Staff Attorney, State Policy

Position Staff Attorney, State Policy Department Legal Office Location The ideal candidate is located in any of the following states or major metropolitan areas where Lambda Legal has an office: New York, NY (Headquarters); Atlanta, GA (Southern); Dallas, TX (South Central); Chicago, IL (Midwest); Los Angeles, CA (Western); or Washington, DC. Reports To Deputy Legal Director for Policy Work Arrangement Hybrid or WFH Salary Union Salary Grade: L5. Annual Salary Range: $79,895 - $142,739 annually. The salary for this role will be determined by a candidate's years of relevant experience related to the position as well as the geographic region. Travel 30% or more to support coalition convenings, legislative sessions, partner engagements, and advocacy events across the country, with scheduling that may be unpredictable given the fast-moving nature of state legislative and regulatory activity. FLSA Status Exempt/Full-time Supervisory Responsibilities None Job Responsibilities State Policy Research & Production Draft model legislation, regulations, administrative guidance, and advocacy playbooks under the direction of the Deputy Legal Director for Policy. Monitor state legislative and regulatory activity across priority jurisdictions and prepare summaries and legal analysis of bills, proposed rules, and executive actions affecting LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV. Maintain Lambda Legal's state policy operational infrastructure, including a library of model policy resources, legislative tracking tools, and reusable campaign templates and resources to support rapid and high-volume deployment across states. Prepare first drafts of public comments on proposed state regulations and administrative guidance, including template comment frameworks for use by organizational partners. Conduct legal research in support of policy analysis, testimony, written advocacy, and public education materials. Provide assistance with legal drafting and provide a harm-reduction lens on pending state legislation, including proposing targeted amendments to mitigate legal risks in bills advanced by others, including allies and coalition partners. Legislative & Regulatory Support Assist with preparation of testimony, written advocacy, and briefing materials for legislative hearings and administrative proceedings. Support engagement with state legislators, agency officials, and their staff under the guidance of the Deputy Legal Director for Policy. Track and flag state legislative and regulatory developments for review and help maintain organized records of advocacy activity across jurisdictions. Assist members of the Legal department on matters with state policy dimensions as directed. Coalition & Partner Support Participate in coalition meetings and convenings on behalf of Lambda Legal, providing legal and policy information as directed by the Deputy Legal Director for Policy. Help prepare materials and resources that support partner organizations engaged in state legislative and regulatory advocacy. Establish, maintain, and strengthen relationships with state‑based advocacy organizations, creating pipelines for timely policy questions and requests. Public Education and Outreach Participate in public speaking opportunities, including presentations at conferences, community events, and convenings, to advance public understanding of LGBTQ+ and HIV‑related legal issues. Write for a variety of audiences, including legal professionals, policymakers, community members, and the general public, adapting tone and complexity for the appropriate audience. Collaborate with the Communications department on public education content related to state policy campaigns. Qualifications Minimum competencies and qualifications J.D. degree and admission to practice in at least one U.S. jurisdiction. 3 years of demonstrated experience engaging in policy advocacy or legislative and/or regulatory affairs, with state policy experience strongly preferred. Experience working in or with state legislatures, state agencies, or state‑level advocacy coalitions. Strong legal drafting skills, including demonstrated ability to write model legislation, regulatory comments, or policy reports. Experience managing concurrent advocacy campaigns across multiple jurisdictions, delivering expert legal drafting and harm‑reduction‑informed amendment language on pending legislation. Demonstrated oral advocacy and communication skills, including public speaking and testimony. Experience with legislative tracking tools, project management platforms, or databases used to manage high‑volume, multi‑jurisdictional advocacy work. Experience reading and interpreting federal and state administrative records, regulatory dockets, and agency guidance. Understanding of administrative law and the rulemaking process (APA and state equivalents). Ability to produce high‑quality written work at volume and under deadline pressure. Demonstrated legal writing and oral communication ability. Ability to exercise sound judgment in a fast‑moving policy environment, including during periods when direct supervisory oversight may be limited. Preferred competencies and qualifications Experience developing advocacy training materials or capacity‑building resources for partner organizations. Experience working with civil rights‑oriented legal and/or policy organizations, legal non‑profit or civil rights legal organizations, or in government in a role related to enforcement of civil rights. Experience building or managing policy infrastructure from the ground up, including development of workflow systems, tracking tools, or replicable campaign templates. Demonstrated experience establishing referral or coordination relationships with state‑based partner organizations. Experience with policy data analysis, landscape reporting, or data‑informed advocacy strategy. Prior work on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community and/or people living with HIV is highly desirable. Experience working with other historically marginalized communities (in a professional or volunteer capacity) is also desirable. Benefits Medical benefits that begin on your start date Dental, Vision, and Life insurance (effective 30 days from your start date) Short & Long‑Term Disability plans (effective 30 days from your start date) 403(b) Retirement Plan (employer contribution and matching program begins after 90 days of employment) Paid Time Off Paid Vacation (15 Days) Sick Leave (12 Days) Personal Leave (3 Days) Religious Observance Leave (3 Days) Bereavement and Bereavement Anniversary Leave Floating Holiday (1 Day) 12 paid holidays and 5 early office closures Flexible Spending Account (FSA/DC FSA) and Commuter Benefits Health Reimbursement Account Annual professional development funds $50 monthly mobile phone reimbursement Summer Fridays from Memorial Day to Labor Day Premium subscription to the Calm App Paid sabbatical after 7 years of service at Lambda Legal (4 weeks for non‑exempt positions and 8 weeks for exempt positions) Our Values & DEIB Philosophy Successful candidates will embrace and champion our Organizational Values and DEIB Philosophy Statement, bringing a commitment to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and supportive workplace. They will thrive in a diverse environment, actively contributing to a culture that respects and uplifts the full spectrum of communities Lambda Legal serves. Candidates can review our Organizational Values and DEIB Philosophy Statement on our Careers Page. Why Work at Lambda Legal You get to do meaningful, life‑changing work at a national level for LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV. Lambda Legal also proudly offers competitive benefits for our team. We understand that our staff’s dedication and effort are instrumental in achieving our mission. Equal Opportunity Lambda Legal is committed to further building and maintaining a staff that reflects the full range of LGBTQ+, HIV‑affected and allied communities, and is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. Lambda Legal encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship or immigration status, disability, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender and gender‑diverse people, women, people with abilities in multiple languages, immigrants, people living with disabilities, protected veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals and individuals living with HIV are all encouraged to apply. #J-18808-Ljbffr Lambda Legal