Legal Writer/Editor Jobs

The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to hold our political institutions and laws accountable to the twin American ideals of democracy and equal justice for all. The Brennan Center’s work ranges from voting rights to court reform, from ending mass incarceration to preserving constitutional protection in the fight against terrorism. Part think tank, part advocacy group, part cutting edge communications hub, we start with rigorous research. We craft innovative policies. And we fight for them – in Congress and the states, the courts, and in the court of public opinion. 
Focus is increasingly turning to state courts and state constitutions as significant sources of rights protection. The Brennan Center recently launched State Court Report, a hub for reporting and cutting-edge analysis on legal developments on the state level. State Court Report is a first-of-its-kind publication in a quickly developing field of legal reporting — a unique opportunity to help narrate an emerging portion of the U.S. legal landscape.
Position Summary:
Reporting to the Managing Editor, Web in Communications & Strategy, the Legal Writer/Editor will contribute to the strategic direction and audience growth of the Brennan Center and State Court Report by writing and editing analyses in collaboration with the Brennan Center’s Judiciary Program and other Brennan Center experts. The primary focus will be on State Court Report — stories on major cases in state supreme courts, ballot measures to amend state constitutions, and other news-driven content on the state level. There will also be opportunities to write deeper analyses on trends in state courts and constitutions. The content will appear on the State Court Report website as well as in email newsletters.
Beyond State Court Report, the Writer/Editor will contribute to the Brennan Center’s content more broadly. The subject matter will span the breadth of the Brennan Center’s work: expanding voting rights, preventing voter suppression and gerrymandering, reducing unnecessary and ineffective incarceration, protecting individual liberty, promoting fair courts, reforming the Supreme Court, and more. The Writer/Editor will develop content in response to the news cycle, as well as long-form pieces to influence the national conversation around Brennan Center priorities. Clear, direct language that appeals to both expert and lay audiences is a must.
In addition to writing under personal byline, the Writer/Editor will help program attorneys and subject matter experts write timely, well-composed analyses for the Brennan Center and the State Court Report websites or in op-ed format for outside publications.
This writer will typically publish several news-driven pieces per week. We’re looking for a skilled writer with experience in legal issues and a highly accessible, conversational but polished tone that will appeal to both expert and general audiences.
Note: Brennan Center employees adhere to a hybrid schedule that is subject to change, with most employees currently working in the office a minimum of three days per week. This position is based at our headquarters in New York City.
ABOUT YOU:
You are a creative and strategic thinker on the core issues of importance to the Brennan Center and State Court Report. You have keen news judgement, and you back up all of your opinions with reasoning and data. You live for the challenge of translating legalese into compelling copy, distilling lengthy judicial opinions or research findings into an easy-to-understand and engaging public content. You are passionate about inspiring people to be active participants in our democracy. You always put the user/reader/subscriber/supporter first.
You have a firm foundation on a broad spectrum legal topics, strong writing chops, sharp analytical abilities, and excellent news judgment. You’re obsessed with breaking news, but also possess the ability to understand broader trends and put stories in a larger context — synthesizing news and events into the essence of what readers need to know in a way that is fast, fun, and fascinating.
You understand that writing short and doing it well takes just as much skill, if not more, as writing long.
RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Become an expert on our programmatic research and policy initiatives, including state constitutional cases and other developments, so that you can effectively write and pitch content.
• Monitor news and current events related to state courts and our other issue areas and work closely with Media, Editorial, and Design teams to develop and vet site and external content based on current opportunities.
• Be a persuasive and confident partner with other departments, able to hold your own regarding your personal expertise, while instilling confidence in others, being open to feedback, and managing complex relationships with senior leaders in other departments.
• Write and edit content to help build a sophisticated reader journey that informs expert audiences and also inspires new audiences to become active participants in our democracy.
• Write and produce clear, concise, error-free prose within tight deadlines and with a strong attention to detail.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Sense of humor. Really.
• Demonstrated ability to optimize initiatives based on performance and success metrics.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, team-based environment.
• Cheerful, calm, and organized even when you get another set of last-minute changes.
• Clear, proactive communication.
• Combination of journalism and legal experience preferred, with an emphasis on daily news writing for a digital outlet.
• Proficiency with standard website content management systems, such as Drupal. Basic knowledge of HTML.
• Either (1) a bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years of relevant online content writing and production experience, ideally in journalism; or (2) a law degree and at least 2 years of relevant online content writing and production experience.
• Excellent written, verbal, and project management skills.
• Experience writing copy for all digital channels (email, social, web, and video) and a deep understanding of how to write for different audiences/platforms. 
• Demonstrated ability to grow audience and engagement.
• Passion for democracy, justice, and rule of law issues.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly generate compelling, error-free prose.

The Brennan Center is committed to advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the workplace. We continuously work with our staff to find new ways to increase diversity and to build and cultivate an inclusive and equitable work environment, where everyone can be their true-self and feel a strong sense of belonging. As such, we seek to hire employees who have a commitment to and/or experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, we expect employees to participate/contribute with DEI initiatives or activities with recruitment, retention, and workplace culture.
Application: To apply, please visit
Compensation and Benefits:
The salary range assigned for this position is $90,000-$125,000. We determine our salary ranges based on market competitiveness and internal equity for each job. The salary offered a selected candidate will be contingent upon the candidate’s experience, education, and qualifications, along with internal equity considerations. Additionally, we offer a very robust and competitive array of benefits such as a generous time off program, 401k plan, comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, and vision), and wellness and office perks.
Note: The Brennan Center is committed to public health and to the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and visitors. As such, we have adopted a policy requiring all employees working in the New York and Washington, DC offices to be vaccinated against COVID-19, including having a booster, or to meet the legal guidelines for an exemption.
The Brennan Center for Justice is committed to a workplace based on equal opportunity and a strong belief in the increased effectiveness that comes from a diverse workforce. To this end, Brennan Center

• Creates a workplace where true diversity is fostered and different perspectives are valued and freely exchanged;
• Ensures that all members of the Brennan Center community feel welcome and respected, and have equal opportunities to thrive and advance within the institution; and
• Hires diverse candidates and works to improve our recruitment practices to allow for such
• Welcomes applicants with disabilities and applicants of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, socioeconomic identities, sexual orientations, and national origin or citizenship, including people who have been previously incarcerated;
• Is committed to supporting low-income communities and communities of color particularly affected by social inequities.