Policy Advisor at Nelson Mullins in Washington, DC

EducationCounsel, LLC (EducationCounsel), in affiliation with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP (Nelson Mullins), seeks to hire a Policy Assistant in our Washington, DC, office.  EducationCounsel and Nelson Mullins are equal opportunity employers. 

EducationCounsel is a mission-driven, nonpartisan education organization that works with leading nonprofits, foundations, and policymakers to help significantly improve education opportunities and outcomes for all students. We do this by leveraging policy, strategy, law, and advocacy to help transform education systems, from early learning, to K-12, to postsecondary. We work with partners at the federal, state, and local levels to advance evidence-based innovations and systems-change, with a central focus on advancing equitable opportunity in education.  EducationCounsel is affiliated with Nelson Mullins, a national law firm with a strong focus on public policy, pro bono services, and more.

EducationCounsel is committed to identifying and supporting top talent and fostering an inclusive culture. Our team approach to project impact is based on our belief and experience that teams comprised of individuals with varied knowledge, backgrounds, and perspectives are more innovative, make better decisions, and achieve better results for communities and clients.

This position offers significant opportunities to help address barriers to access and opportunity and advance positive educational outcomes for all students. It provides exposure to education policy, policymakers, and other leaders working to drive positive change. It will help candidates develop and improve policy and data analysis skills, and gain an increased understanding of policymaking at the state, district, and/or federal levels. EducationCounsel is seeking candidates who can work with the principals, senior policy advisors, and attorneys on our team across a wide range of projects.  

This position is based in the Washington DC office and requires in-office work at least 2-3 days per week.

Responsibilities and opportunities could include, but are not limited to: 

• Conducting policy and legal research and analysis on early childhood, K-12, and/or postsecondary education issues including tracking legislation, analyzing statutory text, monitoring grant notices, and reviewing agency guidance
• Drafting, proofreading, and editing policy and strategy documents, including briefing memos, issue briefs, and policy recommendations for external audiences
• Managing project progress and timelines as part of a project team
• Designing engaging slides and presentations, dynamic graphics, and clear, accessible documents to support a variety of clients
• Assisting with strategic planning and execution of virtual and in-person meetings and convenings of clients and partners, including designing and preparing agendas, taking meeting notes, managing meeting materials, facilitating discussions, being an active meeting participant, and leading any necessary follow up
• Attending congressional hearings and other events, and providing summary analyses of key points discussed
• Managing external communications with clients and partners, including social media, email, and newsletters

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications and experiences: 

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution required
• Advanced degree in public policy, education, or other related field preferred, but not required
• At least 2-3 years of direct, relevant work experience in education policy or government relations
• Project management experience, including the ability to manage multiple moving pieces across distinct client matters simultaneously
• Experience in policy analysis; exposure to federal and/or state policymaking strongly preferred
• A demonstrated track record of working on education policy
• A demonstrated commitment to racial equity and justice
• Experience with quantitative and qualitative data analysis preferred
• Strong research, writing, communication, and organizational skills with strong attention to detail
• Comfort working in a fast-paced environment and ability to work both with teams and independently to support a variety of projects and colleagues across a team
• Experience in designing, creating, and using infographics
• Commitment to continuous learning, asking questions, and learning on the job

Salary Range:  $75,000-$95,000, plus overtime

To apply, please provide a resume, cover letter, and a writing sample no later than June 1, 2026.    Applications must include all three components to be considered. When submitting written materials, please submit a written piece that you have drafted yourself and not generated by artificial intelligence.  

With more than 1,000 attorneys, policy advisors, e-discovery professionals and other business professionals across offices in California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, and throughout North Carolina and South Carolina Nelson Mullins has strong roots in the business community and an appreciation for new directions in the business world.