Policy and Legislative Counsel

Description:
JOB SUMMARY: The Policy and Legislative Counsel works collaboratively across teams to use integrated advocacy tools, including legislation, policy change, coalition building, and communications, to advance meaningful change. This position will be responsible for leading policy and legislative initiatives for our justice work related to criminal legal reform and racial justice, especially reimagining policing, pretrial reform, and sentencing reform. The Policy and Legislative Counsel position is part of the ACLU-VA Policy Team and reports to the Policy Director. This individual is strategic, collaborative, innovative, effective, and committed to advocating for sustainable and systematic changes with a racial justice lens.

Responsibilities

The Policy and Legislative Counsel helps to develop and implement the ACLU-VA’s legislative, policy, and advocacy priorities by:

Analyzing current and prospective local, state, and national ACLU issues.

• Conducting, analyzing, and presenting rigorous research which:

Identifies and evaluates best practices around model policies and programs (legislation, ordinances, directives, practices), as well as implementation strategies.

Includes a review of both quantitative and qualitative data as it relates to policy goals.

Produce in-depth policy and legal research and analysis to inform and support any ongoing or upcoming campaign(s)/ projects across issue areas.

Building and maintaining trusted, respectful relationships with people directly impacted by the issues, community members and leaders, coalitions, allied organizations, issue experts, legislative staff, government officials, and state and local elected officials.

Drafting legislation, developing policy positions, and creating strategies which:

Increase public and impacted community awareness of, and opportunities to engage with, civil liberties and civil rights issues.

Will result in meaningful change, and actively mitigate the potential of unintentional disparate impact on Black and Brown communities.

Include a plan for successful implementation and a process for monitoring impact.

Developing, coordinating, and executing implementation of strategy through:

Developing partnerships that facilitate successful policy, legislative, and non-litigation advocacy implementation. Engaging in public education activities that reach a wide variety of audiences.

Coordinating and participating in legislative and advocacy meetings.

Writing and delivering compelling testimony.

Use legal expertise to:
Work collaboratively with the Policy Director and colleagues in the legal department and National ACLU to integrate advocacy, legislative and legal strategies while coordinating across departments to ensure progress towards shared goals

Execute bill analysis and draft priority legislative bills as it relates to civil liberties issues and lead lobbying initiatives

At each stage of the work, the Policy and Legislative Counsel is expected to:

Draft clear, concise internal and external memos and develop advocacy tools in conjunction with the communications team – including fact sheets, talking points, public education materials, position letters, and policy briefs – in · multiple formats for a range of audiences.

Work with the Policy Team and community organizers to include the voices, perspectives, and experiences of those directly impacted by the issues.

Work collaboratively across internal teams particularly our Communications, Community Engagement and Organizing, Legal, and Development team to ensure transparency and collaboration for specific policy initiatives.

Salary Range: $80,283 – $138,721. To preserve the opportunity for advancement, we do not typically hire above the mid-point of the range.

Benefits include 4 weeks paid vacation; 4 weeks sick leave; employer-paid medical, vision, and dental insurance for staff and eligible dependents; a 401(k) retirement benefits plan with employer match; life insurance; and short and long-term disability insurance.

Due to COVID-19 and our desire to keep our employees safe, our organization is currently operating remotely. This will continue until at least January 4, 2022. After that time, we have an interim remote work policy in place that will offer remote work flexibility to all staff until June 30, 2022. After that time, employees will follow the long-term remote work policy( to be discussed during the hiring process). This position will occasionally require a presence in the downtown Richmond office.

. Requirements:
Minimum Requirements

Demonstrated significant hands-on experience successfully advocating for legislative or policy changes on social justice and civil liberties issues related to criminal legal reform.

Accredited JD degree.

Proven ability to think critically and strategically about solving problems and coming up with solutions that will drive results.

A commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.

A commitment to the mission and values of the ACLU of Virginia, particularly including racial justice and anti-racism.

Willingness and availability to work beyond the normal workday and on weekends during Virginia’s Legislative Session as needed.

Essential Skills & Abilities

The Policy and Legislative Counsel must have policy development and implementation experience, a curious and strategic mindset, and experience working on the core issues for their specific position.

Ability to produce exceptionally clear and persuasive written legal and non-legal documents.

The ability to consistently integrate a deep understanding of key racial equity concepts into work projects and interactions by addressing structural implications and disproportionate impacts of policies, activities, and decisions on race, class, and other group identities within the context of job responsibilities and projects.

Experience lobbying or advocating for a legislative measure in Virginia, another state or local government.

Demonstrated experience working with individuals and communities directly impacted by racial injustice.

Experience reading and interpreting the impact of complex state statutes, federal law, and government agency rules and regulations.

Experience drafting legislation.

Experience tracking legislation through the legislative process either at a state or federal level and communicating progress to others.

Experience working in a diverse coalition to achieve a policy change.

Desirable Experience, Skills & Abilities

Proven ability to work independently and manage multiple projects with competing deadlines on a tight timeline, while maintaining strong attention to detail.

Resilience and understanding that working towards systemic change is a marathon and not a sprint.

Experience doing advocacy on both issue campaigns and electoral campaigns is a plus.

Ability to communicate in Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Arabic, ASL or other language used by traditionally marginalized communities across Virginia.

Experience working at an organization with an integrated advocacy model where legal, legislative, education, and advocacy tactics are used collaboratively and cohesively to achieve results.