Application Guide

How to Apply for Counsel (Early Career)

at Protect Democracy

🏢 About Protect Democracy

Protect Democracy is unique in its cross-ideological, nonpartisan commitment to defending democratic institutions. Unlike partisan advocacy groups, it focuses on systemic threats to democracy through impact litigation, policy work, and strategic communications, offering a mission-driven environment where legal work directly safeguards democratic norms.

About This Role

As an early-career Counsel, you'll be at the forefront of impact litigation, drafting pleadings and motions in high-stakes cases that defend voting rights, rule of law, and democratic accountability. This role offers hands-on experience in complex litigation strategy while collaborating with communications and policy teams to amplify the impact of legal victories.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with a team stand-up via Zoom to discuss case priorities, followed by drafting a motion for a voting rights case. After lunch, you could collaborate with the communications team to refine a press statement about a recent filing, then review discovery documents or prepare for a witness interview. The day ends with research on a novel legal argument for an upcoming amicus brief.

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🎯 Who Protect Democracy Is Looking For

  • 1-5 years of legal experience (including clerkships) with a strong interest in democracy protection and impact litigation, not just traditional firm work.
  • Exceptional writing skills for both legal briefs and non-legal audiences, with a demonstrated ability to distill complex legal arguments for public consumption.
  • Collaborative mindset, comfortable working across teams (legal, comms, policy) and managing diverse responsibilities in a fast-paced, remote environment.
  • Commitment to nonpartisan, cross-ideological approaches, avoiding partisan rhetoric and focusing on institutional integrity.

📝 Tips for Applying to Protect Democracy

1

Tailor your writing sample to a brief or motion that addresses a structural democracy issue (e.g., voting rights, executive overreach) rather than a generic commercial dispute.

2

In your cover letter, explicitly connect your legal experience to Protect Democracy's mission, citing specific cases or initiatives they've undertaken (e.g., Moore v. Harper, anti-corruption litigation).

3

Highlight any experience with integrated advocacy, such as working with communications teams on media strategies or public education campaigns around litigation.

4

Demonstrate remote-work readiness by mentioning tools or practices you use for collaboration (e.g., Slack, Zoom, project management software) and how you stay engaged across time zones.

5

Avoid partisan language; instead, emphasize your commitment to rule of law and democratic institutions regardless of political outcomes.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Explain why you are drawn to Protect Democracy's nonpartisan approach and how your legal experience aligns with impact litigation, not just private practice.", "Provide a specific example of a democracy-related issue you've followed or worked on, showing your substantive interest beyond general public interest law.", "Emphasize your ability to write persuasively for both legal and lay audiences, perhaps referencing a brief or article you've written that made complex issues accessible.", 'Showcase your collaborative skills, especially experience working with non-legal teams (comms, policy) to advance a common goal.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read Protect Democracy's recent impact litigation cases (e.g., Moore v. Harper, cases on voting rights) to understand their legal strategies and outcomes.
  • → Review their 'About' page and mission statement to grasp their nonpartisan, cross-ideological framework and how they differ from partisan groups.
  • → Follow their blog or press releases to see how they integrate legal work with communications and policy advocacy.
  • → Look into the backgrounds of current legal team members (e.g., on LinkedIn) to understand the types of experience they value.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How do you approach writing for a non-legal audience, and can you give an example of a time you translated legal arguments for the public?
2 Describe a case or issue where you had to develop a creative legal strategy. How did you balance risk and impact?
3 Protect Democracy works cross-ideologically. How would you handle a situation where a legal strategy might be perceived as favoring one political side?
4 What is your experience with discovery in complex litigation, and how do you prioritize tasks when managing multiple cases?
5 How do you stay organized and communicate effectively in a remote team environment? Share a specific tool or method.
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't reference Protect Democracy's specific cases or nonpartisan mission.
  • Focusing on partisan political experience or ideology, which contradicts the organization's cross-ideological approach.
  • Failing to demonstrate remote-work skills, such as mentioning no experience with virtual collaboration or lack of self-motivation examples.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Protect Democracy!

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