Legal Officer, TrustLaw

About Thomson Reuters Foundation

Join a team which leverages media, legal and data-driven expertise to strengthen independent journalism, enable access to the law and promote responsible business.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation is the corporate foundation of Thomson Reuters, the global news and information services company. As an independent charity, registered in the UK and the USA, we aim to foster free, fair and informed societies by harnessing the power of the media, the law and data intelligence. We do this by informing, empowering and equipping key actors working in our areas of focus so that their decisions can have a positive impact on people, society and the environment. Our unique combination of media and legal expertise enables us to deliver targeted capacity-building programmes, research, news, legal support and convenings that support our mission. Together, we can shape a prosperous planet where no one is left behind.

TrustLaw

TrustLaw is the leading global pro bono legal service. TrustLaw helps high-impact civil society organisations, social enterprises, and non-profit independent media to grow, streamline their operations and navigate complex laws and regulations by connecting them with free legal assistance from the best law firms and corporate legal teams around the world. We also deliver groundbreaking legal research on key social and policy issues that our members use to support their advocacy and law reform efforts, and deliver innovative capacity-building workshops.

About the Role

The Foundation is recruiting a dynamic Legal Officer to help expand, strengthen and innovate our TrustLaw programme in North America & the Caribbean. Reporting to the Legal Program Manager, North America & the Caribbean, and working closely with the regional Program Officer, the Legal Officer will manage legal pro bono projects from TrustLaw’s community of civil society organisations, social enterprises and independent media organisations and support the team on thought leadership initiatives. In this opportunity as a Legal Officer, your responsibilities will include:

• Scoping legal pro bono requests from our community of civil society organisations, social enterprises and independent media organisations so that the requests clearly explain the legal needs for lawyers to advise on.
• Managing pro bono requests, including connecting the pro bono client with lawyers, collecting feedback and following up with the parties involved.
• Designing, scoping and overseeing the development of cross-border legal research projects, tools, resources and other content that address the most critical social and policy needs facing our members.
• Supporting TrustLaw’s regional portfolio of law firms, corporations, referral partners, pro bono clients and other key stakeholders in North America & the Caribbean to ensure TrustLaw regional quality and growth metrics are met.
• Actively pursue and cultivate relationships with law firms to secure their commitment to pro bono projects, employing persuasive communication strategies to highlight the impactful role they play in advancing social justice through TrustLaw initiatives.
• Administering the service, for example through inputting into databases, planners, and trackers, running Salesforce reports, ensuring members have up-to-date contact information, inputting into quarterly reports, responding to requests for information, etc. in a timely manner.
• Supporting the implementation of a regional strategy to expand and activate TrustLaw membership, ensuring we serve the best NGOs, social enterprises and independent media organisations, as well as the strongest law firms and corporate in-house legal teams.
• Contributing to the TrustLaw global annual strategy.
• Seeking out and developing fruitful relationships with potential partners and members to further the mission of TrustLaw.
• Executing a robust communications, engagement and outreach strategy that includes member events and promotion of TrustLaw publications.
• Maintaining a high profile in North America & the Caribbean by attending, supporting and coordinating events for TrustLaw and the Thomson Reuters Foundation, including by speaking publicly on our work at panels, roundtables, panel discussions, workshops, conferences or other speaking engagements.
• Assist with other duties as required.

About You

You're a fit for the role of Legal Officer if your background includes:

• A lawyer (1+ years PQE, in US or Canada preferred) with strong legal skills and experience in pro bono, corporate/transactional work, international development, media freedom, human rights or social change.
• Legal experience working in a law firm, in-house legal team, media organisation or non-profit organisation.
• A good understanding of the legal and non-profit sectors in North America & the Caribbean, and an understanding of the challenges and opportunities that pro bono opportunities bring to law firms and legal teams.
• Experience of project management or co-ordination.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills including the ability to effectively and independently manage multiple matters and projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent research, drafting and analytical skills, with strong attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills – able to establish and maintain positive working relationships internally and externally with people from a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds.
• Is ambitious, dynamic, and creative.
• Experience in Salesforce would be favorable, experience working with databases essential
• Experience organizing events or trainings would be favorable.
• Fluent in English, other languages favorable (Spanish would be preferred).
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.
• Pre-existing right to work in the US.

To apply for this position, send your CV and cover letter in English by February 18th, 2025, describing how you meet the specifications for this role, what you bring to it, and your availability to start. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

This is a full-time role based in New York, with a minimum of two days in the office. The salary is relative to the local charitable sector and will be commensurate with experience.

#LI-JK3

What’s in it For You

At the Thomson Reuters Foundation, our people are our greatest assets. Here are some of the benefits we offer for your personal and professional growth:

• Global Perspective and Impact: Interested in working for a dynamic global organization with a focus on social impact? With hubs all over the world from Bangkok to Madrid to Rio de Janeiro, join a truly international team with a shared goal of helping to build societies around the world that are free, fair and informed.
• A Unique Approach: Our expertise in media and the law is world class; we combine the power of both to address the critical issues faced by humanity.
• Our Relevance: With a focus on advancing media freedom, fostering more inclusive economies and promoting human rights, our work has never been more needed than right now.
• Benefits: We offer competitive salary packages and market-leading benefits.
• Learning & Development: We are dedicated to the continual professional development of our employees and offer access to both in-house and external training opportunities.

