Trade and Policy Specialist at Pilsbury Law in Washington, Washington DC

Job Description:

Washington, District of Columbia




Job Description



Pillsbury's International Trade and Government Law & Strategies Teams advise clients on cutting edge issues which are impacted by geopolitical events, government policies and international trade regulations relating to tariffs, sanctions, export controls and investment screening regimes. We also focus on tracking and influencing critical legislative priorities, such as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and federal appropriations legislation, as well as representing clients subject to congressional or Executive Branch oversight/investigation.


As a Trade and Policy Specialist, you will work alongside our attorneys on a variety of legal matters and will play a key role in supporting our attorneys in staying abreast of key developments and updates that impact our clients. Your contributions will help us to ensure that our legal advice is both timely, current and specialized for each client. This is an excellent opportunity to learn and advance your career in a fast-moving environment, working on interesting, cutting-edge matters and to make a meaningful impact.



Key Responsibilities



As a Trade and Policy Specialist, you will support Pillsbury's International Trade and Government Law & Strategies Teams globally with a variety of tasks, including but not limited to:



Tracking and Analyzing Trade Developments:

• Tracking, summarizing and preparing daily updates for attorneys and clients on geopolitical events, government policies and changes in legislation, trade regulations, tariffs, sanctions, export controls, and other trade-related policies.


• Monitor and track the progress of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and federal appropriations legislation.


• Stay up to date on legislative developments, analyzing their potential impact on the priorities of the Government Law and Strategies and International Trade teams' clients, as well as opportunities for other legal practices throughout the law firm.


• Supporting attorneys in identifying the potential impact of updates on firm clients.


• Supporting International Trade attorneys with research and data collection to assist with their analysis of international trade laws and regulations.

Reporting and Building Materials:

• Compiling and summarizing relevant updates, creating and maintaining databases to track updates.


• Providing briefings to attorneys on specific topics, as needed.


• Preparing reports, briefs and presentations on specific issues relating to client matters, trade developments, risk assessments and policy updates.

Meeting Coordination:

• Schedule meetings with members of Congress, staffers, and key stakeholders.


• Prepare agendas, briefings, and materials for legislative meetings.


• Coordinate follow-ups and maintain accurate records of meeting outcomes.

Congressional Hearings and Events:

• Monitor relevant congressional hearings, briefings, and events relevant to the team's priorities.


• Take detailed notes during select hearings and draft concise summaries for internal use.


• Assist our team in anticipating how we can engage with Members of Congress and committee staff to influence messages delivered, or questions asked, at hearings.

Supporting on Client Matters:

• Participating in team meetings to discuss issues we are advising clients on and sharing insights on related government policies, regulatory developments and geopolitical events.

Engaging with Stakeholders:

• Attending events and building contacts within government agencies, trade associations, think tanks, and industry groups to stay informed about emerging trade issues.

Business Development:

• Participating in business development initiatives (events, outreach efforts, helping to draft client alerts and blog posts, etc.) to help build and maintain the firm's client relationships.

Administrative Support:

• Provide general administrative support to the government affairs team, including managing calendars, maintaining contact lists, and organizing files.


• Assist with special projects and perform other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

• Passion for geopolitics, public policy and global current affairs.


• Bachelor's and/or master's degree in international trade, economics, political science, journalism or communications, law or a related field.


• Previous experience working on Capitol Hill, in a government affairs office, or a similar policy-focused environment.


• Some U.S. / EU / UK legal background or experience or knowledge of global trade regulations (tariffs, sanctions, export controls and investment screening regulations) is a plus, and otherwise, curiosity and willingness to get up to speed on these areas quickly would be great.


• Previous experience in public sector, think tanks, communications, or other related areas.


• Knowledge of federal appropriations processes and budget cycles.


• Familiarity with legislative tracking tools such as Congress.gov, Bloomberg Government, FiscalNote, and Politico Pro and/or UK / EU legislative tracking tools (Hansard.parliament.uk; law-tracker.europa.eu).

Other Skills

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with colleagues, clients, and government officials.


• A proactive approach to problem-solving and a willingness to take initiative.


• Ability to work independently while maintaining a collaborative team spirit.


• Adaptability and composure under pressure, with a commitment to high-quality work.


• Ability to break down complicated legal/policy developments into concise summaries that are relevant and digestible to clients, adapting the complexity based on whether they are attorneys or non-lawyers.

Washington DC pay range for this role, with final offer amount dependent on skillset and experience, is $55k - $65k.


Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.


If you require an accommodation in order to apply for a position, please contact us at PillsburyWorkday@pillsburylaw.com . Apply Now