Job Description

About the Position

House Office of the Legislative Counsel
Attorney and Summer Associate Opportunities

The House Office of the Legislative Counsel (HOLC) is looking to hire up to six (6) full-time Attorneys, as well as up to five (5) Summer Associates each year. HOLC also has a paralegal and clerical staff to assist the attorneys and to perform functions ancillary to its principal mission. Appointments to all positions in HOLC are made without regard to personal political affiliation and solely on the basis of fitness to perform the work.

Attorneys at HOLC assist the United States House of Representatives, and its Committees and Members, in drafting legislation and performing related legal functions on a nonpartisan basis. The legal issues encountered in furnishing this assistance involve constitutional, statutory, and administrative law questions, as well as questions in other fields of Federal law. An Attorney performs the following duties:

• Drafts legislation and prepares bills according to statutory style and format standards.
• Drafts bills and amendments at each stage of the legislative process, from introduction through conference.
• Analyzes policy proposals, engages with clients, applies relevant legal principles and court decisions, and conducts research as necessary to prepare effective statutory language.
• Advises clients regarding the legal effect and constitutionality of proposed legislative measures in the context of existing laws and legislative procedure.
• Attends sessions of a subcommittee and full committee of the House and of a conference committee; may respond as requested to questions from legislators and legislative staff; may assist members by being present to provide drafting assistance to members on the House Floor.
• May communicate with various stakeholders, at the request of the Member or Committee, as necessary to draft legislation.
• After gaining necessary experience in these duties and responsibilities, trains newly hired attorneys, provides mentorship to team members, and may assume a leadership role on teams.
• On a volunteer basis, may assist with office management initiatives to promote the effective operation of the office.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

For more detailed information about these opportunities, click to visit the HOLC website to review the classification specifications.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate should have a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisan public service, a strong academic background, and an openness to long-term employment with HOLC. The ideal candidate should actively and enthusiastically embrace and promote the House Office of the Legislative Counsel\'s work culture, develop effective working relationships with other attorneys and employees, strive to provide exceptional customer service to clients, and serve as an effective role model for others.

Ideal candidates will have knowledge of legal principles, applications, and practices of law, as well as basic knowledge of fundamental subjects of law and legal research procedures. Strong written and oral communication skills, and the ability to remain impartial at all times with respect to the policies to be incorporated into a legislative proposal are a must for this position. Attorneys in this office are concerned with the legislative policy only for the purpose of making sure that the bill, resolution, or amendment accurately reflects the policy of the Committee or Member for whom it is being drafted. The ability to analyze complex problems and handle difficult situations as they arise with judgment, tact, and discretion, as well as excellent problem-solving skills, and a strong interest in learning within a high-performing environment are all key characteristics of a successful Attorney or Summer Associate.

Minimum Qualifications

The minimum requirements for Attorneys include United States citizenship, graduation from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association prior to the commencement of employment, and some experience performing legal work, which may be satisfied by employment during law school. Active membership in the bar of a State or the District of Columbia within one year of employment as a full-time attorney is required.

HOLC also has a summer associate program. The summer program is available to law students only during the summer before their last year in an accredited law school, and may lead to an offer of full-time employment upon completion of law school, depending on performance and the needs of HOLC. Summer Associates, working under close supervision, are expected to perform similar duties to that of the full-time Attorneys, with the understanding Summer Associates will work for a minimum of six (6) weeks, and with the assignment ending by the beginning of August.

Supplemental Information

The starting salary for the Attorney position is $90,200 annually. The Legislative Counsel, who is appointed by the Speaker of the House, appoints and fixes the compensation of the personnel of the Office, subject to the approval of the Speaker. For Summer Associates, pay is at a daily rate equivalent to an annual salary of $45,000. Summer Associates receive similar benefits as full-time Attorneys for the duration of their employment.
To learn more about these opportunities, view the brochure at

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