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, D.C.
**Reports to:** Deputy Legal Director for Policy
**Designation:** Hybrid or WFH
**Union Salary Grade:** L5 (union position)
**Annual Salary Range:** $79,895 – $142,739 annually, depending on years of relevant experience and geographic region
**Travel:** 30% or more to support coalition convenings, legislative sessions, partner engagements, and advocacy events across the country
**FLSA Status:** Exempt / Full-time
**Supervisory Responsibilities:** None

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# **Who We Are**

Lambda Legal is a national advocacy organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. Since 1973, Lambda Legal has worked to decriminalize same-sex relationships; challenge discrimination in employment, housing, schools, health care, and the military; and protect LGBTQ+ families, including winning and defending marriage equality.

We believe that serving the full breadth of the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities requires cultural competency and enthusiasm for diversity of all kinds. We recognize the intersectional nature of discrimination and prioritize a proactive commitment to counteracting biases based on race, religion, national origin, gender, disability, education, and class.

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# **Staff Attorney, State Policy**

Lambda Legal seeks a Staff Attorney, State Policy to drive state-level policy advocacy nationwide. This role blends legal analysis, legislative strategy, and high-volume policy production. The attorney will help build the infrastructure that enables Lambda Legal’s civil rights priorities to move quickly and effectively in statehouses, regulatory agencies, and coalition spaces.

Reporting to the Deputy Legal Director for Policy, this attorney will help draft model legislation, produce rapid-response legal analysis, and develop replicable campaign playbooks for partners in priority states.

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# **What You’ll Do**

## State Policy Research & Production
– Draft model legislation, regulations, administrative guidance, and advocacy playbooks.
– Monitor state legislative and regulatory activity and prepare summaries and legal analyses.
– Maintain Lambda Legal’s state policy infrastructure, including model policy libraries, tracking tools, and campaign templates.
– Prepare first drafts of public comments on proposed state regulations and administrative guidance.
– Conduct legal research supporting policy analysis, testimony, and public education materials.
– Provide harm‑reduction legal drafting and propose amendments to mitigate risks in pending legislation.

## Legislative & Regulatory Support
– Assist with testimony, written advocacy, and briefing materials for hearings and administrative proceedings.
– Support engagement with state legislators, agency officials, and staff.
– Track and flag legislative and regulatory developments and maintain organized advocacy records.
– Assist Legal department colleagues on matters with state policy dimensions.

## Coalition & Partner Support
– Participate in coalition meetings and convenings, providing legal and policy information.
– Prepare materials and resources for partner organizations engaged in state advocacy.
– Build and maintain relationships with state-based advocacy organizations.

## Public Education & Outreach
– Participate in public speaking opportunities at conferences, community events, and convenings.
– Write for diverse audiences, adapting tone and complexity appropriately.
– Collaborate with Communications on public education content related to state policy campaigns.

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# **Who You Are**

## Minimum Qualifications
– J.D. and admission to practice in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
– 3+ years of experience in policy advocacy or legislative/regulatory affairs (state-level preferred).
– Experience working with state legislatures, agencies, or advocacy coalitions.
– Strong legal drafting skills (model legislation, regulatory comments, policy reports).
– Experience managing concurrent advocacy campaigns across multiple jurisdictions.
– Demonstrated oral advocacy and communication skills.
– Experience with legislative tracking tools or project management platforms.
– Ability to interpret administrative records, regulatory dockets, and agency guidance.
– Understanding of administrative law and rulemaking processes.
– Ability to produce high-quality work at volume and under deadlines.
– Sound judgment in fast-moving policy environments.

## Preferred Qualifications
– Experience developing advocacy training materials or capacity-building resources.
– Experience in civil rights legal or policy organizations or government civil rights enforcement.
– Experience building policy infrastructure (workflow systems, tracking tools, templates).
– Experience establishing relationships with state-based partner organizations.
– Experience with policy data analysis or data-informed advocacy strategy.
– Prior work on behalf of LGBTQ+ communities and/or people living with HIV.
– Experience working with historically marginalized communities.

All employees are expected to adhere to ethical conduct and contribute to a respectful workplace.

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# **Our Values & DEIB Philosophy**

Successful candidates will embrace Lambda Legal’s Organizational Values and DEIB Philosophy, fostering an inclusive, equitable, and supportive workplace.

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# **Why Work at Lambda Legal?**

You will contribute to meaningful, national-level work for LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV. Benefits include:

– Medical benefits starting on your first day
– Dental, vision, and life insurance (effective after 30 days)
– Short- and long-term disability (after 30 days)
– 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution and match (after 90 days)
– Paid time off:
– 15 vacation days
– 12 sick days
– 3 personal days
– 3 religious observance days
– Bereavement and bereavement anniversary leave
– 1 floating holiday
– 12 paid holidays + 5 early closures
– FSA, DC-FSA, commuter benefits
– Health Reimbursement Account
– Annual professional development funds
– $50 monthly mobile phone reimbursement
– Summer Fridays (Memorial Day–Labor Day)
– Calm App premium subscription
– Paid sabbatical after 7 years (4 weeks for non-exempt, 8 weeks for exempt)

Lambda Legal encourages applications from all qualified individuals, especially those from communities historically underrepresented or marginalized.

Learn more here