Program Counsel, Policy Reform (Attorney)

FIRE has partnered with the recruiting firm Big Fish on this search.
Please contact Angel Fimbres-Barcelo at for any questions or referrals regarding the role.

This Program Counsel Policy Reform position will be based in Philadelphia Pennsylvania or Washington D.C. FIRE operates a hybrid work schedule that allows eligible employees to mix in-office and remote work days. This position is not eligible for fully remote work.

About FIRE
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expressions mission is to defend and sustain the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought the most essential qualities of liberty. FIRE educates Americans about the importance of these inalienable rights promotes a culture of respect for these rights and provides the means to preserve them.

About the Program Counsel role:
FIRE is seeking an attorney with at least two years of experience to support its Policy Reform and Campus Rights Advocacy teams. Exceptional candidates with fewer years of experience will also be considered.

FIREs Policy Reform team works to improve the written regulations on student and faculty expression at our nations colleges and universities. The Program Counsel for Policy Reform will support all aspects of this work with a focus on case-related inquiries including those raising issues of policies application actively working with students faculty and administrators to secure policy changes.

While the Program Counsel for Policy Reform will report directly to FIREs Director of Policy Reform they will also support the work of FIREs Campus Rights Advocacy team by managing and working on policy-related case submissions.

The duties for this position include but are not limited to:

Policy Reform Project

• Corresponding with students faculty and administrators with the objective of revising their colleges regulations on expression.
• Writing reviewing and editing letters as well as coordinate mailings on the basis of recent court rulings relevant to the department or other developments (such as legislation) that implicate policy reform work.
• Writing reviewing and editing policy review letters as needed to colleges and universities analyzing their speech codes pertinent case law and ways to revise the policies.
• Writing reviewing and editing speech code memoranda as needed for individual students faculty and administrators who wish to pursue policy reform at their college or university.
• Managing the intake and assignment of speech code information requests and policy-related case referrals from other organizations.

Campus Rights Advocacy

• Writing reviewing and editing letters regarding case submissions primarily involving speech codes.
• Serving as a liaison between the Director of Policy Reform and the Director of Campus Rights Advocacy managing referrals and identifying efficient advocacy strategies between the programs.

Legal

• Assisting the organizations Litigation Project with analyzing college and university speech codes as needed for potential First Amendment litigation.
• Assisting with the production of amicus briefs as needed in conjunction with other organization attorneys in cases where the organizations third-party input and analysis is necessary.
• Reviewing and editing legal briefs and motions as needed in litigation arising out of the organizations casework and mission.

Other editorial

• Writing and reviewing articles for FIREs Newsdesk as needed.
• Reviewing editing and commenting on pre-publication blog posts written by others as needed.
• Being available to copyedit colleagues letters reports and other documents on request.

This position will also perform other support functions for the day-to-day operation of FIRE and will frequently collaborate with other staff members and departments on general duties and specialized projects.

This position involves a moderate amount of travel. Occasional work on weekends and evenings should be expected.

Strong candidates have:

• A successful candidate who can demonstrate a knowledge and passion for FIREs mission and an ability to articulate that passion in a way that will make others enthusiastic about our cause. A candidate must also be able to demonstrate:
• A knowledge of case law regarding higher education First Amendment rights due process academic freedom and various legal doctrines applicable to organizations work and mission.
• Familiarity with general university conduct codes principles and administrative structure.
• Ability to accurately research and navigate through case law regulations legislation law review articles and university policies and handbooks.
• Strong legal writing and copy-editing skills and concrete familiarity with legal citation formats.
• Discretion/sensitivity with handling of confidential material.
• Ability to communicate with a variety of audiences such as students faculty administrators and the media in a variety of mediums.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to multitask and work under tight deadlines when urgent matters arise.
• Ability to communicate legal principles and case law to non-legal audiences.
• Ability to manage long-term administrative and faculty contacts to effectuate policy reform.
• Interpersonal communication.
• Problem solving to find solutions (and communicate those solutions) in order to address problematic policies.
• Decision making to prioritize policy issues in urgent need of revision and deciding what elements of the policy should be revised.
• Ability to gauge and evaluate administrative incentives and advocate for policy changes according to those motivating factors.

Candidates must have a J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school. Candidates that possess a J.D. and are not already a member of the Pennsylvania or D.C. bars must be willing to obtain licensure in Pennsylvania or D.C.

Salary and Compensation

The projected salary for this position is $65000-$75000 based on experience and education. FIRE conducts periodic evaluations where employees may receive raises or bonuses for exceptional work. FIRE also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes employer-paid health dental and life insurance; a Section 125 Flexible Spending Account option; matching retirement contributions; and a generous paid time-off plan.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

FIRE is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex national origin disability status protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Required Experience:

IC