Legislative Counsel Fellowship

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

Closing Date: 01/26/2026; 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-year term with the possibility of permanent employment as an LAD Staff Attorney, subject to position availability, budgetary constraints, and demonstrated performance. The anticipated start date for the fellowship is early September, following successful passage of the Bar examination, but earlier start dates will be considered for those with a current NC Bar license.

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 and drafting services 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.

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 to 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 interim periods between legislative sessions we serve as counsel and coordinators for study committees. Our job is to help legislators effectuate their legislative intent, and we do not advocate for or against legislation.

• 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 analyses 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.

• 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 and in a team environment.
• Strong…