Legal journalism job leads

Interested in law and journalism? Consider these jobs and paid internships:

• Miami: The Daily Business Review, a business newspaper in South Florida, is looking for a law reporter to cover state court and the business, political, and ethical issues affecting the courts.

• Minneapolis: Thomson Reuters, an international news service and publisher, is offering a part-time, long-term internship for college students in its Legal Editorial Operations department.

• New York: The Najdovski Law Firm, a Manhattan law firm specializing in medical malpractice litigation, seeks a part-time college or graduate student to create content for its blogs and website.
  

• Raleigh: North Carolina Lawyers Weekly, a weekly legal newspaper in Raleigh, seeks a reporter to summarize appellate court opinions and write news and feature articles.

• Springfield, Mo.: The News-Leader Media Group, a Springfield, Missouri-based news organization that creates deep local content for a daily newspaper, weekly newspapers, glossy magazines, several Web sites and a mobile site, seeks a courts reporter.

• St. Louis: Missouri Lawyers Media, a St. Louis-based publisher of daily legal newspapers in five Missouri counties as well as a statewide weekly newspaper, seeks a managing editor to help lead a staff of 16 editors and reporters.

• Washington, D.C.: Thomas Reuters, an international news service, seeks a writer/editor/analyst to cover business law and securities in its Washington, D.C. office.

Legal journalism jobs in U.S. & U.K.

• U.S.: Marquette University Law School seeks a reporter for its magazine. "Investigate and report on regional, national, and international matters that have become the focus of Law School efforts in teaching, research, conferences, lectures, and public service activities," the ad states. Apply online.

• U.K: The Lawyer, a London-based magazine covering business law, seeks a reporter to write news and features. "A legal qualification is not required, but an interest in the law as an industry, both in the UK and overseas, is crucial," the ad states. To apply, contact Editor Catrin Griffiths atcatrin.griffiths@centaur.co.uk.
  

Legal journalism job openings

If you're a lawyer looking for a career switch, or a journalist with an interest in the law, consider these opportunities:

• BOSTON: Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, a Boston-based newspaper that covers legal news and court rulings in its region, seeks a reporter to cover the Massachusetts courts and legal community. E-mail resume and cover letter with salary requirements to hecampagne@gmail.com

• NEW YORK CITY: Prospect News, which publishes daily and weekly newsletters for financial market professionals, seeks a bankruptcy court reporter. Position is based in New York City. "We’re looking for someone who can attend bankruptcy court hearings in New York, make calls on cases elsewhere in the U.S. and assist with coverage of court filings," the ad states. E-mail cover letter, resume and clips to jobs@prospectnews.com.
  

• SOUTH FLORIDA: Courthouse News Service, a nationwide legal news service that law firms subscribe to, seeks a part-time reporter to cover civil courts of law in and around West Palm Beach, Florida. Job "offers competitive pay for 20-25 hours a week and some benefits are available," the ad states. E-mail a cover letter in the body of an email, and attach a resume and clips to newjob8@courthousenews.com.
  

Location: United States

Paid legal journalism internship

Westlaw, an online legal research service for lawyers and legal professionals in the United States, seeks law students to produce editorial content from statutes, caselaw, secondary analytical law and legal textbooks for a variety of media platforms.

"The position requires analyzing administrative court documents and writing a concise summary," the ad states.

The paid part-time position is based in suburban Minneapolis. Apply online.

Location: Eagan, Minnesota

Paid internship @ Canadian Lawyer magazine

Canadian Lawyer, a 27,500-circulation magazine that covers Canada's legal industry, is offering a paid summer internship.

"The individual will be working closely with the editorial director to research the range and impact of diversity within the legal industry," the ad states. "This position will be of interest to anyone pursuing a career in journalism or communications. The project will involve researching and communicating with law firms, analyzing information, and then working alongside an in-house writer to put together a final report for the magazine."

Position is based in Aurora, which is near Toronto. Upon completion of a three month internship, the intern will be receive a $500 honorarium. In addition, each intern will be eligible for a recognition award in the amount of $2,000.

E-mail resume and cover letter to jobs@thecartwrightgroup.com. In the subject line, put "Canadian Lawyer Editorial Internship."

Location: Aurora, Ontario, Canada

Courts reporter @ Colorado Springs Gazette

The Colorado Springs Gazette, a 95,000 circulation daily newspaper, is seeking a reporter to cover the court beat for online and print publications.

"Responsibilities include covering criminal and civil trials, explaining the justice system from traffic citations to defense strategies, live blogging during trials for Web site and assisting other reporters with expertise of legal documents and procedures," the ad states. Colorado resident preferred.

