Legal Reporter

Democracy Docket; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Merit-based bonus eligibility

Employer-paid medical, dental, vision

401(k) with company match

Commuter benefits

Generous PTO and holidays

Job summary

Democracy Docket is seeking a Legal Reporter to bolster coverage of election litigation—our single most important coverage area. The ideal candidate will have deep experience reporting on the courts and voting rights law, producing original, timely stories that explain why cases matter for access to the ballot.

They will work with the Research team and Senior Legal Editor to identify trends across election litigation and contribute to mission‑driven, pro‑democracy journalism, including external

Qualifications

• Deep experience covering political and policy issues in the courts.
• Proven track record of breaking legal news and/or producing stories with unique angles.
• Ability to write clearly and concisely on a tight deadline.

Responsibilities

• Pitch and write stories across formats—breaking news, quick-turns, Day 2 analyses, explainers, deeper-dives—to deepen readers’ understanding of voting rights court battles.
• Con traverse court filings to find stories and angles, focusing on arguments and strategies of anti-voting actors, including the DOJ.
• Work with Research to track election cases and develop a nuanced understanding of the most important ones.
• Collaborate with editors, especially the Senior Legal Editor, to brainstorm ideas and plan coverage.

Skills

Legal reporting

Election law understanding

Breaking news

Source development

Job description

Job Overview

Democracy Docket is seeking a Legal Reporter to bolster and deepen our coverage of election litigation — our single most important coverage area.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced legal reporter with a strong grasp of both the nuts and bolts of covering the courts and of the legal and news landscape on voting rights issues.

They’ll be confident in going beyond follow-the-pack coverage to produce original, timely stories that dig deeper into key elections cases. They’ll be adept at spotting a noteworthy argument or revealing detail in a new court ruling or legal filing, quickly and clearly explaining why it matters for access to the ballot, and giving it a compelling and newsworthy framing.

And, working with our Research team and Senior Legal Editor, they’ll be skilled at identifying key trends across the election litigation landscape. Finally, they’ll be excited about our newsroom’s commitment to mission‑driven, pro‑democracy journalism that doesn’t flinch from calling out powerful anti‑democratic actors.

This role reports to the Senior Legal Editor.

Key Responsibilities

• Pitch and write stories across a range of formats — breaking news, quick‑turns, Day 2 analyses, explainers, deeper‑dives — that deepen readers’ understanding of the legal battles over voting rights.
• Comb through court filings to find stories and angles, paying especially close attention to the arguments and strategies of anti‑voting actors, including the DOJ.
• Work with our Research team to closely track election cases and to develop a detailed, nuanced understanding of the most important ones.
• Work collaboratively with editors, especially the Senior Legal Editor, to brainstorm ideas, plan coverage, test assumptions, etc.
• Develop a network of sources — voting rights advocates, election law experts, election administrators, etc. — to inform and enrich coverage of ongoing cases.
• Work with Democracy Docket’s Social, Video and Product teams to help produce additional content — social posts, video, newsletters, member emails, etc.
• Appear on external podcasts, TV/radio shows, etc. to promote reporting and explain election cases.
• Possible travel for on‑the‑ground coverage of elections disputes and/or court proceedings, especially around the post‑election period.

Required Qualifications

• Deep experience covering political and policy issues in the courts, with a proven track record of producing authoritative reporting and unique, original angles. Demonstrated ability to break news is a major plus.
• Proven track record of breaking legal news and/or producing stories with unique, original angles.
• Strong grasp of legal procedure and of key concepts in election law.
• Ability to write clearly and concisely on a tight deadline.
• Instinct for finding the story others miss, including by highlighting revealing details hidden in filings.
• Willingness to juggle multiple projects, to adjust plans in response to breaking news, and to pitch in as part of a team.
• Strong grasp of national politics and policy, and of the political dimensions of the legal fights over voting rights.
• Concern about the dangers U.S. democracy currently faces, and an eagerness to contribute to the fight to protect and strengthen it.

Work Environment

This is a full‑time role based out of our Washington, D.C. or Jersey City office. Our core business hours are 9 am‑6 pm, and we currently operate on a hybrid schedule, with remote work on Mondays and Fridays and in‑office days on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. This position will require being comfortable adapting to fast‑paced workflows and being responsive to urgent editorial needs, including outside of normal business hours.

Benefits

• Merit‑based annual bonus eligibility
• 100 % employer‑paid medical, dental, and vision premiums for employees
• 401(k) with 6 % company match, available after 3 months
• Commuter benefits to help with your daily travel
• Generous paid time off, including:
  • 18 days of PTO per year (increasing with tenure)
  • 10 paid Health & Wellness days annually
  • 2 paid personal days annually
• 11 paid holidays, observed per company policy

Salary Range: $90,000-105,000

Democracy Docket is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.