This Policy Counsel role focuses on state-level financial regulation, tracking legislation and rulemakings, and building legal cases for CRL's positions. The role involves translating legal analysis into comment letters, testimony, and amicus briefs, and taking ownership of priority issues. It suits a legal professional who wants to directly protect people from predatory financial products through sharp analysis and influential writing.
Responsibilities
Own priority issues for CRL, build subject-matter expertise, lead or participate in issue working groups, and drive the strategy that turns policy goals into results
Track legislative and regulatory developments in real time and get ahead of them, flagging risks and openings before they become urgent
Analyze proposed legislation and regulations for their real-world impact on consumers, particularly people of color and low-income people, and translate that analysis into CRL's position
Shape draft legislation and regulatory proposals through hands-on legal research and policy recommendations
Write and edit regulatory comment letters, testimony, speeches, articles, and policy briefs and sharpen the writing of colleagues across research and communications
Review and advise on coalition sign-on letters
Help shape CRL's litigation strategy on consumer policy issues, including amicus briefs, and support coordination with federal regulators
Build and maintain relationships with outside counsel and litigation partners and keep litigation efforts coordinated internally and externally
Draft amicus briefs and other litigation documents and represent CRL in litigation matters as needed
Field legal questions from ally organizations, litigation units, and law firms
Build relationships with senior staff at allied organizations, trade groups, and companies with a stake in lending policy and use them to rally support for CRL's positions and defeat harmful proposals
Get in front of senior legislative staff, legislators, regulators, and enforcement officials in state capitals to move CRL's state agenda forward
Represent CRL at meetings, conferences, and, at times, in the media, spotting opportunities to put CRL's voice in the conversation
Talk directly with lenders to understand real financial practices on the ground and push for better ones
Mentor or supervise junior staff or interns
Take on other work as CRL's priorities evolve
Requirements
J.D. and active bar admission
At least 2 years of experience or a track record that shows you can own a policy issue independently and lead on it when needed
Familiarity with state legislative and rulemaking processes, and federal or state laws touching civil rights, housing/mortgage lending, predatory lending, consumer law, or banking law
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Sound legal and business judgment, the ability to give practical, timely advice, juggle several areas of law at once, and see how multiple issues intersect on a single question
Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills; comfort producing polished work with limited oversight and giving useful feedback to peers
A genuine commitment to public interest law, low-income families, and communities of color, with the racial justice lens to understand how federal, state, and local policy has shaped racial wealth disparities
Skill at building relationships with external partners and turning them into real collaboration
Strong project management skills
A self-starter who thrives juggling multiple fast-moving projects, but who also genuinely enjoys working as part of a team
Exceptional attention to detail
Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and willingness to travel as needed
Nice to have:
Prior experience in consumer financial protection or fair lending advocacy
Experience in civil rights, housing/mortgage lending, predatory lending, consumer law, or banking law
Proficiency in Asana or other project management tool
Experience working within coalitions or issue work groups
Familiarity with state legislative and regulatory processes and key state regulators (e.g., state attorneys general, state banking and financial regulators)
Benefits
Health, medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents, with 80% to 100% of premiums paid by Self-Help depending on coverage levels selected
Employee Assistance Program Access
Paid Time Off
Paid parental leave of 12-16 weeks, prorated for staff with less than 1 year of service
401k match - 3% company contribution, plus an additional $1 for $1 on the first 6% that the employee contributes
CRL-paid life insurance of $50,000, plus long-term disability and accidental death & dismemberment coverage
Tuition reimbursement
Opportunity for student loan forgiveness as a 501(c)(3) organization
Important Details
Work arrangements: hybrid, based out of either Oakland, CA or Durham, NC. Staff are expected to be in the office three days per week, with Monday and Wednesday as communal days and the third day determined by each individual. This role may include occasional travel.
Leaders often make themselves available to connect during evening hours due to working across three time zones
Application Process
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis
Phone screen
Video interview with the hiring manager
Panel interview
On-site final interview
Anticipated time from interview process start to offer: 4-6 weeks
About the Company
The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization working to ensure a fair, inclusive financial marketplace that creates opportunities for all. Through research, legal analysis, policy development, and state and national advocacy engagement, CRL fights for economic equity for underserved communities. CRL is an affiliate of Self-Help, a community development lender founded in 1980. The Julian Bond Institute (JBI), launched in early 2025 as part of CRL, produces research that illuminates financial barriers families face and builds the evidence base for policy change.
