Student Press Counsel

This position will be based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, or Washington, D.C. FIRE operates on a hybrid work schedule that allows for a mix of in-the-office and remote work for eligible employees. Fully remote work will not be considered for this position.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s mission is to defend and sustain the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought — the most essential qualities of liberty. FIRE educates Americans about the importance of these inalienable rights, promotes a culture of respect for these rights, and provides the means to preserve them.

FIRE is seeking a passionate, knowledgeable, and entrepreneurial attorney excited to manage and grow the operations of FIRE’s Student Press Freedom Initiative (SPFI) as our Student Press Counsel. The Student Press Counsel maintains our student press legal resources, engages in advocacy on behalf of student journalists, and develops new programs to empower college journalists and their advisers to navigate complex legal issues and stand up for their rights. This role requires a self-starter who thrives in a dynamic environment and has the ability to take an idea, run with it, and execute it from concept to completion.

The Student Press Counsel will work closely with the rest of FIRE’s Campus Rights Advocacy (CRA) team and will also collaborate with FIRE’s Litigation, Policy Reform, and Legislative and Policy teams on student press-related litigation, campus policy, and legislation.

The duties for this position include but are not limited to:

• Supervising work by program officers, legal clerks, and law student volunteers on student press research, cases, and projects.
• Coordinating outreach to and cultivating relationships with college journalists, their publications, their advisors, and other student press stakeholders.
• Reviewing, responding to, and managing individual case submissions from student journalists and student media advisers and providing input on future action/referral.
• Determining an advocacy plan for student press cases, including devising creative advocacy options and collaborating among FIRE departments on execution.
• Authoring and reviewing advocacy materials, such as letters to universities, blogs, tweets, and statements to reporters.
• Authoring, filing, and tracking freedom of information requests, as necessary for cases, as well as supporting student journalists’ filing of freedom of information act requests.
• Identifying cases that are candidates for litigation in coordination with FIRE’s CRA and Litigation departments.
• Responding to requests to SPFI’s 24-hour hotline, including after-hours emergencies from student journalists.
• Creating and implementing training programs for student journalists.
• Coordinating across departments at FIRE to provide resources to student journalists, media outlets, and their advisors.
• Attending and managing FIRE’s sponsorship at student media conferences.
• Ensuring regular editing and maintenance of FIRE’s proprietary student press resources, such as the Can I Publish This? website.
• Researching current legal issues facing the student press.
• Collaborating in support of all aspects of FIRE’s mission.

This position involves a moderate amount of travel. Occasional work on weekends and evenings should be expected. The Student Press Counsel manages SPFI’s 24/7 hotline, which involves answering calls outside of normal business hours. Infrequent late night and weekend calls are expected.

The expected start date for this position is as soon as possible.

The ideal candidate will have at least 3-5 years of relevant experience and expertise in First Amendment and media law, and must be able to strategically assess cases, develop and deliver educational materials, and coordinate advocacy efforts. Most importantly, a successful candidate must demonstrate a knowledge and passion for FIRE’s mission and an ability to articulate that passion in a way that will make others enthusiastic about our cause. A candidate must also be able to demonstrate:

• Familiarity with the federal Freedom of Information Act as well as state public records “sunshine” laws.
• Familiarity with general principles underlying university conduct codes and administrative structures of universities.
• Ability to manage contributions from multiple team members.
• Proven ability to quickly and independently problem-solve and make decisions.
• Strong research, writing, and public speaking skills.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Exceptional conscientiousness.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines, prioritize work and manage multiple projects.

Experience with college journalism is strongly preferred. Grit, charisma, empathy, and a sense of humor are pluses.

Candidates are required to have aJ.D. from an ABA-accredited law school. Candidates that possess a J.D. and are not already a member of the Pennsylvania or D.C. bar must be willing to obtain licensure in Pennsylvania or D.C.

Starting salary is negotiable and depends on experience and education level. FIRE conducts periodic evaluations where employees may receive raises or bonuses for outstanding and excellent work. FIRE also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% employer paid- medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums for our employees; a Section 125 Flexible Spending Account option; matching retirement contributions; and a generous paid time-off plan.

Applicants should provide a resume, cover letter, a legal writing sample (such as a demand letter or legal brief), salary requirements, and contact information for at least two professional references. All applications are confidential. Please address applications to Cait Scanlan, Chief People Officer.

FIRE is an equal opportunity employer.