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ProPublica is seeking a deputy general counsel who will provide day-to-day legal support to the organization's full range of activities, with emphasis on legal services to its newsroom.

The deputy general counsel will be based in New York and report to the president of ProPublica, who is also the organization's chief legal officer, and work closely with the organization's editorial and business leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide timely and thoughtful legal advice on a range of potential risks and issues, including pre-publication review of editorial content across the full range of defamation, freedom of information and access, intellectual property, newsgathering and sourcing, and publicity/privacy issues, basic commercial contract review and drafting.
• Working directly with newsroom leadership, senior editors and working reporters and others, as well as business development and other managers, publishing partners, commercial vendors, business partners and other key stakeholders.
• Supervision of outside counsel in litigated matters and, as time allows, hands-on litigation in freedom of information/access and possibly routine subpoena matters.

Qualifications

• At least three years of experience in press law and related fields, including experience with litigation, preferably in both defamation and freedom of information/access, and direct counseling of clients.
• Membership in New York bar and experience litigating in the federal and state courts of New York, and preferably other venues as well.
• A deep commitment to the value of a free and inquisitive press in democratic governance, and an understanding of the key role in this played by investigative reporting.
• Outstanding analytic and communication (both oral and written) skills.
• The highest level of professionalism and solid judgment.
• A creative, entrepreneurial spirit with high energy, enthusiasm and a strong work ethic.

ProPublica is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest. With a team of more than 75 dedicated journalists, ProPublica covers a range of topics, focusing on stories with the potential to spur real-world impact. Its reporting has contributed to the passage of new laws; reversals of harmful policies and practices; and accountability for leaders at local, state and national levels. Since it began publishing in 2008, ProPublica has received four Pulitzer Prizes, three Peabody Awards, two Emmy Awards and five George Polk Awards, among others.

We are dedicated to improving our newsroom, in part by better reflecting the people we cover. (Here is a breakdown of our own staff.) We are committed to diversity and building an inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds and ages, and we're taking active steps to meet this commitment. We especially encourage members of historically underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ people and people with disabilities.

The position is full time with comprehensive benefits. Salary is competitive. Send cover letter and resume to [email protected].