Staff Attorney – Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

Company Description

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (Reporters Committee) provides pro bono legal representation, amicus curiae support, and other legal resources to protect First Amendment freedoms and the newsgathering rights of journalists. The Reporters Committee serves news organizations, reporters, editors, documentary filmmakers, media lawyers, and many more who use its online resources.

Job Description

The Reporters Committee is hiring a junior-to-mid-level litigation attorney to support the Reporters Committee’s Local Legal Initiative (LLI) and other legal programming.  The staff attorney will work hand-in-hand with Reporters Committee LLI attorneys, including in Colorado, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, to provide pro bono legal services to news organizations and individual journalists pursuing enterprise and investigative reporting at the state and local level.  The staff attorney will participate in a full range of state and federal impact and defense litigation involving access to judicial records/proceedings, freedom of information, libel, and other newsgathering and First Amendment matters.  The staff attorney also will contribute to the Reporters Committee’s vibrant amicus brief practice and will have the opportunity to advise independent and freelance journalists, including documentary filmmakers, on legal concerns in connection with the Reporters Committee’s pre-publication/vetting partnerships with organizations including the Fund for Investigative Journalism and the International Documentary Association.  This position reports to the Deputy Legal Director and will begin in September 2023.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Supporting the litigation and other work of the Reporters Committee’s Local Legal Initiative attorneys;
• Litigating impact cases involving access to court records/proceedings and issues arising under state and federal freedom of information laws, including the drafting of pleadings, motions and briefs; arguing motions; discovery; and negotiating with opposing counsel;
• Drafting amicus briefs and supervising the work of legal fellows on amicus briefs in cases presenting important newsgathering and First Amendment issues;
• Counseling journalists, including documentary filmmakers, on legal issues related to newsgathering, access to information, libel, and privacy in connection with the Reporters Committee’s pre-publication partnerships;
• Conducting trainings for journalists and news organizations on media law topics.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 2-3 years of experience litigating cases in state and federal court, with meaningful, substantive experience in access to judicial records/proceedings, libel/defamation, and other media law matters.
• Outstanding legal research skills, and excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to supervise and guide Reporters Committee legal fellows and legal interns;
• Sound judgment and the highest level of professional integrity.

Additional Information

Compensation and Benefits:

Starting salary, based on experience, will range from $106,830-112,765 for an attorney based in Washington, D.C.  Remote applicants are welcome to apply for this full-time position; the starting salary range may be adjusted based on the applicant’s location. Our generous benefit package also should be considered. For all regular, full-time positions, the Reporters Committee offers:

• A competitive base salary with 3 weeks paid time off, 4 annual floating days, and all federal holidays;
• A retirement savings plan, including a 5% employer contribution after 3 months of service;
• Comprehensive employer paid insurance coverage, including medical, dental, and vision, life and accidental death, and disability;
• Ability to use pre-tax dollars for dependent care and commuting expenses.

To Apply:

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, short writing sample, and contact information for three references.  Incomplete applications will not be considered.  Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until July 31, 2023. Apply here.