Researcher

About Democracy Docket

Democracy Docket is the leading digital news platform dedicated to information, analysis and opinion about voting rights and elections in the courts.

Founded in 2020 by Democratic voting rights attorney Marc Elias, Democracy Docket is a reliable source of news that delivers detailed analysis and expert commentary on voting rights and election litigation and policy that will shape our elections and democratic institutions for years to come. With a comprehensive database of over 1,000 cases, Democracy Docket tracks and reports on the latest election and voting-related litigation, providing filings, in-depth analysis and up-to-date developments about court proceedings.

We offer free daily and weekly newsletters to our over 300,000 subscribers as well as a premium membership with exclusive content. Our social media presence continues to grow with over 1 million total followers across our channels, including 250,000 YouTube subscribers. By providing our readers with breaking news updates, long-form analysis pieces and op-eds from elected officials, legal experts and voting rights activists, Democracy Docket is committed to helping people better understand the greatest challenges facing voters and our democracy.

Job Overview

Democracy Docket is seeking a detail-oriented and highly organized Researcher to join our team. This role is ideal for someone with a strong background in legal research and analysis who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. The Researcher will be responsible for tracking and analyzing litigation related to voting rights, redistricting and executive power, and identifying story ideas and trends buried in legal documents and data for use by our news team.

Key Responsibilities

• Track lawsuits related to voting rights, redistricting and executive power, and provide real-time updates.
• Write and update copy for case pages to ensure accurate and easy-to-understand information for our audience.
• Prepare research memos and analysis for Democracy Docket reporters and staff on key democracy-related litigation.
• Compile, manage and analyze data on litigation involving voting rights, redistricting and Trump accountability.
• Develop and pitch content ideas based on analysis of litigation trends and legal developments.
• Participate in weekly meetings with the Legal Editor to identify trends and opportunities for coverage.
• Edit social media posts and news content, as needed.

Required Qualifications

• J.D. is a plus, but not required.
• At least 3 years of full-time experience conducting legal or legislative research and analysis.
• Strong writing and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex legal concepts clearly.
• Demonstrated ability to identify newsworthy trends in legal filings and developments.
• Highly organized and capable of managing multiple projects and large sets of documents.
• Familiarity with federal and/or state court systems, including experience with PACER, LexisNexis or Westlaw.
• Experience with data collection, database management and/or analysis tools such as Excel, Google Sheets or Airtable.
• Ability to work collaboratively with editors, reporters and legal experts.

Must-Haves!

• Enthusiasm for the courts and democracy.
• Willingness to work off-hours or some weekends, depending on court activity.

Work Environment
This is a full-time role based out of either our Washington, D.C. or Jersey City office. We currently operate on a hybrid schedule, with remote work on Mondays and Fridays and in-office days on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and 2 writing samples.

Salary Range: 75,000-80,000