Legislative and Policy Council

Range: $6,772 - $11,735 monthly, based on relevant experience and qualifications.

State of Vermont - Office of Legislative Counsel

Treatment Advocacy Center is seeking to fill the Legislative & Policy Counsel position as an addition to our Advocacy department. The Legislative & Policy Advisor will be responsible for reviewing, analyzing, drafting, and making recommendations on legislation related to TAC’s advocacy agenda. This position will be responsible for analyzing legislation introduced in statehouses across the country, advising on key policy considerations, working with legislative partners and advocates to write and revise policy, and maintaining an up-to-date legislative activity page on the TAC website.

• Analyze bills and existing statutes related to TAC’s priority policy areas;
• Advise state and federal policymakers in their efforts to promote policy changes to improve civil commitment laws and other TAC priorities;
• Draft new (and recommend modifications to existing) state legislation;
• Track legislative changes to existing statutes;
• Liaise with legal system stakeholders, agencies, and organizations to advance policy and compassionate civil commitment reforms;
• Interpret existing civil commitment laws for stakeholders so they can operationalize their state statutes effectively and efficiently;
• Maintain up-to-date legislative activity page on the TAC website;
• Prepare written materials and publications;
• Assist in expanding TAC’s work on relevant policy issues, including grant proposals and relevant activities; and
• Additional relevant tasks, as needed.

• Strong preference for J.D., and a minimum of 3 years of experience practicing civil/criminal law, working in policy analysis or drafting legislation;
• Working knowledge of civil and criminal legal policy landscape, including relevant stakeholders and their relationships to the legal system;
• Experience working collaboratively with a broad variety stakeholders;
• Familiarity with common legislative tracking and advocacy tool such as Bill Track, Fiscal Note/Voter Voice, CQEngage or Stat escape;
• Strong writing and analytical skills; and
• Intergovernmental affairs and/or policy experience preferred. A personal connection to and/or demonstrated affinity for TAC’s mission is highly preferred.

Essential functions are performed in a home office setting. Job demands may include telephone work and/or computer work, as well as interactions with other team members and external stakeholders. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The compensation range for this position is $85, and is commensurate with experience. Treatment Advocacy Center offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution and liberal vacation and leave policies.

Treatment Advocacy Center (TAC) is a national nonprofit organization based in Arlington, Virginia. Our mission is to eliminate barriers to treatment of severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Since our founding in 1998, TAC has partnered with grassroots advocates to pass legislation in 34 states and at the federal level to improve conditions for people with severe mental illness and their families.

We support compassionate civil commitment laws that enable timely and effective treatment of individuals who cannot recognize their own desperate need for psychiatric care and prevent the criminalization of mental illness.