Staff Attorney, Public Interest Reporting Program

New York, NY

Full Time

Mid Level

Staff Attorney, Public Interest Reporting Program
The Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice/City Bar Fund

Position Reports to: Executive Director/Vance Center
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: New York City

Established in 2004, the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice advances global justice by engaging lawyers across borders to support civil society and an ethically active legal profession. The Vance Center is a unique collaboration of in-house and private practice lawyers catalyzing public interest innovation to advance human rights and access to justice, protect the natural environment, promote the rule of law and institutional integrity, and support public interest reporting. A non-profit program of the New York City Bar Association, we bring together leading law firms and other partners worldwide to pioneer domestic and international justice initiatives and provide pro bono legal representation to social justice NGOs. In 2024, the Vance Center represented 174 clients in 235 matters, collaborating as co-counsel with 844 lawyers from 164 law firms across 69 countries.

Program Description

The Vance Center’s Public Interest Reporting Program upholds transparency and the free flow of information, and provides legal support, guidance, and defense to independent media outlets and organizations engaged in public interest reporting to hold officials and institutions accountable.
Recognizing that a free and independent press and access to information are essential for holding power to account, the Program directly addresses threats to independent journalism and organizations providing citizens with the facts they need to make informed decisions.
Our clients include the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), A Culture of Safety (ACOS) Alliance, Bellingcat, Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism, El Faro, and national publishers in Latin America, Africa, and Europe, as well as the ever-growing Lawyers for Reporters roster of more than 300 U.S.-based clients. The Program coordinates two innovative initiatives that support independent reporting around the world:

Lawyers for Reporters, serving local and mission-driven journalism in the United States.
Reporters Shield, an independent nonprofit membership program, launched by the Vance Center and OCCRP, which provides legal defense against defamation and related content-based threats and claims to public interest reporting organizations worldwide.

Using the Vance Center’s unique co-counsel model, our in-house lawyers work with a global network of pro bono private practitioners to provide advice and representation that news publishers need at every stage of their operations. The scope of our representation is broad, covering corporate, transactional, employment, and taxation, as well as newsroom services such as pre-publication review of articles, newsgathering advice, help responding to retraction demands and litigation threats, subpoena defense, support for freedom of information and access rights, copyright licensing and defense, trademark, and more. We help clients apply for tax-exempt charitable status and establish subscriber/membership programs. In the current hostile environment in which the press operates, we offer compliance checkups, safety and know-your-rights resources, and training and capacity building.

The Position

The Staff Attorney, reporting to the Executive Director, will undertake a range of activities, including intaking new clients; assessing their legal needs; directly providing them with legal advice and representation; communicating as needed with law firms regarding pro bono services and co-counseling clients with private practitioners; creating and conducting training sessions, templates and toolboxes, and workshops for newsrooms and operations departments of clients; and interfacing, in coordination with our development and communications teams, with private foundations, law firms, the press, and other journalism support organizations.

We seek an attorney with demonstrable experience analyzing various complex legal issues, including disputes, contracts, and regulatory matters, providing advice to clients, and presenting to small and large audiences on legal topics. As clients come from many regions of the world, the Staff Attorney should have awareness and sensitivity to different legal systems, socio-economic conditions, and current affairs.

Requirements/Qualifications

J.D. or LL.M degree from an accredited U.S. law school, with additional education or specialization in media law and/or journalism a plus.
Admission to practice law in a US state, preferably New York.
Minimum 3 years of experience as a practicing attorney in a law firm, NGO, or other organization representing clients.
The ability to work independently, present well in writing and orally, manage multiple short and long-term tasks simultaneously.
A commitment to promoting a free and robust independent press.
Ability to communicate professionally in Spanish, as well as English.
Ability to develop and/or work with professional networks and/or other forms of collaboration.
Authorization to work in the United States.

Additional Experience Preferred

Experience and/or general knowledge of professional journalism and/or start-up businesses.
Experience in media law or tax-exempt organizations law a plus.
Experience with pro bono practice and general knowledge of the U.S. legal market.

Candidates for this position must be available for in-person work at our Midtown Manhattan office on a hybrid schedule. The schedule requires 3 days of scheduled in-office work per week, with the balance of time being work-from-home. The hybrid schedule is subject to review and revision based on departmental needs.

Compensation/Benefits
Starting salary will be $80,000 to $95,000 based on experience.

We provide a competitive benefits package, including generous paid time off (vacation, personal, sick time, holidays including closing between Christmas and New Year’s day, day off for volunteer work, extra time off in summer), choice of medical plans, dental, vision, 401K, life insurance, commuter benefits program, Employee Assistance Program, short-term/long-term disability insurance, free New York City Bar Association membership and CLE programs, and employee discounts, among others.

Application instructions:
Applications will be considered when received until a qualified candidate is hired. It is suggested that qualified candidates submit a cover letter to explain why you are interested in the position, when applying, along with your resume. No phone calls please.
Note: A minimum of three professional references will be required, later on in the process, for candidates being given serious consideration.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. We are not able to sponsor visas for this position.

The Vance Center is a proud equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from candidates belonging to communities historically underrepresented in the legal profession. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. It is our policy to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, creed, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, disability, arrest or conviction record, pregnancy, credit history, salary history, caregiver status, marital status, partnership status, or status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking and sex offenses, religion, sex, genetic information, military status, unemployment status or any other characteristic as protected by law. With regard to the Americans with Disabilities Act and other related laws, we will endeavor to make reasonable accommodations for persons due to their religious beliefs; disability; pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition; or because the individual was a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking.

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Do you have a law degree from a U.S. law school?*

If yes, in which state or states are you admitted to practice law?

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Do you have experience in media law, tax exempt organizations law, professional journalism or start-up businesses? Media lawTax exempt organizations lawProfessional journalismStart-up businesses

Do you have experience with pro bono practice and general knowledge of the U.S. legal market?

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COME JOIN OUR TEAM! If you don’t see an opportunity here that is a good match for your interests and skillset, please send in your information through Future Considerations ,so we can keep it on file for future openings.

Staff Attorney, Public Interest Reporting Program

Apply for this position

COME JOIN OUR TEAM!

If you don’t see an opportunity here that is a good match for your interests and skillset, please send in your information through Future Considerations ,so we can keep it on file for future openings.