Legislative Counsel Fellowship

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

Closing Date: 08/08/2025; 5:00pm

Do you enjoy problem-solving and deep engagement with law and policy? Do you want to work in a collegial environment that provides opportunities to contribute to the legislative process? If so, apply to join our dynamic team in the Legislative Analysis Division (LAD) of the North Carolina General Assembly.

We are looking for a new or recent graduate to serve as a Legislative Counsel Fellow.  As a Fellow, you will participate in LAD's operations and work with our Staff Attorneys. The Fellow is 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.

WHO WE ARE

LAD is a nonpartisan central staff division of the North Carolina General Assembly. Our staff attorneys play an important role in the functioning of the State legislature by providing legal counsel to legislative committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate.  We also provide high-quality legal and policy information to all 170 legislators of the General Assembly, regardless of political affiliation. 

WHAT WE DO

LAD staff attorneys specialize in legislative practice and develop expertise in one or more areas of substantive law and policy. We work with legislators, political staff, stakeholders, and other interested parties from all political parties and across State and local government in a cooperative and fast-paced environment to provide high-quality bill drafts and legal counsel on the legislative process. A successful staff attorney in LAD analyzes, identifies, and proposes solutions to complex legal issues, communicates clearly both orally and in writing, and operates under tight time constraints while juggling multiple assignments.

We work independently while functioning as part of a team in a cooperative environment. We provide objective and impartial assistance to legislators, regardless of political affiliation, on a variety of policy issues.  Throughout the legislative cycle, we provide legal, policy, and general information to individual legislators. During the legislation session, we serve as counsel for committees considering bills for enactment by the General Assembly. In session interims we serve as counsel and coordinators for interim study committees.  Our job is to help legislators effectuate their legislative intent and we do not advocate for or against legislation. 

The duties of a Legislative Counsel Fellow will include:

• Meeting with legislators, political staff, legislative liaisons, and lobbyists to understand legislative intent. 
• Identifying legal, constitutional, implementation, and drafting issues in legislation and sharing that information with legislators.
• Drafting and revising legislation in conformity with drafting conventions and reflective of legislative intent.
• Advising committee chairs regarding the operation of committees and parliamentary procedures and assisting with the planning of committee meetings.
• Providing written analysis of legislation.
• Answering questions from committee members.
• Providing counsel and coordinating interim study committees.
• Making presentations to committees on legal and policy issues when requested.
• Providing legislators and their staff with research and assistance with constituent requests.
• Maintaining legislative confidentiality.

NECESSARY SKILLS

To excel in the duties outlined above, candidates should be flexible, highly motivated thinkers and communicators. We are seeking candidates who demonstrate the following:

• Ability to work cooperatively and maintain composure under pressure.
• Clear and concise oral and written presentation skills, both in planned presentations and when communicating extemporaneously.
• Strong analytical skills and an aptitude for providing high-quality legal policy analysis and advice.
• Commitment to delivering nonpartisan, objective legal analysis.
• Creative problem-solving in achieving legal and policy objectives.
• Desire to continually learn and curiosity about how things work.
• Success working independently or in a team environment.
• Strong interpersonal and time-management skills.
• Willingness to provide feedback to and accept feedback from fellow staff attorneys.
• Attention to detail in both work product and legislative process requirements.
• Flexibility and adaptability to meet the changing workplace needs throughout the legislative cycle. 
• Ability and willingness to work extended hours during legislative sessions.

BENEFITS

The General Assembly offers:

• Competitive State salaries with opportunities for incremental promotions and raises.
• Participation in health insurance options, a defined benefit retirement plan and supplemental retirement plans, and the NCFlex program (numerous high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis).
• Paid vacation, sick, parental, and community service leave.
• Remote work opportunities during some portions of the legislative cycle.
• Compensatory time policy for working extended hours during legislative sessions.
• Reimbursement for professional licenses necessary for employment at the General Assembly.
• Professional development opportunities with organizations such as the National Conference of State Legislatures and UNC School of Government, and a structured training program for new staff.
• A collegial work environment with outstanding colleagues.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

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

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

***NC General Assembly positions are NOT subject to the State Human Resources Act (G.S. 126). ***

INSTRUCTIONS
To apply for the Legislative Counsel Fellow 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 not to restate information found on their résumé in the cover letter.
• Résumé.
• Law school transcript.
• List of three 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. There is no maximum allowed length for a writing sample, but a writing sample exceeding five pages may not be considered in its entirety.  Applicants are encouraged to submit a writing sample that demonstrates their skills in legal analysis and writing and not to submit a writing sample that consists of significant recitation of facts, 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 Fellow position, all applicants must submit a NC General Assembly application and necessary documents by 5:00 P.M. on Friday, August 8, 2025.
 

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

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