The Student Press Law Center, the nation’s only legal support organization devoted exclusively to defending and advancing the free press rights of student journalists, seeks a dynamic attorney and leader to inspire and guide its legal team and strategy.
Since 1974, the Student Press Law Center has helped student journalists navigate the law, publish influential journalism and stand up for student press freedom. SPLC equips students with the legal knowledge, tools and confidence to report powerful journalism and to stand up for their First Amendment rights by providing one-on-one support and legal expertise through its free legal hotline, prepublication review, training and education, advocacy for stronger legal protections and by amplifying student voices and raising the visibility of threats to their press freedoms.
The legal director will work closely with the organization’s executive director and senior legal counsel and must be visionary, collaborative, creative and a first-rate writer and communicator for both legal and general audiences. As student journalism plays an increasingly essential role across the country, it also faces rising legal threats and an increasingly complex legal landscape. The legal director will play a critical role in scaling SPLC’s impact in the face of rising demand for its legal services and offerings. They will assist the executive director in determining strategic, programmatic and fundraising priorities and will have a public-facing role as a spokesperson for the organization’s legal advocacy and positions.
Status: Full-time exempt (not eligible for overtime), with 90-day introductory period.
Reports to: Executive Director
Location: Remote within USA
Responsibilities
- Lead in collaboration with the senior legal counsel and executive director SPLC’s legal and advocacy teams with overall responsibility for managing SPLC’s legal hotline, education and training programs, New Voices advocacy, amicus briefs, litigation and proactive legal responses;
- Working closely with the executive director and senior legal counsel, play a lead role in developing SPLC’s legal advocacy program and overarching strategy and priorities that support and advance the organization’s goals and new strategic plan;
- Provide guidance and training to student journalists, advisers and educators on legal issues related to newsgathering, censorship, access to information, libel, privacy, AI and other legal and journalism matters;
- Draft amicus briefs, white papers, op-eds, demand letters, official SPLC statements, etc… and supervise the drafting and work of more junior SPLC attorneys on similar writings in cases presenting important newsgathering and First Amendment issues related to student journalism;
- Respond to hotline inquiries from scholastic and collegiate student journalists, advisers and educators across the country and work with SPLC communications staff to provide comment to local journalists and news organizations for publication;
- Manage and recruit for SPLC’s Attorney Referral Network and steward existing and emerging partnerships with law firms, First Amendment clinics, law schools and other strategic partners;
- Serve as a key point of contact for prospective legal/litigation opportunities (including proactive outreach) and track and help drive internal analysis and decision making about such opportunities;
- In collaboration with the executive director and senior legal counsel, serve as public spokesperson on SPLC’s legal advocacy and as the organization’s expert voice on broader legal developments in the free expression field;
- Represent SPLC, as appropriate, in coalitions and partnerships with a focus on legal advocacy;
- In collaboration with the staff attorney and advocacy associate, serve as a primary point of contact for SPLC’s staff with respect to the organization’s New Voices advocacy;
- Provide general in-house First Amendment expertise to programmatic staff, including legal review and analysis for SPLC’s advocacy work, such as for reports, blogs and statements;
- Collaborate with the Development team and executive director to support fundraising for the legal advocacy program and organization;
- In collaboration with the legal team and executive director, manage legal internship/externship and fellowship program
Qualifications
- Juris Doctor degree with admission to practice law in one or more jurisdictions, attorney in good standing;
- The ideal candidate will have seven to 10 years of litigation and advising experience, with substantial experience representing journalists and other media clients in matters involving newsgathering, access to public records and other media law and First Amendment issues;
- Strong leadership and organizational skills and proven ability to successfully lead a legal program and develop junior attorneys;
- Demonstrated commitment to a team-oriented work style with the ability and temperament to mentor junior and senior staff, fellows and interns;
- Excellent research, writing, analytical and verbal communication skills, evidenced by a record of publications and public speaking;
- Strong command of technology, including but not limited to Artificial Intelligence, as it relates to student media, journalism and the law;
- Ability to communicate effectively via diverse and ever-evolving communication platforms with various constituencies;
- A track record of showing innovative initiative and creative problem solving skills;
- A firm and demonstrated commitment to free expression values and to the mission of the Student Press Law Center;
- A strong spirit for collaboration with team members, external partners and peer organizations;
- Experience dealing with the media, and ability to represent SPLC effectively on air and in print/digital;
- Strong relationships with law firms and legal support organizations, professional, scholastic and collegiate journalism support organizations, media organizations, civil liberties organizations and/or other potential partners of SPLC;
- Ability to travel within the United States as needed and as the work demands, including on occasional weekends and off-hours, for education and training programs and participation in journalism and media law conferences.
- Must be able to provide valid proof of U.S. work authorization;
We recognize that not every candidate will possess every qualification on this list. If you have some combination of what we’re looking for — visionary leader, excellent fundraiser, dynamic spokesperson, experienced manager, First Amendment advocate — we want to hear from you.
Compensation and Benefits
SPLC offers competitive compensation and full benefits. The anticipated salary range for this position is $120,000-$135,000, commensurate with experience. SPLC’s benefits package includes health, vision, dental, long-term and short-term disability insurance and the following retirement and leave benefits:
- 403(b) plan (up to 3% employer match)
- Paid family leave
- Vacation: Three weeks paid
- Sick days: Five days paid
- Paid holidays: Seven standard holidays, plus one floating holiday; Thanksgiving plus day before and day after; office closed Dec. 24-31
How to Apply
Please submit the following in PDF format to applicants@splc.org:
- Cover letter that specifies how your experience aligns with our needs and why you are uniquely qualified for this position. Please also describe an initiative you have led and a challenge you have overcome. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.
- Updated résumé
- Three references upon request
Only complete applications will advance in the hiring process. Review of applications will begin on April 1, 2025, and continue until the position is filled. Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply early. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
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, operate computer and technology equipment and present in person and virtually.
SPLC seeks to achieve excellence and build a diverse and inclusive organization grounded in respect for differences. As an EOE/AA employer, the Student Press Law Center will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin or ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identification, genetic information, veteran or disability status or any other factor prohibited by law. We encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply.
All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check.
Student Press Law Center
1717 K Street NW Suite 900, Washington, D.C. 20006
Website: splc.org