Careers

Legal and Policy Specialist

Organization Overview

For decades, the right invested billions in capturing the judiciary—and succeeded. They packed the courts with extremists and anti-populist lawyers while progressives failed to mount sufficient resistance.

Today we’re living with the consequences: Donald Trump enjoys criminal immunity, Roe v. Wade was overturned, the Voting Rights Act is gutted, and research shows that federal courts overwhelmingly rule in favor of corporations and billionaires over working people. Meanwhile, he is using the Department of Justice as his own personal law firm.

Now Trump is taking it further. Run-of-the-mill extremist nominees are no longer enough—judicial nominees must now show their loyalty to Trump above all else. He is determined not just to break the law, but to dismantle it—attacking institutions, individuals, and anyone standing in his way.

This moment requires aggressive, strategic, and disruptive opposition to the dismantling and corruption of the rule of law by Trump and his cronies.

Demand Justice’s Core Mission:

• Expose Trump’s court takeover: Force a public reckoning about the right-wing’s capture of our courts and Trump’s authoritarian grip on judicial power; shock, educate, and activate a progressive base to invest in the fight for our courts.
• Hold Democrats accountable: Ensure Democrats in power and running for office stand up and fight back—we reward them when they do and fearlessly hold them accountable when they don’t.
• Build support for bold reforms ahead of 2028 and beyond: Propose and build consensus around bold reforms to the Supreme Court, lower courts, and the judicial system generally.
• Fight Trump’s court nominees, including any second-term nominees to the Supreme Court.    

Demand Justice is a bold, disruptive organization that wages advocacy and media campaigns. We use all our organizational tools — a c3, c4 and PAC — to stiffen the spines of those in power to fight for the rule of law and move the entire public discourse of the courts toward reform.

Position Overview

Demand Justice seeks a Legal and Policy Specialist to help advance the organization’s mission to fight for courts that are accountable to and work for the people, not the rich and powerful. The Legal and Policy Specialist will employ excellent research, writing, and analytic skills to advance Demand Justice’s mission, taking an active role in: developing our legislative and policy platform, including a suite of bold reform proposals; assisting with tracking and researching judicial nominees and potential nominees and opposing those who demonstrate they are more loyal to Donald Trump than to the Constitution; participating in coalition efforts; and helping to improve our storytelling power and grow our network of allies to achieve Demand Justice’s vision of a progressive judiciary. 

Reporting to the Chief Counsel, the Legal and Policy Specialist will be a trusted member of the team and provide legal and policy research and input across the organization. 

Key Responsibilities

Research and Strategy

• Provide legal and policy research and updates on federal legislation, administrative rulemaking processes, Supreme Court decisions, and related developments, including for purposes of rapid response.
• Conduct, draft, and revise legal and policy research and analyses.
• Assist the Chief Counsel and the legal team in developing strategic legislative, campaign, and administrative policy options to reform the federal judiciary and improve the accountability and transparency of the Justice Department.
• Research and assist in evaluating existing policy ideas related to federal courts.
• Track and report on relevant congressional hearings and floor debate.
• Provide strategic research, advice, and assistance on judicial nominees, as needed. 

Public Education and Narrative Building 

• Assist in the research, writing, and development of public-facing reports, research briefs, newsletters, and similar publications that are effective storytelling tools.
• Collaborate with the communications team to translate complex legal and policy information into accessible and compelling language that educates and mobilizes diverse audiences for social media posts, press statements, and other purposes.

Other

• As needed, work with external organizations to bolster support for Demand Justice’s goals – or to minimize opposition to those goals – and grow the organization’s sphere of influence.
• Other duties as assigned.

Key Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• 2 or more years of combined experience in legislative, policy, strategic campaigns, or similar settings
• Exceptional research, analysis, and reasoning skills
• Compelling written and oral communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Strong interest in government accountability and public interest advocacy
• Experience in or knowledge of the U.S. judicial system
• Ability to operate both independently and as part of a team, work collaboratively in a dynamic environment, and adjust to developing events
• Demonstrated ability to seek clarification and assistance from colleagues when needed

Desired Requirements:

• Advanced degree in law, policy, statistics or a similarly relevant field
• Significant experience in organizing, campaigns, strategic research, or a similar mission-focused environment requiring rapid response, open communication, adaptability, and good judgement 

Compensation and Location 

Annual compensation for this role is between $90,000-$115,000, depending on experience, as well as a generous benefits package, including medical, vision and dental insurance provided by the employer and matching 401K.

Demand Justice is a hybrid workplace, and this role is expected to work in the Washington, DC office three to four days a week. 

How to Apply 

To apply for this role, submit a resume, cover letter, and brief writing sample (no more than three pages) to [email protected].  The cover letter should be concise, compelling, and outline the specific ways in which you would be a good fit for this position. The writing sample may be in any professional or academic format (or an excerpt therefrom), and should showcase your skills in research, or analysis, or both. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

Demand Justice is dedicated to building a team of diverse individuals and committed to providing a workplace of mutual respect and inclusion. Demand Justice’s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.