Senior Newsroom Attorney, Lawyers for Reporters

NYC Bar Association•New York, NY

3d•$175,000 - $180,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Newsroom Attorney works in the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice’s Lawyers for Reporters program, which provides pro bono legal services to independent local journalism and other public-interest reporting organizations in the United States. Reporting to the Managing Attorney, the Senior Newsroom Attorney collaborates with a team of six legal professionals and takes primary responsibility for counseling and representing domestic independent news publishers, particularly in connection with extensive investigations. The position also works with editors, pro bono counsel at law firms, Reporters Shield staff, and other organizational teams and partners.

Requirements

J.D. degree from an accredited U.S. law school.
Admission to practice law in one or more states; admission in California, New York, Illinois, Texas, and/or Florida is preferred.
At least 15 years of experience providing legal counsel to newsrooms, either in-house or through a law firm or legal organization.
Experience advising newsrooms that publish stories on matters of public concern, including on newsgathering, source protection, cybersecurity, access to public records and meetings, access to judicial proceedings, copyright, libel, and invasion of privacy.
Experience supervising and collaborating with junior and peer attorneys and legal staff, and working within a larger organization with related missions.
Experience drafting and reviewing licenses, freelance contribution agreements, public-access requests, takedown demands, subpoena responses, copyright infringement claims, libel-threat responses, and court filings such as amicus curiae submissions.
Ability to work independently, communicate effectively in writing and orally, and manage multiple short- and long-term tasks simultaneously.
Ability to evaluate, mentor, and counsel staff reports.
Commitment to promoting a free and robust independent press.
Experience and confidence making in-person and virtual public presentations about media law at conferences and workshops, and participating in media appearances.
Familiarity with fundraising, including developing and pitching program ideas, drafting grant proposals and budgets, meeting with donors, and preparing and reviewing donor reports.
Authorization to work in the United States; visa sponsorship is not available.
Ability to develop and/or work with professional networks and other forms of collaboration.

Nice To Haves

Additional education or specialization in media law and/or journalism.
Specific experience counseling nonprofit newsrooms.
Experience with pro bono practice and general knowledge of the U.S. legal market.

Responsibilities

Take a leading role as counsel in the investigations support initiative.
Determine newsroom clients’ legal needs.
Provide legal advice and representation on newsgathering and source protection.
Collaborate with editors overseeing investigative newsgathering and reporting.
Conduct prepublication review of requests for comment and stories, including for established clients outside the investigations program.
Advise clients responding to retraction requests and litigation threats, including copyright infringement claims.
Review and advise on freelance contributor agreements, licenses, and co-publishing agreements.
Co-counsel with pro bono counsel in private practice on behalf of clients.
Work with Reporters Shield staff to coordinate engagement, monitoring, and compensation of paid legal counsel representing members in the United States and Canada against libel and related legal threats and claims.
Supervise and mentor staff, evaluate staff performance, and manage multiple short- and long-term tasks.
Help set internal policies, procedures, and standardized program documentation.
Make public presentations and media appearances on media law issues, with communications-team support.
Coordinate with the development team on fundraising activities, including program ideas, grant proposals and budgets, donor meetings, and donor reports.

Benefits

Generous paid time off, including vacation, personal and sick time, holidays, office closure during the last week of the calendar year through New Year’s Day, a day off for volunteer work, and additional summer time off.
Choice of medical plans.
Dental insurance.
Vision insurance.
Eligible for a 401(k) when employment begins, with a discretionary employer match of up to 3% after one year.
Life insurance.
Commuter benefits program.
Employee Assistance Program.
Short-term and long-term disability insurance.
Free New York City Bar Association membership and CLE programs.
Employee discounts.