Mississippi LLI Attorney

Established in 1970, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press provides pro bono legal representation, amicus curiae support, and other legal resources to protect First Amendment freedoms and the newsgathering rights of journalists. RCFP serves news organizations, reporters, editors, documentary filmmakers, media lawyers, and many more who use its online resources.

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (Reporters Committee) is hiring a Mississippi Local Legal Initiative (LLI) Attorney. The Local Legal Initiative was launched by the Reporters Committee in 2020 to provide pro bono legal support to journalists and news outlets engaged in local enterprise and investigative journalism in their states. The Mississippi LLI Attorney will advise and represent news organizations and individual journalists in Mississippi in impact and defense matters involving access to judicial records / proceedings, freedom of information, and other newsgathering and First Amendment issues.

The Mississippi LLI attorney also will contribute to the Reporters Committee's amicus and pre-publication / vetting practices for matters within Mississippi; facilitate and conduct trainings for journalists and news organizations in their state; and work with stakeholders across Mississippi to, among other things, increase the visibility of the LLI. This full-time position reports to the Director of the Local Legal Initiative.

The Mississippi LLI Attorney must be based in Mississippi; Jackson, Hattiesburg, or Oxford is preferred. Some travel throughout Mississippi and to the Reporters Committee's office in Washington, D.C. is required.

Key Responsibilities Include :

• Representing Mississippi journalists and news organizations in litigation and other matters involving access to judicial records / proceedings, freedom of information, and other newsgathering and First Amendment matters; this includes, among other things : intake / case selection and other strategy decisions; drafting correspondence, administrative appeals, pleadings, briefs, and other filings in trial and appellate courts; and appearing on behalf of the clients in state and federal court;
• Providing counsel to Mississippi journalists on legal issues related to newsgathering, access to information, libel, and privacy;
• Drafting amicus briefs and—depending on the seniority level and experience of the attorney—supervising the drafting and work of more junior RCFP attorneys on amicus briefs in cases presenting important newsgathering and First Amendment issues in Mississippi;
• Educating Mississippi journalists about First Amendment and newsgathering rights, including by conducting trainings for journalists and news organizations on media law topics;
• Responding to hotline inquiries from journalists in Mississippi and working with RCFP communications staff to provide comment to local journalists and news organizations for publication;
• Working collaboratively with stakeholders in Mississippi and internally at RCFP to promote the LLI and its strategic goals;
• Depending on the seniority level and experience of the attorney, working with the Vice President of Legal Programs and the Director of the Local Legal Initiative to provide guidance, supervision, and performance feedback to legal fellows and staff attorneys.

Qualifications

Additional Information

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 $117,300 - $130,500.

To apply, submit a resume and cover letter in one PDF file. Only complete applications will advance in the hiring process. This position is open until filled.

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

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.

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.

J-18808-Ljbffr