OVERVIEW

The Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) is hiring a Legal Fellow to join a dynamic team and be the architect of real change—transforming bold policy ideas into clear, actionable law. If you thrive in the high-stakes world of policy, where a well-crafted bill can be the difference between progress and stagnation, this is your opportunity to be on the frontlines of the fight for the American Dream.

This role isn’t about sitting behind a desk, disconnected from reality. Think of it as the legislative equivalent of a master builder—assembling the legal framework that will shape policy battles at the state and federal levels. You’ll draft the blueprints for laws, craft regulations that withstand scrutiny, and construct executive orders that drive reform. If you love the challenge of distilling complex policy concepts into elegant, airtight language, you’ll thrive here.

At FGA, we move fast and expect precision. You’ll be part of a team that thrives on clarity, quick turnarounds, and strategic execution. If you have the legal drafting skills of a seasoned D.C. insider, the research capabilities of a top-tier analyst, and the drive to make an impact, you may be a good fit for this role.

You’ll interact daily with FGA’s federal team but don’t need to be on the ground in D.C. more often than about once a month—otherwise, this is a remote work position, as described below.

FGA is open to either a full-time employee arrangement or a contractor arrangement. A contractor would likely need to devote at least 30 hours per week to handle the workload. 

CULTURE AND FIT

The people who consistently succeed at FGA are those whose actions and behavior reflect our five Core Values. If you adhere to these values and answer “yes” to each of these questions, you may be a fit.

1) Candid to Solve: Being willing to have tough conversations in order to solve issues and build trust.

• Do you seek out constructive feedback—and provide it to others—to solve issues and build trust with coworkers? 

2) Grow or Die: We don’t have a neutral gear; we must consistently challenge ourselves and each other to grow in our talents and skills.

• Are you aware of your strengths and weaknesses, and do you seek out complementary skills and growth in order to mitigate your weaknesses? 

3) Politically Savvy: Policy doesn’t change in a vacuum, but in a political reality that we must understand and account for.

• Do you agree that embracing the realities of politics is necessary to change public policy? 

4) Partnership-Oriented: Internal and external relationships are not transactional. That starts with our team members and the perspective that we need the rest of the team to succeed in order to win personally.

• Are you comfortable creating your own structure for work, such as setting work hours, your own priorities, and creating clarity and a workplan from a broad goal? Do you tend to be the one who initiates conversations with colleagues, rather than waiting for them to come to you?

5) Bought in to Win: We’re at FGA because we want to change policy. No one is counting hours or widgets, we are here to get results, and sometimes that will require going the extra mile or doing a job that isn’t technically ours.

• Do you wholeheartedly agree with the policies that we advocate and the underlying principles that people’s lives are made better through work, not government welfare, and that a free market creates greater freedom and equality than any command-and-control government system?

The vast majority of those who don’t get hired (or don’t last) at FGA are due to a lack of fit with these values. Be prepared to have very candid conversations about them in our interview process.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Legal Fellow will have three primary roles, broken down into key responsibilities:

Legal Drafting (60%)

• Draft federal and state policy documents, including proposed bills, amendments, resolutions, regulations, and executive orders.
• Work closely with the Policy and Outreach teams to ensure alignment with FGA’s legislative priorities.
• Deliver high-quality, first-draft documents requiring minimal edits and demonstrating expertise and attention to detail.

Legal Research and Analysis (30%)

• Conduct legal research to support FGA’s policy efforts and respond to inquiries from the Policy & Research, Outreach, and Federal teams.
• Develop legal collateral, including memos, briefings, and amicus briefs as needed.
• Provide concise, well-supported answers to legal questions to advance FGA’s objectives.

Federal and State Policy Support (10%)

• Assist in tracking legal and regulatory threats to FGA’s priorities and provide timely analysis.
• Participate in strategy discussions with the Federal and Policy teams.
• Communicate effectively with key stakeholders to ensure legal considerations are incorporated into FGA’s advocacy efforts.

REQUIREMENTS

• Be admitted to practice or be able to be admitted to practice in a state's highest court or the District of Columbia.
• Excellent legal writing and drafting skills.
• Expertise in drafting legislation, regulations, and executive orders, with a preference for federal drafting experience.
• Strong legal research skills and the ability to develop high-quality legal collateral.
• Comfortable working independently while also collaborating across teams.
• Strong ability to analyze and synthesize complex legal materials quickly and effectively.
• A proactive, problem-solving mindset and a commitment to advancing FGA’s mission.
• Match FGA’s Core Values (described above).

TIMING, LOCATION, AND COMPENSATION

FGA is seeking to fill this position as soon as possible. This is a remote role, but it requires frequent coordination with the Policy, Research, and Federal teams, as well as external partners. FGA’s headquarters are in Naples, FL, but nearly all of FGA’s staff work remotely, so internal communication may require Zoom and remote communication.

FGA has built a highly successful remote work culture over the past decade with systems and structures designed for clarity, flexibility, and great communication. Key elements of the environment include:

• Quarterly in-person team meetings at which you’ll build deeper relationships, set clear goals aligned with FGA’s big vision, and brainstorm how to seize new opportunities
• An intensive 90-day orientation to familiarize you with the FGA team, our policies, and how we operate
• Home office setup, including equipment and communication tools you need to hit the ground running

FGA offers a competitive salary of between $105,000 to $145,000, depending on experience, education, and qualifications, and a benefits package including a six percent retirement match, health benefit, and generous paid leave plan. 

The key roles in this position could also be performed by a contractor, so FGA is open to contractor applications. However, the contractor must be able to commit at least 30 hours per week, as the workload will require that much time.