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005, US
Holding Power Accountable
Common Cause is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to restoring the core values of American democracy, reinventing an open, honest and accountable government that serves the public interest, and empowering ordinary people to make their voices heard in the political process.
Offices: 805 Fifteenth St NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005, US
