Editorial Legal Counsel

NEWS UK; City Of London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A major news organization is seeking an Editorial Legal Counsel to provide expert legal advice and training across multiple platforms. This role requires a qualified solicitor or barrister with extensive media law experience. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment, advising on legal compliance and helping journalists navigate complex issues related to defamation, privacy, and data protection. It's a fully office-based position in London offering competitive benefits.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

Discounted gym memberships

Bikes for Work scheme

Generous pension scheme

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Qualifications

• Solicitor or barrister with post qualification experience in media law.
• Must handle defamation, privacy, contempt, and copyright issues.
• Experience in training journalists on legal standards.

Responsibilities

• Provide editorial legal advice to The Sun and associated titles.
• Assist with pre-publication legal issues and manage complaints.
• Train journalists on legal compliance and best practices.

Skills

Media law knowledge

Communication skills

Judgment and integrity

Interest in free speech issues

Understanding of the IPSO and OFCOM codes

Education

Solicitor or barrister qualification

Job description

Job Description

The Sun is the biggest news brand in the UK, publishing hundreds of stories a day and reaching over 170m unique users digitally every month. Its exclusives set the news agenda and its campaigns have changed the lives of many. Delivering news, entertainment, and sports coverage to millions of readers every day. With a rich history spanning decades, we are dedicated to providing accurate, insightful, and engaging content across print and digital platforms.

The Sun has a mass‑market audience and aims to appeal to a diverse audience in the UK and beyond.

Your Team

The Sun legal team is seeking an editorial lawyer to work in its editorial legal team advising The Sun, the Sun on Sunday, Sun Online and Sun Video. In addition, you will assist as an editorial lawyer across News UK’s broadcast titles.

Your Role

We are looking to appoint an experienced Editorial Legal Counsel to join our team, reporting to the Director of Legal. We seek a media lawyer of the highest calibre, who can demonstrate exceptional work ethic, sound judgement, and unwavering integrity. You will be someone who will embrace team collaboration, has excellent communication skills, and who is ready to be a vital, in‑person presence in a busy newsroom.

Day to day you will

• Provide expert editorial legal advice to The Sun, The Sun on Sunday and Sun online, ensuring all content complies with applicable laws, regulations and best practice.
• Provide expert editorial legal advice to News Broadcasting titles.
• Be responsible for exercising sound professional judgement in providing advice to editors and journalists pre and post publication in a fast‑paced environment.
• Work closely with the editorial legal team to proactively identify and resolve complex issues.
• Advise on pre‑publication issues, including defamation, privacy, contempt of court, copyright, data protection and reporting restrictions.
• Manage post publication complaints.
• Develop and deliver high‑quality training for journalists in order to maintain high standards of journalistic output.

What we’re looking for from you

• You must be a solicitor or barrister with post qualification experience in media law and litigation.
• A genuine enthusiasm for our titles and a deep desire to facilitate editorial output across the business.
• Be able to have a strong interest in free speech issues, public interest journalism and investigative journalism.
• Can clearly explain and present problems or issues to others and contribute to their resolution.
• A flexible approach to working hours, including evenings and weekends (shared with other team members).
• Be able to carry out all responsibilities in a way which supports the company’s values and promotes its high ethical standards, equal opportunities, and diversity principles.
• An interest in the evolving impact of Artificial Intelligence on the media landscape.
• Good knowledge of the IPSO and OFCOM codes.
• Have a forward‑thinking perspective, and be able to help find legally sound solutions to enable editorial output whether print, online, video or social media.
• Given the requirement for immediate, on‑site legal counsel within a fast‑paced newsroom, this is a fully office‑based role.

Life at News

Driven by passion, guided by principles and acting with purpose. We represent, reflect and reach the nation, telling the stories that matter. We inform our audiences so that they can make decisions based on trusted information.

We represent, reflect and reach the nation, telling the stories that matter most. To ensure these stories resonate with as broad an audience as possible, it is essential that our organisation reflects the diversity of the people we reach. Whether through age, gender, ethnicity, disability, social class or sexuality, we are committed to representing the rich variety of voices that make up our society. And we champion a culture where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and thrive as we continue to innovate and drive long‑term sustainable growth. This is done through our Diversity Strategy.

At News UK, we take pride in our exceptional employee‑led networks that bring together individuals with shared interests and create a vibrant sense of community. We believe our networks play a vital role in fostering a collaborative and supportive work culture at News UK. Groups that we support include the African & Caribbean Network, Parents and Carers, and LGBTQ+ group News Is Out, and the Apprentice Society.

Benefits

• Private medical insurance including coverage for pre‑existing conditions
• Discounted gym memberships, free ClassPass at Home, weekly in‑person/virtual exercise classes
• Bikes for Work and Electric Car scheme
• Up to 60% discount on Harper Collins books
• Maternity leave up to 18 weeks full basic salary & paternity leave up to 2 weeks
• Access to exclusive events and competitions with exciting brands such as talkSPORT, Virgin Radio UK & The Times. Weekly virtual panel chats with top journalists and celebrities
• Access to wellbeing benefits such as EAP, physio/massage and counselling
• A generous pension scheme with employer contributions of up to 5%
• Wide range of training available, plus full LinkedIn Learning access
• 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays and up to 4 volunteering days per year

We want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to perform to their best when applying for a role. If you would like to receive any information in a different way or for us to do anything differently to support you to apply for any of our roles please contact us on <[email protected]>.