Assistant General Counsel
About The Position
The Assistant General Counsel will play a critical role in safeguarding and advancing CIR's fearless investigative journalism amid an increasingly complex legal and regulatory landscape. This role requires a media attorney with a passion for journalism, media law, and the First Amendment, who thrives on a small, high-impact legal team and brings strong judgment, writing skills, and a collaborative mindset in a fast-paced environment. The Assistant General Counsel will help oversee media law and litigation, contracts, trademarks, nonprofit law, and regulatory compliance. While collaboration with outside counsel is expected, this role requires an individual capable of independently managing vetting, litigation, and other legal matters. The position involves partnering closely with editorial and business teams across the organization on a broad range of legal and compliance issues. This position will be based in either San Francisco, New York, or Washington, D.C.
Requirements
- 6-10+ years of experience handling complex, time-sensitive litigation matters involving libel, intellectual property, freedom of information, and/or commercial law.
- Undergraduate and J.D. degrees from recognized institutions.
- Admitted and in good standing with either the New York and/or California Bar.
- Experience conducting pre-publication review of news and other content.
- Outstanding legal research and writing skills.
- Excellent communications skills.
- Good judgment in high uncertainty situations and a high level of professional integrity.
Nice To Haves
- Prior in-house experience at a media company.
- Prior experience counseling journalists.
- Familiarity with contracts and privacy law.
- An understanding of digital platforms, and
- A growing understanding of legal issues related to artificial intelligence.
Responsibilities
- Independently handle time-sensitive pre-publication review of news stories in multiple formats (magazine articles, radio pieces, videos, social, and more).
- Respond to legal threats, subpoenas, and other legal actions against the organization.
- Working with outside counsel to help manage litigation dockets, including freedom of information, copyright, and libel cases.
- Assist with managing the contract management system, as well as drafting, revising and negotiating contracts.
- Respond to and oversee other legal matters involving government compliance, nonprofit law, employment law, labor law and other matters.
- Work with the General Counsel and CEO to develop positions on internal policies as well as government affairs issues of concern to CIR.
- Engage with stakeholders and trade associations, and stay abreast of political and legislative developments.
- Prepare and conduct timely in-house training and presentations.
- Assist in creating and maintaining an inclusive environment for staff and colleagues across the organization.
Benefits
- health, dental, and vision benefits for our employees and their dependents (premiums fully paid by CIR)
- paid vacation starting at three weeks per year
- pretax commuter benefits
- FSA and HSA programs
- a flex-hours program
- a 37.5-hour workweek
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
