Litigation Counsel

Overall Responsibility:

The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) is seeking an experienced trial litigator to join its Legal Team. This is a senior role for a candidate who is capable of independently conceiving, developing, and executing high-impact constitutional and civil rights litigation from inception through final resolution. This is not a junior support role. We are seeking a confident courtroom advocate who can run complex litigation matters start to finish — including strategy, pleadings, discovery, dispositive motions, trial, and appeal — with minimal oversight. Public sector litigation experience, such as with a federal agency or a state attorney general’s office, is a major plus, particularly for candidates with experience defending or challenging state action, managing multi-party litigation, or coordinating with government stakeholders. The ideal candidate possesses deep constitutional fluency, sound strategic judgment, and the professional maturity to represent AFPI in high-stakes matters in federal and state courts.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Independently develop, file, and manage complex litigation matters advancing AFPI’s mission.

• Lead cases through all phases of litigation, including investigation, pleadings, discovery, motion practice, evidentiary hearings, trial, and appellate briefing.

• Draft persuasive briefs, memoranda, and amicus filings at both trial and appellate levels.

• Develop litigation strategy aligned with broader policy objectives.

• Identify and vet potential plaintiffs and causes of action.

• Manage and coordinate with local counsel and outside co-counsel as appropriate.

• Engage directly with opposing counsel and courts.

• Collaborate with AFPI’s Communications and Digital teams to ensure strategic alignment and message discipline.

• Coordinate with internal leadership, policy, and engagement teams to maximize impact.

• Provide strategic input on emerging legal opportunities and risks.

• Uphold and embody AFPI’s culture of service and leadership.

Type of Employment:
Full-Time

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.

• Admission to at least one state bar and in good standing.

• Significant litigation experience in trial and appellate courts.

• Demonstrated ability to independently manage complex litigation.

• Strong constitutional law background.

• Exceptional legal writing and analytical skills.

• Significant experience with discovery, motion practice, and oral advocacy.

• Strategic mindset capable of identifying long-term litigation opportunities.

• Confidence and professionalism representing clients in high-profile matters.

Strongly Preferred

• Prior trial experience with a government agency or a state attorney general’s office.

• Experience litigating constitutional, administrative law, or civil rights cases.

• Experience managing multi-jurisdictional or sensitive litigation.

• Familiarity with media-sensitive or policy-driven cases.

Core Attributes

• Independent Operator: Capable of running litigation autonomously with sound judgment.
• Strategic Litigator: Sees beyond the immediate case to long-term constitutional impact.
• Persuasive Writer: Produces clear, compelling, publication-ready work product.
• Coalition Builder: Comfortable coordinating with state officials, partner organizations, and outside counsel.
• Servant Leader: Collaborative, mission-driven, and committed to AFPI’s culture.

Salaries for positions will be commensurate with the experience, expertise, and skills of the individual. Please send a cover letter, resume, salary requirements or expectations, writing samples, and references.

AFPI is a non-profit, non-partisan research institute offering competitive salaries and benefits to qualified candidates.