Local Legal Initiative Director

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP) is seeking an attorney with at least twelve years of experience to serve as its Local Legal Initiative Director.  This position presents a unique opportunity for an experienced media attorney to help oversee a mission-driven legal team working to provide direct legal services to support state and local journalism across the United States.

The Local Legal Initiative (LLI) Director will work closely with and be responsible for assisting the Vice President of Legal Programming in managing the Reporters Committee’s LLI legal portfolio, including developing and implementing LLI program priorities, and overseeing RCFP attorney development, and legal fellowship and summer legal intern hiring.  This position will also work closely with Reporters Committee leadership and support the Vice President of Legal Programming in implementing the Reporters Committee’s strategic goals.

The position will require an attorney with significant media law experience, excellent writing and oral communication skills, as well as experience managing teams and successfully supervising the work of less-experienced attorneys.  Experience representing journalists and news organizations in matters involving access to judicial records/proceedings, freedom of information, libel, and other newsgathering and First Amendment matters, is required.

This full-time position will report to the Vice President of Legal Programming.  Candidates based in Washington, D.C. strongly preferred.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Working with the Vice President of Legal Programming and other Reporters Committee senior leaders to develop and implement RCFP’s LLI program priorities and manage RCFP’s LLI legal portfolio;
• Working with the Vice President of Legal Programming to oversee RCFP attorney career development, including performance assessments, and managing legal fellow and summer legal intern hiring;
• Assisting the Vice President of Legal Programming with managing and supervising the work of less-experienced attorneys, including reviewing amicus briefs and other filings;
• Identifying, developing, and implementing legislative and policy reform strategies at the state, and local levels, consistent with the Reporters Committee’s mission and priorities;
• Monitoring, researching, and responding to issues in state and local legislation and/or agency action affecting the First Amendment or newsgathering rights of journalists and news organizations;
• Representing the Reporters Committee in coalitions, partnerships, and task forces working to defend the First Amendment and newsgathering rights of local journalists;
• Working collaboratively with RCFP attorneys and other staff to advance national, state, and local reforms consistent with the Reporters Committee’s mission and priorities

• J.D. from accredited law school; must be admitted to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction and admitted to practice or eligible for admission to practice in the District of Columbia at the start of employment;
• At least 12 years of legal experience, with meaningful experience representing the interests of journalists and news organizations in matters involving access to judicial records/proceedings, freedom of information, libel, and other newsgathering and First Amendment matters;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Must have strong leadership skills and be able to successfully mentor and supervise the legal work of less experienced attorneys;
• Good judgment and the highest level of professional ethics and integrity.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and operate computer equipment. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Compensation: RCFP is committed to offering competitive pay and generous benefits, including group medical insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance, retirement benefits, health-reimbursement accounts, and paid family leave. The salary range for this position is $151,400 to $170,200.

How to apply: Submit a resume and cover letter. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. NOTE: Please submit materials in one PDF file. Only complete applications will advance in the hiring process. 

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. 

RCFP Is an Equal Opportunity Employer. At the Reporters Committee, we celebrate the diversity of our employees and our leadership. RCFP is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.