Staff Attorney

Staff Attorney

The Office of the Legislative Counsel (LC) is expanding its team of attorneys and is recruiting one full-time Staff Attorney to join the office starting in December 2026. This is a hybrid (remote and in-office) position located in the Capitol building in Salem, Oregon.

Successful candidates for the position must possess strong legal research and writing skills with the ability to analyze issues in light of applicable law and prepare written work or verbal advice that is clear, concise and persuasive to both attorney and non-attorney readers.

A Staff Attorney assists legislators, legislative committees and legislative staff by performing legal research, writing legal opinions and drafting proposed legislation. This work is done on a confidential and non-partisan basis.

A Staff Attorney must be responsive to the needs of legislators, their staff and constituents, the staff of legislative committees, government agencies and, to a more limited extent, the public. A Staff Attorney must comply with all applicable laws and the ethical standards for attorneys, the legislative rules of both chambers and the practice and personnel rules of the Legislative Branch.

Duties and responsibilities include performing legal research and writing legal opinions, performing individual project assignments, drafting bills, drafting amendments, and reviewing administrative rules.

Desired skills and education include advanced legal research skills, ability to work effectively at a professional, nonpartisan level with diverse groups of people, ability to work independently with a minimum of direct supervision and under time pressures, and ability to communicate complex ideas and concepts both verbally and in writing in a clear, concise and persuasive manner.

To qualify, please attach a resume, a cover letter that clearly states your experience and how it is applicable to this position, a writing sample (not to exceed 10 pages) and answer all supplemental questions.

Applications that do not include a resume, cover letter, answers to the supplemental questions and a writing sample will not be reviewed.

Your application must demonstrate that you possess at least the minimum job requirements of a J.D. (Juris Doctor) degree with at least one (1) year of related experience practicing law, service as a judicial clerk or work in a legislative environment and membership in a state bar and the ability to become a member of the Oregon State Bar within 18 months of appointment.

An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to demonstrate ability to perform the duties of the position may be considered.

Benefits include work/life balance, paid leave and a competitive benefits package, full medical, vision and dental insurance with paid sick leave, vacation, personal leave and 11 paid holidays per year, collaborative work environment with a team of collegial and hardworking individuals, opportunities for professional development to expand your breadth and depth of knowledge, opportunities for mentoring from attorneys with decades of experience at the Office of Legislative Counsel, opportunity to participate and observe as ideas are crafted into policies and laws and history unfolds for the State of Oregon, and opportunity to learn and delve deeply into a wide variety of legal subject areas.