Applications for this job are now closed
The FT’s Professional Services team is looking for a rigorous and entrepreneurial legal correspondent.
The legal correspondent covers the world’s leading law firms and the overall business of the law at a fascinating time. They must be able to build contacts in the legal community and explain developments in the global advisory business with European and US legal firms building a global presence and operating in an increasingly digital and AI economy.
The main topics of the beat include the legal upheaval triggered by Brexit, London's reputation as a haven for "dirty money", which is coming under increasing scrutiny, and the UK's competition authority, a regulator that is finally showing some teeth. Disruption in the legal sector, as traditional law firms are squeezed by technology, new ways of delivering legal services, and aggressive American rivals, is also a key focus.
The role
The job involves reporting on the effects of legal issues on corporate and civic life, the UK’s criminal and civil justice systems, and the evolution of law in areas such as employment, human rights, money laundering, intellectual property and data protection. Lawyers can also provide a vital way into a whole range of big FT corporate stories.
The role suits a dynamic reporter who is comfortable explaining complexity in a simple and engaging way and conveying the importance of big corporate and financial legal cases.
You must also be adept at public speaking as the role involves co-hosting five Innovative Lawyers awards events a year. These combine our eponymous flagship awards and special reports announced at FT live events in London, Hong Kong, New York, and San Francisco.
The legal correspondent is also responsible for writing a weekly newsletter which breaks down the biggest legal stories of the week with incisive analysis, in coordination with the US legal correspondent. The newsletter is a premium product that goes live every Thursday. Link here.
The successful applicant would be encouraged to work closely with other teams and correspondents, including the Investigations team, the Due Diligence team on M&A deals and correspondents in the US network, including the US Legal and Enforcement correspondent.
Weekend shifts are required as part of the team rota.
Key duties:
- Reporting and breaking scoops on big law firms around the world; their strategies and their leading personalities
- Covering regulatory bodies and trends. The Serious Fraud Office and the Competition & Markets Authority; both their investigations and as institutions
- Contributing to Innovative Lawyers, both its reports and events
- Working closely with the US Legal and Enforcement Correspondent and UK-based Law Courts correspondent and forging a co-ordinated approach to coverage
- Demonstrating an interest in reporting across all digital platforms, being proactive in terms of pitches to the Companies desk
- Engaging with the FT’s audience through live events, social media and interactive content
Who we are looking for
- A journalist with a track-record of scoop-getting as well as longer form pieces
- A journalist who can enthusiastically make sources in law firms, across government, within investigative agencies and build an expert profile for themselves.
- A team-player who can work with colleagues across different sectors on contentious stories but who has the initiative to uncover leads independently
- A journalist flexible enough to cover with clarity a wide and busy beat that encompasses white-collar crime to government policy to how much lawyers are earning and diversity in legal practices.
Shorthand is an advantage as the legal correspondent is often required to attend court, in collaboration with the Law Courts correspondent.
Benefits
Our benefits vary depending on location, but we are committed to providing best in class perks across all our offices as well as an inclusive environment to develop your career. Examples of our benefits include; generous annual leave allowances, flexible working (including working from home), medical cover, enhanced maternity & paternity packages, subsidised gym memberships and Giving Back opportunities. Full details of our benefits can be found here.
How we work
Our hybrid setup means staff are expected to come into the office 3 days a week.
Our office is located across the street from St. Paul's Cathedral and is easily accessible from all corners of London. There are the main train terminals such as Liverpool Street, Moorgate, Blackfriars, City Thameslink or Waterloo all situated within walking distance or there are several tube stations within a few mins walk such as Mansion House (District or Circle line), St. Paul's (Central line), Bank (Central or Waterloo & City line) or Barbican (Central, Hammersmith & City or Metropolitan lines).
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace
The FT is committed to providing an inclusive working environment for all. We are an equal opportunities employer who seeks to recruit and appoint the best talent regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We believe that a supportive workplace is one where employees feel they can be themselves at work and have the flexibility they need to meet their personal needs.
Please let us know if you require any adjustments as part of the application process or to enable you to attend an interview. If you would like to discuss your requirements, or have any questions, please contact a member of our HR team who will be happy to help.
