POSITION: Senior Newsroom Attorney, Lawyers for Reporters
DEPARTMENT: The Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice
POSITION REPORTS TO: Managing Attorney, Lawyers for Reporters
LOCATION: Hybrid
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
JOB FUNCTIONThe Senior Newsroom Attorney, reporting to the Managing Attorney, will collaborate with a team of six legal professionals to counsel domestic independent news publishers. We seek an attorney with demonstrable experience counseling and representing newsrooms and investigative journalists who can assume primary responsibility for such counsel and representation in these areas.
Areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to:- Taking a leading role as counsel in the investigations support initiative.
- Determining newsroom clients' legal needs.
- Providing clients with legal advice and representation in newsgathering and source protection.
- Collaborating with editors overseeing investigative news gathering and reporting.
- Conducting prepublication review of requests for comment and stories, including review of stories for established clients not participating in the investigations program.
- Advising clients who receive requests for retractions and litigation threats, including claims for copyright infringement.
- Reviewing and advising clients on freelance contributor agreements, licenses, and co-publishing agreements.
- Co-counseling with pro bono counsel in private practice on behalf of clients.
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS- J.D. degree from an accredited U.S. law school, with additional education or specialization in media law and/or journalism a plus.
- Admission to practice law in one or more states, preferably in CA, NY, IL, TX and/or FL.
- Minimum of 15 years' experience either in-house or in an outside law firm or legal organization providing legal counsel to newsrooms that conduct and publish stories pertaining to matters of public concern, including applying laws related to newsgathering, source protection, cybersecurity, access to public records and meetings and to judicial proceedings, as well as copyright, libel and invasion of privacy. Specific experience counseling nonprofit newsrooms a plus.
- Experience supervising and working collaboratively with junior and peer attorneys and legal staff, as well as within a larger organization with various related missions, including setting internal policies, procedures, and standardized documentation for the program.
- Experience drafting and reviewing relevant legal documents, including licenses and freelance contribution agreements, public access requests, takedown demands, responses to subpoenas, copyright infringement claims, and libel threats, and court filings such as amicus curiae submission.
- The ability to work independently, present well in writing and orally, and to manage and supervise multiple short and long-term tasks simultaneously, as well as evaluate the performance of, and provide mentoring and counseling to, staff reports.
- A commitment to promoting a free and robust independent press.
- Experience and confidence in making public presentations, in person and virtually, regarding media law issues and practice areas, at conferences and workshops, as well as media appearances, supported by a communications team.
- Familiarity with fundraising, including conceiving and pitching programmatic ideas, developing and drafting grant proposals and budgets, meeting with current and potential donors, and preparing and reviewing donor reports, all in coordination with a development team.
- Authorization to work in the United States.
- Ability to develop and/or work with professional networks and/or other forms of collaboration.
Additional Experience Preferred - Experience with pro bono practice and general knowledge of the U.S. legal market.
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. We are not able to sponsor visas for this position.
This position will have a hybrid work schedule, with three (3) in-person days required per week. This role's schedule is Monday-Friday, 9:30AM-5:30PM.The annualized salary for this role is in the $175,000 to $180,000 range based on experience. We provide a competitive benefits package including generous paid time off (vacation, personal, sick time, holidays including office closure during the last week of the calendar year through New Year's Day, day off for volunteer work, extra time off in summer), choice of medical plans, dental, vision, eligible for 401K when employment begins (with discretionary employer match up to 3% after 1 year), life insurance, commuter benefits program, Employee Assistance Program, short-term/long-term disability insurance, free New York City Bar Association membership and CLE programs, employee discounts, and more!
To apply: Qualified applicants should send a resume and include a cover letter to explain why you are interested in the position. Applications will be considered when received until a qualified candidate is hired. Finalists will be asked also to submit three professional business references.
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