Legislative Counsel Fellowship

***Recruitment Range: $70,000 – $75,000 Annually***

OVERVIEW – LEGISLATIVE ANALYSIS DIVISION OF THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY; LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL FELLOWSHIP

The Legislative Analysis Division (LAD) is a legal research and analysis division of the nonpartisan central staff of the North Carolina General Assembly. It provides legal counsel to legislative committees in both the House of Representatives and Senate as well as legal and policy information to all 170 legislators of the General Assembly, regardless of political affiliation.

LAD seeks a Legislative Counsel Fellow to participate in all aspects of LAD's operations. The Fellow will (i) assist staff attorneys serving as counsel for legislative committees, (ii) analyze bills, (iii) answer questions from legislators on bills before committees, (iv) draft amendments, substitute bills, and bill summaries, and (v) conduct legal, policy, and general research in response to information and constituent requests from legislators. The Fellow must be able to analyze and propose solutions to complex legal problems, communicate clearly both orally and in writing, and handle multiple assignments under tight time constraints. Additionally, the Fellow must be able to work both independently and collaboratively with staff, legislators, stakeholders, and other interested parties as needed. Please note that as nonpartisan staff, LAD attorneys do not advocate for or against legislation.

The Fellow will be appointed for a one-year term with the possibility of permanent employment as an LAD Staff Attorney, subject to position availability, budgetary constraints, and demonstrated performance. The Fellow will work in a wide range of subject areas based on current needs. The anticipated start date for the fellowship is early September, following successful passage of the Bar examination.

The General Assembly offers (i) health care and retirement benefits, (ii) remote work opportunities when the legislature is not in session, (iii) paid parental leave, (iv) pay for professional licenses necessary for employment at the General Assembly, (v) professional development with organizations such as the National Conference of State Legislatures and UNC School of Government, and (vi) the opportunity to work with legislators and stakeholders from all political parties and across State and local government while gaining firsthand knowledge of the legislative process.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

The individual hired for this position will perform the general duties of a Legislative Counsel Fellow as outlined in the overview and duties. This individual will also develop a generalized base of knowledge in the various legal areas covered by LAD.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES/COMPETENCIES:

An applicant for the Legislative Counsel Fellow position should be able to:

• Analyze and interpret legislation, constitutional provisions, statutes, administrative rules and regulations, and caselaw.
• Perform legal, policy, and general research, and provide information and potential solutions to legislative concerns for member consideration.
• Develop an understanding of drafting conventions and statutory structure and be able to consistently draft legislation that meets those conventions and accurately conveys legislative intent.
• Present information clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing, and be comfortable with public speaking, both prepared and extemporaneous.
• Develop practical knowledge of federal, State, and local government organization and functions, and of the legislative process.
• D evelop a specialized base of knowledge in one or more assigned areas.
• Function as a conscientious employee with a strong work ethic and attention to work product and process details.
• Work collegially and cooperatively with members of LAD and other Central Staff organizations, legislators, political staff, and the public.
• Work objectively and impartially with members of all political parties on all policy issues.
• Maintain composure under pressure, particularly under adverse conditions and time pressures, exercise good judgement, and demonstrate strong interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability, including willingness to learn other subject areas to meet the LAD’s staffing needs.
• Work extended schedules when needed to meet the needs of the General Assembly.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Preference for those with three or fewer years of legal experience, including individuals anticipating graduation from law school in 2025.
• An active license to practice law in North Carolina by September 2025; offers of employment extended to applicants who do not have an active license to practice law in North Carolina are conditional on passage the Bar examination.

SUPPLEMENTAL AND CONTACT INFORMATION:

***NC General Assembly positions are NOT subject to the State Human Resources Act .***

Instructions :
To apply for the Legislative Counsel Fellowship position, submit the NC General Assembly application through the NC General Assembly website:
https://careers.ncleg.gov/ .

An applicant must also attach a copy of the following documents when submitting the online application:

• A cover letter that includes the reasons the applicant is interested in this specific position and discussion of relevant experience and interest. Applicants are encouraged to not restate information found on their résumé in the cover letter.
• Résumé.
• Law school transcript. Law students who are offered this position must provide a copy of their official final law school transcript before starting this position.
• List of two academic or professional references and two personal references, including name, address, email address, telephone number, and relationship to applicant.
• Writing sample: Evaluation of writing samples is an important part of the selection process. The writing sample should reflect only the applicant's own work and must be accompanied by a separate note indicating the extent to which the sample has been edited by another. A writing sample exceeding five pages may not be considered in its entirety. If longer than five pages, please highlight the relevant analysis for review. Applicants are encouraged to submit a writing sample that demonstrates their skills in legal analysis and writing and to not submit a writing sample that consists of significant legal boilerplate or legal form language.

Please Note the Following : The application must be completed in its entirety, including detailed education and work history .

To be considered for the Legislative Counsel Fellowship position, all applicants must submit an NC General Assembly application and necessary documents by 5:00 P.M. on Tuesday, January 8, 2025.

Agency Contact Information:
North Carolina General Assembly
Human Resources Office
(919) 715-1210

***Due to the expected large volume of applications we will receive, we will be unable to provide information regarding the status of your application.***