Minnesota LLI Attorney

Company Description

Established in 1970, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (Reporters Committee) provides pro bono legal representation, amicus curiae support, and other legal resources to protect First Amendment freedoms and the news gathering rights of journalists. Reporters Committee serves news organizations, reporters, 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota LLI Attorney will advise and represent news organizations and individual journalists in Minnesota in impact and defense matters involving access to judicial records/proceedings, freedom of information, and other news gathering and First Amendment issues.

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

The Minnesota LLI Attorney must be based in Minnesota; the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area is preferred. Some travel throughout Minnesota and to the Reporters Committee’s office in Washington, D.C. is required.

• Representing Minnesota journalists and news organizations in litigation and other matters involving access to judicial records/proceedings, freedom of information, and other news gathering 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 Minnesota journalists on legal issues related to news gathering, 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 news gathering and First Amendment issues in Minnesota;
• Educating Minnesota journalists about First Amendment and news gathering rights, including by conducting trainings for journalists and news organizations on media law topics;
• Responding to hotline inquiries from journalists in Minnesota and working with RCFP communications staff to provide comment to local journalists and news organizations for publication;
• Working collaboratively with stakeholders in Minnesota 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.

• Admitted to practice law in Minnesota or eligible for admission to practice law in Minnesota;
• 3+ to 10+ years of litigation and advising experience, with significant to substantial experience representing journalists and other media clients in matters involving news gathering, access to public records, and other media law and First Amendment issues;
• Self-directed with the ability to handle independently all aspects of litigation, including drafting papers, formulating strategy, and negotiating with opposing parties;
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to successfully manage—or demonstrated experience successfully managing—litigation matters and the work of less-experienced attorneys;
• Outstanding legal research skills, and excellent written communication skills;
• Excellent public speaking and oral communication skills, with…