Senior Counsel, Investigations & Oversight

Make a difference with us! At Alliance Defending Freedom, we believe God has brought you here for His purpose—to stand for truth and defend the God-given right to live and speak it. Together, we protect religious freedom, free speech, the sanctity of life, marriage and family, and parental rights. Review our Statement of Faith to ensure we’re a fit for you.

Location: Lansdowne, VA

Team Overview

As Senior Counsel, Investigations & Oversight, you are a vital part of the Counter Censorship Task Force. In this role, you will lead advanced investigative and research initiatives that deepen ADF’s understanding of complex censorship-related systems and inform high-impact litigation, legislation, and oversight efforts.

This position is designed for an attorney with strong investigative instincts, excellent legal judgment, and the ability to synthesize complex information into actionable insight. The role operates upstream of litigation and advocacy, generating the factual record, analysis, and transparency necessary to support effective legal and policy action.

Key Responsibilities

• Investigations & Systems Analysis

  • Lead investigations into censorship-related systems, networks, and institutional relationships affecting free expression and religious liberty in the United States and internationally.
  • Analyze the structure, governance, funding, and coordination of institutions involved in censorship-related initiatives.
  • Identify patterns, incentives, and structural vulnerabilities relevant to censorship systems.
  • Develop investigative strategies designed to surface actionable information for legal, legislative, and oversight purposes.

  Transparency & Public Records Strategy

  • Design and oversee transparency initiatives, including public records and information requests at federal, state, and international levels.
  • Draft and supervise public records requests and ensure follow-through to secure meaningful production.
  • Coordinate with litigation teams when transparency requests require enforcement or escalation.
  • Analyze materials obtained through transparency efforts and translate them into usable investigative findings.

  Oversight & Accountability Support

  • Produce investigative memoranda, briefing materials, and analytical reports supporting legislative oversight and accountability efforts.
  • Identify opportunities for legislative or governmental oversight related to censorship activity.
  • Support litigation teams by identifying fact patterns and evidentiary developments relevant to potential cases.

  Strategic Collaboration

  • Work closely with other attorneys, researchers, coalition partners, and communications professionals to ensure investigative work supports broader strategic objectives.
  • Advise leadership on investigative priorities and emerging developments.
  • Supervise and mentor investigative staff supporting the Task Force.

Minimum Qualifications

• J.D., licensed to practice law in the relevant jurisdiction
• 10+ years of relevant experience

Pay & Benefits

At Alliance Defending Freedom, we offer a competitive compensation and benefits package to support your well-being and growth. While we do not disclose specific salary ranges, our compensation is competitive with top non-profit law firms. Our benefits include 100% covered medical and dental insurance, medical and dependent care reimbursement, paid disability, long-term care, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan with a 4% company match. We prioritize work-life balance with paid time off and 12 paid holidays each year.

Want to Know More About ADF?

Compensation (from employer):
Virginia Salary Range — 150,783 – 196,017 USD — (<p><span data-teams="true"><em>This salary range is reflective of a position based in Lansdowne, VA. This range is a good-faith estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on the candidate’s experience, skills, qualifications, and office location.</em></span></p>)