Application Guide
How to Apply for Employment Attorney/Of Counsel
at Harmon Curran Spielberg & Eisenberg, LLP
🏢 About Harmon Curran Spielberg & Eisenberg, LLP
Harmon Curran Spielberg & Eisenberg is a small, collegial law firm in Washington, DC that exclusively serves progressive nonprofit and public interest organizations. What makes this firm unique is its values-oriented approach—they help clients navigate legal requirements while advancing their social missions. This creates an environment where legal work directly supports progressive causes rather than corporate interests.
About This Role
This Employment Attorney/Of Counsel role involves providing comprehensive employment law guidance to nonprofit clients, helping them align legal compliance with their organizational values. You'll handle everything from drafting employment policies to advising on discrimination obligations and employee matters, with the unique opportunity to help progressive organizations operate ethically within legal frameworks. The remote position allows you to serve mission-driven clients nationwide while working from anywhere.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve reviewing and revising personnel policies for a civil rights organization, conducting a virtual training for nonprofit managers on discrimination prevention, and advising an environmental group on employee separation procedures that maintain their progressive values. You'll collaborate remotely with firm colleagues on complex client matters while managing multiple advisory relationships with mission-driven organizations across different time zones.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Harmon Curran Spielberg & Eisenberg, LLP Is Looking For
- Has 7+ years of employment law experience with substantial counseling (not just litigation) background, preferably with exposure to nonprofit sector clients
- Possesses DC Bar membership or immediate eligibility, with demonstrated expertise in employment law's practical application (anti-discrimination, wage/hour, FMLA, contracts)
- Demonstrates ability to translate legal requirements into practical, values-aligned solutions for mission-driven organizations
- Shows strong writing skills specifically for policy drafting and client communications, with judgment that balances legal risk with organizational mission
📝 Tips for Applying to Harmon Curran Spielberg & Eisenberg, LLP
Highlight specific nonprofit employment law experience—even if limited—and describe how you've helped organizations balance legal compliance with mission values
Tailor your resume to emphasize counseling/advice experience over litigation, as this role focuses on preventive guidance rather than courtroom representation
Research and reference specific progressive causes the firm's clients support (like environmental justice, civil rights, or economic equity) to show cultural alignment
If you lack DC Bar membership, clearly state your eligibility timeline and plan for admission in your cover letter
Provide writing samples that demonstrate policy drafting or advisory memos rather than litigation briefs, showing your practical guidance capabilities
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your experience advising organizations (especially nonprofits) on employment matters, with concrete examples of helping clients align legal requirements with their values', "Why you're specifically drawn to serving progressive nonprofits rather than corporate clients, demonstrating genuine commitment to public interest work", 'How your counseling approach helps organizations prevent problems rather than just litigate them, emphasizing practical guidance over adversarial positioning', 'Your ability to handle the breadth of employment law areas mentioned (anti-discrimination, wage/hour, FMLA, contracts) within a nonprofit context']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Review the firm's client list and case studies to understand the types of progressive nonprofits they serve (environmental, civil rights, advocacy groups)
- → Study the firm's published articles or presentations on nonprofit employment law to understand their philosophical approach to legal guidance
- → Research the specific employment law challenges facing nonprofits (like volunteer classification, grant compliance, or board-staff relations)
- → Look into the firm's remote work culture and how they maintain collegiality in a distributed environment
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Focusing primarily on litigation experience without emphasizing advisory/counseling work—this role is about prevention, not courtroom battles
- Using corporate-focused language or examples that don't translate to nonprofit contexts (like discussing stock options or executive compensation)
- Failing to demonstrate understanding of how employment law differs for nonprofits versus for-profit businesses
📅 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:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Harmon Curran Spielberg & Eisenberg, LLP!