“There can be no higher law in journalism than to tell the truth and to shame the devil.” – Walter Lippman
Legal journalism involves intertwining media and law and when followed holistically, this career can bring about rewarding results. Legal journalism calls for writing, editing and featuring the latest stories of socio-legal importance, the judgments of the courts and the latest developments in major law firms. It is no secret that legal stories are everywhere; be it of justice and injustice, scandals, or the latest legal developments in the business world. All aspiring legal journalists need to remember one golden rule at all times, that law is about the rules of the society that citizens abide by and the consequences that follow if they do not. There are no prerequisites to be a journalist, and this is especially true for a law student. Regular writing habit does, however, give an added advantage. This profession calls for superior research and writing skills coupled with critical thinking and knowledge of the legal system. In USA and the UK, journalism is one of the most popular career choices among lawyers and not surprisingly, this trend is picking up in India as well.
Situations in journalism raise both legal and ethical questions as they often intersect each other. In many newsrooms, the first issue arising is often whether an action would be considered within the ambit of freedom of press, guaranteed by the Constitution. Then comes the question of morals, laid down as reasonable restrictions vide Article 19 (2) of the Constitution. Legal journalists too carry this constitutional duty of public service on their shoulders. They need to cater to the needs of the people by immediate reporting of legal issues. This reporting has to be accurate and balanced as parochial and biased legal journalism can create havoc in a diverse country like that of ours. Since legal journalists have knowledge of law, they do realise that the freedom available to them is not unfettered and they have to act within the four corners of the Constitution.
Legal editing is a fascinating and emerging career option for law students. Most legal editing jobs require a law degree plus experience in writing and editing articles, books and journals in any practice area of law. Qualifications like LLM or a degree in mass communication give an extra edge in this area, but experience is what matters the most! As a legal editor, one has to be prepared to take up the responsibility of commissioning and editing articles, books and other written materials apart from interfacing with an Editorial Board.
Needless to add, legal writers and editors produce a wide range of written materials for the legal industry. From legal newsletters, brochures to feature articles, web content, legal blogs, news reports and lawyers’ profiles, legal writing can take many forms.
Let’s take a look at few of the most common types of legal writers:
Once students make up their mind to pursue this field, they should expose themselves to the study of how the law develops and works, and why the system works in a particular way. For this, an internship with a leading legal publication house may prove to be handy. Legal writers must have an excellent grasp of the stylistic and mechanical aspects of writing and the fundamentals of English grammar and usage. They must be able to express ideas in a clear, concise and logical manner and be prepared to meet aggressive deadlines. Legal experience and indepth knowledge of the legal industry generally proves to be indispensable. The ability to synthesize, draft and edit complex information is crucial. Some legal writers may even get the opportunity to identify and interview expert sources. In the field of legal journalism, the following exposure is hugely beneficial for a legal journalist:
While in district courts, the law reporter gets to learn about the procedural aspects of law and justice and is able to find the real stories beneath the surface; in the higher courts, viz., Supreme Court and High Courts, a legal correspondent is exposed to what the court rules as well as the reasoning behind the same, thereby elucidating on the intricate and deeper aspects of the judgment.
Leading newspapers and law magazines are expected to go beyond breaking legal news and cover the issues that drive those events. Moreover, the decisions of the executive and legislature, be it at local/ state/ national/ international level, affect our lives in a big way. Thus, the ability to analyse policy decisions is critical and requires aggressive and talented legal journalists who can cover such stories.
Our society’s hot-button issues are at the intersection of social attitudes and legal policy. Be it the recent Ayodhya judgment, same sex marriages, the issue of euthanasia, cases of maintenance to live-in partners, these issues always involve a legal question where a legal journalist gets a good platform to report or write if he has a good grasp over the subject together with legal knowledge.
A legal journalist gets to analyse various aspects of criminology and confronts the implementation of the legal system.
Be it scandals and controversies in the sporting world, or the rights of broadcasting, or legal disputes in the world of showbusiness, it calls for reporters who understand the underlying legal issues and principles.
Capital markets, synchronized transactions, compliance of regulations at the stock exchanges and all the related areas open up avenues for lawyers who could report the same in the capacity of journalists.
