Editorial Lawyer

Newskit; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - GBP 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading media organization in Greater London is seeking an experienced Editorial Lawyer to join their editorial legal team. This role involves providing legal advice to The Sun and its brands, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations. The ideal candidate will be a qualified solicitor or barrister with extensive media law experience and strong communication skills, capable of working collaboratively in a fast-paced environment. Benefits include private medical insurance, generous pension contributions, and significant leave entitlements.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

Discounted gym memberships

Generous pension scheme

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Qualifications

• Post-qualification experience in media law and litigation.
• Deep knowledge of the IPSO Code and OFCOM Broadcasting Code.
• Willingness to adopt a flexible approach to working hours.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert editorial legal advice to The Sun brands.
• Advise on pre-publication issues including defamation and copyright.
• Manage post-publication complaints and litigation.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Professional agility

Knowledge of media law

Ability to explain complex issues

Team collaboration

Education

Qualified Solicitor or Barrister

Job description

Overview

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, published by NewsUK, has a mass-market audience and aims to appeal to a diverse audience in the UK and beyond.

News UK is also home to News Broadcasting which is home to broadcasting powerhouses talkSPORT, Talk Radio, Times Radio and Virgin Radio.

Your Team

Your Team: The Sun / News Broadcasting 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 Broadcasting titles.

Your Role

Your Role: We are looking to appoint an experienced Editorial Lawyer to join our team. We seek a media lawyer of the highest calibre, who can demonstrate exceptional work ethic, sound judgment, 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. Reporting to the Director of Legal.

Day to day you will

• Work closely with the editorial legal team to proactively identify and resolve complex issues.

• Provide expert editorial legal advice to The Sun brands and News Broadcasting titles, ensuring all content complies with applicable laws, regulations and best practice.

• Exercise sound professional judgement in providing advice to editors and journalists pre and post publication in a fast-paced environment.

• Advise on pre-publication issues, including defamation, privacy, contempt of court, copyright, data protection and reporting restrictions.

• Manage post publication complaints and litigation.

• Develop and deliver high-quality training for journalists to maintain high standards of journalistic output.

• Support Broadcasting compliance.

What we’re looking for from you

• Qualified Solicitor or Barrister with post-qualification experience in media law and litigation.

• Deep knowledge of the IPSO Code and the OFCOM Broadcasting Code.

• Strong communication skills with the ability to clearly explain complex legal issues to non-legal colleagues in a high-pressure environment.

• Professional agility to provide clear, instant advice in varied settings, from a TV gallery to a newspaper Backbench.

• A forward-thinking perspective with a genuine interest in the evolving impact of Artificial Intelligence on the media landscape.

• A dedication to free speech and public interest journalism, with a desire to facilitate editorial output.

• Willingness to adopt a flexible approach to working hours, including evenings and weekends, and work fully office-based to support the newsroom.

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

Some of our benefits include:

• 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 [e-mail].