Legal Counsel, Church & Ministry Alliance Legal Program

Job Description

<p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Make a difference with us! At Alliance Defending Freedom, we believe God has brought you here for His purpose—to stand for truth and defend the God-given right to live and speak it. Together, we protect religious freedom, free speech, the sanctity of life, marriage and family, and parental rights. Review our <a href="https://adflegal.org/about-us/careers/statement-of-faith/" target="_blank">Statement of Faith</a> to ensure we’re a fit for you.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; color: rgb(35, 111, 161);"><strong>Locations: </strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Scottsdale, AZ / Lansdowne, VA</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; color: rgb(35, 111, 161);"><strong>Team Overview</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In this role, you will report to the Deputy Director. You will primarily serve as a resource to ministries and ministry leaders by providing the day-to-day operational and legal assistance in support of their religious missions. You will conduct legal review of church and ministry governing documents, handbooks, policies, and some contracts; consult directly with churches and ministries to advise on their legal rights and responsibilities; assist in preparing and revising legal resources; and engage in public advocacy such as speaking, blogging, and appearing in all forms of media upon ADF’s request. You will meet established legal service objectives and be responsible for providing exceptional service to Church & Ministry Alliance members.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; color: rgb(35, 111, 161);"><strong>Key Responsibilities</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Provide day-to-day operational legal assistance to faith-based ministries to enable them to effectively carry out their religious missions.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Formulate and assist in the adoption, implementation, and consistent application of legal advice, policies, best practices, and resources addressing various aspects of ministry operations.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Advise ministries on threats to religious liberty—both general and specific—and on appropriate protective measures.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Educate ministries about religious liberty threats and responses through speaking engagements, publications, webinars, conference calls, and other formats.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Establish and cultivate relationships with churches across the evangelical and/or denominational spectrum, including networking with other non-ADF attorneys and ministry partners.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Cultivate a growing knowledge base related to churches, ministry organizations, and Christian schools; develop related legal resources.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Conduct legal research; interpret laws, rulings, and regulations; and provide sound legal advice tailored to churches and ministries.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Research, draft, and review legal resources; confer with colleagues to verify legal analysis.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Participate in recruiting and informing potential Church & Ministry Alliance members, including through speaking engagements and events.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Collaborate with colleagues and advise Allied Attorneys in areas of legal competence to advance legal advocacy.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Interact with media regarding cases and issues as requested.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; color: rgb(35, 111, 161);"><strong>Minimum Qualifications</strong></span></p> <ul> <li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">J.D., active license in at least one US state bar and capable of meeting admission requirements in relevant jurisdiction within one year.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">3+ years of legal experience.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Ability to travel as needed.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Microsoft Office, WordPerfect, and Westlaw software experience.</span></li> <li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Strong analytical, relational, project management, and public speaking skills.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; color: rgb(35, 111, 161);"><strong>Pay & Benefits</strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">At Alliance Defending Freedom, we offer a competitive compensation and benefits package to support your well-being and growth. While we do not disclose specific salary ranges, our compensation is competitive with top non-profit law firms. Our benefits include 100% covered medical and dental insurance, medical and dependent care reimbursement, paid disability, long-term care, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan with a 4% company match. We prioritize work-life balance with paid time off and 12 paid holidays each year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; color: rgb(35, 111, 161);"><strong>Want to Know More About ADF?</strong></span></p> <p><strong><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/van66FA4WEY?si=TNM22CBW4cgBPbFf" width="560" height="315"></iframe></strong></p>