To apply, send application to Joel Millman, Public Affairs/Public Safety Team Editor, The Gazette, 30 S. Prospect Street, Colorado Springs, Colo. 80903. Or e-mail joel.millman@gazette.com. No phone calls.

Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Media law fellowship @ Harvard Law

Harvard Law School is offering a year-long paid fellowship in media law. The fellow will split time between the law school's cyber law clinic and the Citizens Media Law Project, which provides legal help to online and citizen media.

"Through collaboration with lawyers and law students in Harvard Law School's Cyberlaw Clinic, the Fellow may provide legal assistance to individuals and organizations that operate online and citizen media ventures," the ad states. "The Fellow also may assist in the supervision and mentoring of clinical students ... While this position is full-time, the Fellow will have the opportunity to spend a limited amount of time pursuing his/her own related academic research interests and will be provided a computer work station, Internet access, and access to Harvard's extensive library system."

Applicants must have a J.D. , be admitted to a state bar and have at least three years work experience.

Apply online.

Paid legal journalism internships in D.C.

The Bureau of National Affairs (BNA), a news service that publishes news online and in print related to business and government, is offering two paid summer internships in legal journalism.

The 12-week internship is based in Washington, D.C., and for law students.

"The interns may be assigned to write headnotes summarizing court decisions, or to write news stories on court decisions," the ad states. "In addition, the interns may be assigned to write stories on administrative rulings, or cover a variety of events and write news stories on them. Other editorial work could include reviewing wire service copy for relevant information and adapting stories from other BNA publications."

By February 27, e-mail a cover letter, resume and four writing samples (preferably published news stories) to Employment Director Anthony Harris at tharris@bna.com. Fort more info, contact Harris at (703) 341-2003.

Location: Washington, DC

Freelancers @ legal magazine

Litigation Support Today, a quarterly magazine that focuses on lawyers and litigation, seeks freelancers to write features stories.

"Features range from 1,500 to 2,500 words and are targeted to litigation support directors, managers, specialists and paralegals engaged in litigation support activity," the ad states. "Topics include cutting-edge ideas, techniques, success stories, best practices, event coverage, career advancement, and updates on new products and services."

Compensation is based on experience and negotiated on a case-by-case basis. To apply, e-mail a short paragraph outlining your credentials (no resumes) and two-to-three related writing samples/clips to editor@litsupporttoday.com. Put the word “Writer” in the subject line.

Columbia, Maryland

Reporter @ Charlotte newspaper

The Mecklenburg Times, a twice-weekly newspaper that covers law and business in the Charlotte Area, seeks a reporter.

"Must be experienced in developing a beat, cultivating sources, breaking news, finding stories and crafting clean, readable copy," the ad states.

To apply, mail letter, resume and clips to Amy Burroughs, The Mecklenburg Times, 1611 E. 7th St., Charlotte NC 28204.

Charlotte, North Carolina

Media law & legal journalism opportunities

There's a lot of cross-over between law and journalism. Both professions require superior research and writing skills, critical thinking, and knowledge of government and the legal system. It's no wonder that a lot of lawyers work as journalists and many journalists have gone on to become lawyers.

For example, Fox News' Greta Van Susteren is a Georgetown Law alumnus. Slate's Dahlia Lithwick went to Stanford Law. On the flip side, former Providence Journal reporter Robert Luskin is now a prominent litigator at Patton Boggs, a prestigious Washington law firm. Levine Sullivan Koch & Schulz, a renowned First Amendment boutique law firm, has a staff full of journalists-turned-lawyers. (And, I've done both professions, as well.)

To assist with the crossover, I've created a Law & Journalism page that lists career and educational opportunities in media law and in legal journalism.

-Mark Grabowski

Legal reporting fellowship for freelancers

Carnegie/Newhouse School Legal Reporting Fellowships provide up to $3,000 each, plus other benefits, for freelance journalists examining some aspect of the American legal system.

"Apply if you: Are a U.S.-based journalist, working in any medium, whose primary source of income is freelancing," the fellowship's website says. "Are reporting on, or proposing, a project of a nonpartisan nature that focuses on law, lawyers, judges, or the justice system -- locally, regionally, or nationally. Can document legitimate out-of-pocket expenses, such as travel or records acquisition, that have not been reimbursed by another party. Can assign productive research or reporting tasks to a dedicated, talented Newhouse journalism student whom we'll pay to help you throughout the 2008-09 academic year."

The deadline is September 8.

-Mark Grabowski