Budding legal journalists must bear in mind that the vistas of legal journalism have crossed national boundaries. With the mushrooming of social and professional networking web-sites, a legal journalist now has the requisite platform and audience to publish one’s views. At the same time it is advisable to exercise caution while reporting or writing on any legal issue so that they are no unpleasant repercussions. In the ever-changing legal environment, there is undoubtedly a growing need for legal journalists and reporters who can cater to the expanding legal audience. The thrill of being the first one to comment on the legal developments amidst tight deadlines proves to be an icing on the cake! Legal journalism might not the most lucrative option but the kind of job satisfaction it offers is unparalleled. In the end, it would be fair to say that knowledge of law and hard work are any legal journalist’s safe harbour clause.
Nicola Laver Legal journalist, Midlands, UK
In the current economic culture, be it in India or the UK, it is not easy to get into the legal profession or to break into legal journalism as a career. But I am a firm believer in striving for what you want and if you truly have what it takes and it is your dream to be a legal journalist – you will eventually fulfil your ambition.
Well, firstly, you need to have at least a basic understanding of the law in an academic context, ideally gained through an LLB degree.Without familiarity with case citations, the ability to understand how the law and the judiciary works, and how the law applies in practice, you will not be able to write about legal issues and the legal world coherently. You will also need good research skills which will be developed during your legal studies. And, of course, you must have good writing skills. You must strive for the highest level of grammar and punctuation: without this, a writer loses his or her credibility. And one of the best ways to improve your own writing is to read good quality writing: read the legal press frequently, read legal articles and the judgments passed by the courts.
I qualified and practiced as a solicitor in the UK before leaving to start a family.While practicing, I started writing a book on how to get into the legal profession. I did this because the said information was completely lacking at the time I was studying, and I and my fellow students were effectively treading along in the dark, whilst trying to get training contracts in UK firms. A legal publisher was interested in my proposal, did some market research – and eventually published my book. This was the beginning of my own legal journalism career.
But how can one get into it? I would advice law students to start writing on their own. In the present age of the blogosphere, there is the opportunity, the platform and the audience to self-publish. Start a blog and make sure that it is original! For example, my blog at www.lawcareerblog.com, gives law students, trainee lawyers and other legal ‘bods’ information, advice and insight on current legal issues today. When you are sufficiently satisfied with the level of your legal understanding and writing, submit an article to a legal publisher. Make sure that your topic is original, up-to-date and, where appropriate, try to get a comment on a particular legal issue from a top lawyer in that sector. But be prepared for a rejection. It will happen. Persevere and you will get published eventually.
I highly recommend utilising the social networking sites that are available. I am a great fan of Twitter and I think any law student, aspiring lawyer, legal writer and others working in the legal world should get their own Twitter page. You don’t have to Tweet yourself. But follow regular Tweeters such as the legal press, top law firms, law career organisations and so on, and you will gain valuable information and insight that you may otherwise miss. If a law student from India wishes to know about career insight and information in the UK, he may also choose to follow my tweets at @NicolaLaver.
Finally, carry some research and take advantage of any opportunity to write on legal issues. And one day you just might get published!
M J Antony Legal Correspondent, Business Standard, India
Law students must concentrate on a legal career proper instead of thinking of taking to legal reporting. Legal journalism is a peripheral career, both in law and journalism, and they should not fall between two stools to start with. The avenues are also limited. In Delhi with the Supreme Court High Courts and hundreds of courts and tribunals, there are hardly 20 full time correspondents.
Rana Muhammad Afzal Bureau Chief, Daily Jang/Geo News, RahimYar Khan, Pakistan
Legal journalism is rather new arena and Legal journalists confront lots of challenges. Legal knowledge & knowhow of the legal terms are pivotal for reporting. Without basic legal knowledge, ne can not do justice to the job. Similarly, access to information is another bottle-neck for journalists. The concerned department like police & law enforcement agencies are always reluctant to provide the necessary leaks, even legal ones. Threats from the stakeholders are one of the stigmas, whether they are criminals, gangsters or even the State. Careful and conscious reporting to avoid contempt of court is another yardstick for a legal reporter. It is sometimes difficult to contemplate the thin line of difference between accurate court proceedings, judgment comments & contemptuous reporting.
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