Application Guide

How to Apply for General Counsel

at Lawyers for Good Government

🏢 About Lawyers for Good Government

Lawyers for Good Government is unique as a mission-driven legal organization that combines direct legal services with systemic advocacy across social justice, civil rights, democracy, and environmental justice. Unlike traditional law firms, it operates as both a 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) entity, allowing for both charitable work and political advocacy. Someone would want to work here to apply legal expertise toward tangible social change while navigating the complex regulatory landscape of hybrid nonprofit advocacy.

About This Role

This General Counsel role involves providing strategic legal guidance across the organization's dual 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) structures while managing compliance with IRS regulations, lobbying restrictions, and grant requirements. The position is impactful because it directly enables the organization's advocacy work by mitigating legal risks and ensuring operational integrity across all social justice initiatives, from environmental litigation to voting rights campaigns.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve reviewing partnership agreements for environmental justice initiatives, advising the executive team on lobbying compliance for democracy advocacy work, and developing risk mitigation strategies for high-profile civil rights litigation. You'd likely collaborate remotely with program teams across different time zones while ensuring all activities align with both charitable and advocacy regulations.

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🎯 Who Lawyers for Good Government Is Looking For

  • An attorney with 10-15 years of progressive experience including 5+ years in nonprofit leadership, specifically with mission-driven organizations handling both 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) compliance
  • Deep expertise in nonprofit/tax-exempt law, professional liability rules, and employment law within advocacy contexts, not just general corporate law
  • Proven ability to draft and negotiate complex partnership agreements and subgrant contracts for social justice initiatives
  • Experience navigating the specific lobbying and advocacy regulations that apply to organizations working on democracy and rule of law issues

📝 Tips for Applying to Lawyers for Good Government

1

Explicitly address your experience with both 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) compliance in your application materials, as this dual structure is central to their work

2

Highlight specific examples of managing legal risks for advocacy organizations, particularly around sensitive issues like voting rights or environmental justice litigation

3

Demonstrate understanding of their specific program areas by referencing their current initiatives in your cover letter

4

If you have experience with remote legal leadership in distributed organizations, emphasize this since the role is fully remote

5

Quantify your impact in previous roles with metrics related to risk mitigation, compliance improvements, or advocacy outcomes

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience with nonprofit regulatory compliance, particularly the interplay between 501(c)(3) charitable work and 501(c)(4) advocacy', "Examples of how you've provided strategic legal counsel that enabled advocacy organizations to advance their missions while managing risk", 'Your approach to supporting remote, mission-driven teams working on emotionally charged social justice issues', 'Why their specific focus areas (democracy, environmental justice, civil rights) resonate with your professional values and experience']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Their current advocacy campaigns and legal initiatives across their four focus areas (social justice, civil rights, democracy, environmental justice)
  • → Their organizational structure and leadership team to understand reporting relationships
  • → Recent press coverage about their work to understand their public positioning and potential legal exposure
  • → Their funding sources and major grants to anticipate compliance requirements you'd need to manage
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you navigate the legal boundaries between their 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) activities in a specific advocacy campaign?
2 Describe your experience with grant compliance for social justice initiatives and how you've managed funder requirements
3 What strategies would you implement to ensure remote legal operations across multiple states with different charitable registration requirements?
4 How would you advise leadership on legal risks associated with high-profile advocacy work on controversial issues?
5 Can you walk through your approach to reviewing partnership agreements with grassroots organizations while protecting the organization's interests?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing primarily on corporate or for-profit legal experience without connecting it to nonprofit advocacy contexts
  • Generic statements about wanting to 'do good' without demonstrating specific knowledge of their work and legal challenges
  • Failing to address the specific regulatory complexities of operating both 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) entities simultaneously

📅 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 Lawyers for Good Government!

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