The Legislative Assistant (LA) works under the supervision of the Legislative & Public Policy Manager, within the Regulatory and Government Affairs Department. The LA assists with the administrative responsibilities of the Public Policy and Legislative Affairs (PPLA) group, including Lobbying Disclosure Act compliance and business development activities. The LA is knowledgeable about legislative and regulatory processes and procedures. The LA is responsible for monitoring congressional and regulatory activities in assigned subject areas; providing advance intelligence and issue-spotting support on issues important to the Firm and its’ clients; providing lobbying support and legislative assistance to clients, PPLA professionals and attorneys; and performing historical Federal and State legislative and regulatory research.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Firm-wide

• Provide legislative and regulatory information, research, and support to the Regulatory and Government Affairs Department and its Public Policy and Legislative Affairs practice group, and various other departments throughout the firm to advance firm and client objectives.
• Works with individual practice groups to determine legislative/agency monitoring needs.
• Keeps attorneys apprised of new bills, committee hearings, markups, and debates.
• LAs assigned topic-specific portfolios (including but not limited to Financial Services, Defense & Nat’l Security, Education, Tax & Trade, Cybersecurity, Energy & Environment, Health Care, Native American Affairs, Big Data).
• Compiles and disseminates curated client-specific news digests and topic updates.
• Monitors Congressional Record and legislative databases for new bill introductions, debates, scheduled hearings and follows appropriate bills through the legislative process.
• Covers congressional hearings/markups/events and drafts written summaries for firm attorneys and clients.
• Assists with researching and compiling complex legislative and regulatory histories.
• Assists with elections-related monitoring and reporting.
• Creates slide decks and other content for presentations.
• Tracks and reports on transition developments and cabinet nominations.
• Contributes to the firm's Service Excellence initiative to consistently improve its image internally and externally. Displays professionalism, quality service and a "can do" attitude to internal members/departments of the firm as well as external clients and vendors via electronic and print correspondence, over the telephone and in-person.

Public Policy

• Provides legislative and regulatory tracking support by monitoring and reporting on the status of bills, resolutions, amendments, rulemakings, proposals and other measures.
• Coordinates with partners and policy advisers on strategic initiatives and work product deliverables.
• Under the supervision of PPLA professionals, engages with government officials, lobbyists, and government relations personnel to advance client objectives.
• Participates in business development and client-related activities such as events, meetings and social engagements to extend and amplify the reach of PPLA.
• Creates and maintains congressional contacts mapping spreadsheets for use by PPLA lobbyists and clients in organizing legislative advocacy efforts and goals.
• Monitor news on issues in portfolio and draft summaries on important developments.
• Assists in administering the firm’s Lobbying Disclosure Act compliance program.
• Assists in developing PPLA financial metrics and competitor surveys.
• Intimate understanding of campaign finance reports and how to research and identify Federal political contributions.
• Assist with elections-related monitoring and reporting.
• Creates slide decks and other content for presentations.
• Tracks transition developments and cabinet nominations.
• Compiles, organizes and assembles subject matter “briefing binders” for use by attorneys and clients in preparation for high-stakes meetings, hearings and other events.
• Conducts opposition research and compiles negative news digests.
• Compiles and disseminates curated client-specific news digests and issue updates.
• Monitors and reports on social media use (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) by elected officials, administration officials, and/or special interest groups to track real-time views on topics of interest.

• Excellent research skills, ability to analyze complex content and attention to detail required.
• Excellent written and oral communications including the interpersonal skills appropriate for dealing with Firm attorneys and Federal workers at all levels of responsibility required.
• Ability to multi-task, work effectively under pressure and meet competing priorities and deadlines required.
• Initiative, resourcefulness, the ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment with competing priorities and time constraints required.
• Demonstrated ability and interest in legislative affairs, regulatory process and research including a familiarity with online news and research databases; willingness to gain expertise in new and innovative Internet resources required.
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office suite preferred.
• Work as a cooperative team member and shares responsibilities of absent colleagues required.

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree required.

• One year of legislative affairs, lobbying, or law firm experience, preferred.

WilmerHale is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or ancestry, age, disability or veteran status, or other protected status.