About Thomson Reuters Foundation

The Thomson Reuters Foundation is the corporate foundation of Thomson Reuters, the global news and information services company. As an independent charity, registered in the UK and the USA, we work to advance media freedom, foster more inclusive economies, and promote human rights. Through news, media development, free legal assistance and convening initiatives, we combine our unique media and legal services to drive systemic change.

In the United States, Thomson Reuters offers a comprehensive benefits package to our employees. Our benefit package includes market competitive health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance programs, as well as a competitive 401k plan with company match. In addition, Thomson Reuters offers market leading work life benefits with competitive vacation, sick and safe paid time off, paid holidays (including two company mental health days off), parental leave, sabbatical leave. These benefits meet or exceeds the requirements of paid time off in accordance with any applicable state or municipal laws. Finally, Thomson Reuters offers the following additional benefits: optional hospital, accident and sickness insurance paid 100% by the employee; optional life and AD&D insurance paid 100% by the employee; Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts; fitness reimbursement; access to Employee Assistance Program; Group Legal Identity Theft Protection benefit paid 100% by employee; access to 529 Plan; commuter benefits; Adoption & Surrogacy Assistance; Tuition Reimbursement; and access to Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

Thomson Reuters complies with local laws that require upfront disclosure of the expected pay range for a position. The base compensation range varies across locations. Eligible office location(s) for this role include one or more of the following: New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and/or Irvine, CA; McLean, VA; Washington, DC. The base compensation range for the role in any of those locations is $64,540 - $119,860. Base pay is positioned within the range based on several factors including an individual’s knowledge, skills and experience with consideration given to internal equity. Base pay is one part of a comprehensive Total Reward program which also includes flexible and supportive benefits and other wellbeing programs.

Do you want to be part of a team helping re-invent the way knowledge professionals work? How about a team that works every day to create a more transparent, just and inclusive future? At Thomson Reuters, we’ve been doing just that for almost 160 years. Our industry-leading products and services include highly specialized information-enabled software and tools for legal, tax, accounting and compliance professionals combined with the world’s most global news services – Reuters. We help these professionals do their jobs better, creating more time for them to focus on the things that matter most: advising, advocating, negotiating, governing and informing.

We are powered by the talents of 26,000 employees across more than 70 countries, where everyone has a chance to contribute and grow professionally in flexible work environments that celebrate diversity and inclusion. At a time when objectivity, accuracy, fairness and transparency are under attack, we consider it our duty to pursue them. Sound exciting? Join us and help shape the industries that move society forward.

Accessibility

As a global business, we rely on diversity of culture and thought to deliver on our goals. To ensure we can do that, we seek talented, qualified employees in all our operations around the world regardless of race, color, sex/gender, including pregnancy, gender identity and expression, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, citizen status, veteran status, or any other protected classification under applicable law. Thomson Reuters is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer providing a drug-free workplace.

We also make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs in accordance with applicable law.

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More information about Thomson Reuters can be found on https://thomsonreuters.com.

At the Thomson Reuters Foundation, our people are our greatest assets. Here are some of the benefits we offer for your personal and professional growth:

• Global Perspective and Impact: Interested in working for a dynamic global organization with a focus on social impact? With hubs all over the world from Bangkok to Madrid to Rio de Janeiro, join a truly international team with a shared goal of helping to build societies around the world that are free, fair and informed.
• A Unique Approach: Our expertise in media and the law is world class; we combine the power of both to address the critical issues faced by humanity.
• Our Relevance: With a focus on advancing media freedom, fostering more inclusive economies and promoting human rights, our work has never been more needed than right now.
• Benefits: We offer competitive salary packages and market-leading benefits.
• Learning & Development: We are dedicated to the continual professional development of our employees and offer access to both in-house and external training opportunities.

In the United States, Thomson Reuters offers a comprehensive benefits package to our employees. Our benefit package includes market competitive health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance programs, as well as a competitive 401k plan with company match. In addition, Thomson Reuters offers market leading work life benefits with competitive vacation, sick and safe paid time off, paid holidays (including two company mental health days off), parental leave, sabbatical leave. These benefits meet or exceed the requirements of paid time off in accordance with any applicable state or municipal laws. Finally, Thomson Reuters offers the following additional benefits: optional hospital, accident and sickness insurance paid 100% by the employee; optional life and AD&D insurance paid 100% by the employee; Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts; fitness reimbursement; access to Employee Assistance Program; Group Legal Identity Theft Protection benefit paid 100% by employee; access to 529 Plan; commuter benefits; Adoption & Surrogacy Assistance; Tuition Reimbursement; and access to Employee Stock Purchase Plan.