Working as a drafter

As a drafter, you work with a lawmaker in a relationship of trust. You look out for the lawmaker's best interest and you are thorough and candid. You warn when a proposal looks sloppy or problematic or unconstitutional. Ultimately, of course, the drafting projects belong to the lawmakers. They choose whether to move a policy forward; you help them choose with open eyes.

A drafter should be "policy neutral". When you have a policy agenda, it clouds your judgment; when others suspect you of having an agenda, it ruins your credibility. So do not advocate a policy; do not do so directly or indirectly; do not give the appearance that you are doing so. Do not give your opinion about the merits of a policy if asked—even if pressed. When you decline to say how you feel, you are being professional. When lawmakers can’t even guess how you feel, you probably have it about right.

You must have a mastery of the language. You must also have a working knowledge of the country's laws. (You do not need to know every clause and every volume, but you must understand their general structure, scope, and contents, and how to navigate and use them.) You must be familiar with the legal and political processes that govern how laws are made, and you must understand how the highest courts  go about their business of interpreting the laws.

You must be a "people person", able to engage a lawmaker, ask tough questions, and hear and appreciate the answers. You must be tactful, candid, sensible, humble, patient, and pragmatic.

You must also be an "idea person", able to master a policy and understand its boundaries and limitations. You must be able to foresee situations that, though unlikely, might cause the policy to break down. You must be alert, flexible, creative, inquisitive, and skeptical.