Election Law Career Guide
Updated June 2025
Books & Book Chapters
Mark C. Alexander, The Campaign Lawyer, in The Oxford Handbook of American Election Law (2024).
Addresses the roles lawyers play in the field of election law.
Pre-print version from SSRN
KF4886 .O94 2024 (Law Library 2nd Floor)
Richard L. Hasen, The Voting Wars (2012).
Describes the increase in election litigation since the contested 2000 presidential election.
Publisher's Description
KF4886 .H39 2012 (Law Library 2nd Floor)
Charley Wells, Inside Bush v. Gore (2013).
"Inside Bush v. Gore presents the unique, candid, and compelling perspective of the Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice who stood at the center of the storm. . . . He . . . offers an insider's view of judicial relationships, the frustrations of ambiguous election laws, the difficulties of separating the legalities from the politics, and the unsung yet critical role played by state court professionals." --From the book jacket.
Publisher's Description
E889 .W45 2013 (Law Library 2nd Floor)
Articles
Abigail Adcox, The Big Law Firms and Lawyers Leading US Election Legal Battles, Law.com, Oct. 29, 2024.
Profiles the firms and lawyers working for Democrats and Republicans in the 2024 federal election.
Cara Bayles et al, From the Front Lines: The Attorneys Protecting This Election, Law360, Nov. 4, 2020.
This article tells the stories of election law specialists and attorney volunteers on Election Day.
Emily Birnbaum & Bill Allison, The 2024 US Election Is Already Being Fought in the Courts, Bloomberg News, April 4, 2024.
Reports on the large number of lawsuits filed in advance of the 2024 presidential election and the skyrocketing legal expenses incurred by political parties.
Ryan Boysen, The BigLaw Attorneys Battling Over an Undecided Election, Law360, Nov. 4, 2020.
Describes the work that several large law firms are doing for the November 2020 election, including Porter Wright, Jones Day, and Perkins Coie.
Ryan Boysen, Election Litigation Set to Continue Record Pace in 2023, Law360, Jan. 2, 2023.
Outlines key cases and trends in election litigation for 2023.
Ryan Boysen, How 2022 Became a Landmark Year for Election Litigation, Law360, Dec. 12, 2022.
Discusses litigation leading up the 2022 midterm elections, including battles over redistricting and voter suppression.
Dylan Jackson & Dan Roe, Election Law: A Booming Business, National Law Journal, Nov. 1, 2021.
Discusses how election law has transformed from a small niche to a full-blown practice area.
Liane Jackson, Keeping It Fair: Campaigns Count on Political Lawyers to Get the Vote Right, ABA Journal, March 2019, at 9.
Describes the work of election lawyers in the 2018 midterm elections.
Audrey Perry Martin, Operating a Campaign Finance Practice: A Practical Guide for Attorneys, GP Solo, Sept/Oct 2024, at 35.
Provides practical guidance on how to start a campaign finance law practice, including discussion of the legal framework, necessary expertise, key services, marketing strategies, and ethical considerations.
Sarah Martinson, From Courts to Polls: BigLaw Turns Out to Protect the Vote, Law360, Nov. 8, 2022.
Describes BigLaw's election law work in the 2022 midterm elections.
Cheryl Miller, A Glimpse Into Election Year Legal Work, The Recorder (California), June 3, 2016.
An interview with Richard Rios, president of the California Political Attorneys Association.
On the Ground: How Attorneys Safeguarded the Election, Law360, Nov. 5, 2024
Describes how attorneys worked to safeguard the 2024 federal election with many examples from around the country.
Mark Sherman, Election Day 2020: Lawyers on Standby If Cloudy Election Outcome Heads to Court, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Nov. 3, 2020.
An overview of election lawyers' work on 2020 election disputes.
John Hardin Young & Elizabeth F. Getman, Election Law, GP Solo, March/April 2013.
A detailed look at the work that election lawyers typically do. Explains how election law differs from most other practice areas.
Organizations & Websites
Election Law Blog
A blog from Richard L. Hasen, professor at Loyola Law School and expert in the area of election law.
Election Law@Moritz
This site from Moritz College of Law (Ohio State University) features news, opinion and analysis.
Election Law Program
This Web site, a joint venture of William & Mary Law School and the National Center for State Courts, provides information on election law and election-related litigation. It includes video lectures from law professors, an election law manual, and a list of suggested reading.
Electionline
News, resources, events, and job listings related to elections and election law.
Republican National Lawyers Association
P.O. Box 18965
Washington DC 20036
e-mail:info@republicanlawyer.net
The RNLA provides seminars on election law, coordinates lawyer volunteer activities during elections, and offers networking opportunities. Their website includes a directory of members who practice election law. Students may join with a student membership.
William & Mary's Election Law Society
"William & Mary Election Law Society is the student run branch of the Election Law Program. ELS seeks to bring attention to the complex legal issues surrounding election law and encourage public participation and communication in every stage of the election process." --From the website
Photo: Associated Press