Career Center

NALP is seeking a dynamic individual to serve as Editor-in-Chief and Director of Communications.  NALP is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit legal educational association with a staff of 12 full-time professionals. 

Introduction

Our staff are driven by their shared passion for making our members experts and leaders in the law schools, law firms, agencies, and organizations they serve. 

Benjamin Dreyer, the managing editor and copy chief for Random House, recently wrote that the job of a copy editor is not to rewrite, bully, or flatten a piece, or to turn it into some notion of Correct Prose, “but to burnish and polish it and make it the best possible version of itself that it can be — to make it read even more like itself than it did when I got to work on it…. Copyediting is a knack. It requires a good ear for how language sounds and a good eye for how it manifests itself on the page; it demands an ability to listen to what writers are attempting to do and, hopefully and helpfully, the means to augment it. One can, and certainly should, study the subject, if one is to do this sort of work professionally.... But I do think that it’s a craft whose knowledge can only be built on some mysterious predisposition. (The one thing I know that most copy editors have in common is that they were all early readers and spent much of their childhood with their noses buried in books.)” 

If this passage resonates with you, then we hope you will apply for this position!

Job Description

NALP’s Editor-in-Chief and Director of Communications is a member of the Communications Team and is responsible for the editing, publishing, and production of NALP’s communications in all media forms — digital and print — and assumes collaborative responsibility for the work and work product of NALP volunteer groups and authors.  The person holding this position has responsibility for all aspects of producing the association’s monthly member magazine, signature research reports, and all marketing and promotional copy, including materials that support the association’s conferences and educational programming.

Performance Expectations — Content and Responsibilities of the Position:

NALP Publications

• Assumes responsibility for the overall development, design, and editorial production of the association’s publications including the monthly NALP Bulletin+ (including PD Quarterly articles), research reports, books, and other resources.
  • For the NALP Bulletin+, the Editor:
    • Drafts production schedules
    • Schedules articles and communicates regularly with authors (reminders, questions, editorial concerns, sharing of edited copy etc.)
    • Responds to article proposals, coordinating review as appropriate
    • Maintains editorial and advertising calendars
    • Works with senior staff to identify any editorial gaps and recruit authors if needed
    • Takes the lead in generating and pursuing professional development (PD) content ideas with the PD Quarterly Advisory Group and Executive Director
    • Edits draft copy of all articles
    • Prepares instructions for designer (Publications Manager) and reviews page proofs
    • Prepares distribution instructions (including for the email notification) for the digital edition provider
    • Prepares Word files for mobile phone edition
    • Manages digital edition production (including uploading files to printer and the e-publication vendor, obtaining distribution lists internally, checking suppliers’ proofs, etc.)
    • Lays out web archive versions of the articles and posts them to the web archive
    • Prepares research columns for another staff member to post on our website
    • Sends thank you notes and final PDFs of articles to authors
• With Executive Director, participates in acquisition activities, including review of publication proposals, manuscripts, and proposed publishing partnerships
• Serves as primary liaison and resource to authors
• Provides oversight for contractual agreements for published works
• Obtains bids and coordinates production schedules of vendors
• Develops distribution strategies and oversees distribution of publications as appropriate
• Directs work of freelance writers/editors and graphic designers
• Writes original content for print and web resources
• Collaborates with Communications Team to provide editorial support for NALPnow!, a biweekly electronic newsletter for members and the NALP Industry News Digest, a weekly compilation of relevant news stories
• Participates in the review and development of marketing tools and strategies for all association initiatives (publications, research, technology, educational programming, and the marketing of memberships and member services)
• Oversees the content of the NALP bookstore
• Monitors publication line items in the NALP budget and assists with publication budget projections      

Marketing     

• Participates in the review and development of marketing tools and strategies for all association initiatives (publications, research, technology, educational programming, and the marketing of memberships and member services)
• Assists in developing and implementing social media campaigns for resources, services, and events
• Oversees marketing of products in the NALP bookstore (including featuring books on the NALP website and other forms of marketing)
• Provides editorial and writing support for NALP marketing campaigns, including membership, conferences, and publications 

Member Services

• Provides responses to member inquiries and requests
• Provides editorial support and guidance for member authors
• Provides professional advice about writing, publishing, and related topics to members as well as staff
• Participates in the Communications Advisory Group
• Provides publishing support to NALP sections and other work groups, including advice on the most appropriate publishing strategies for a specific resource or communication need (e.g., whether to publish in print, on the NALP website, or through other media; whether to communicate through the NALP Bulletin+, NALPnow!, NALPconnect, etc.) as well as editing and formatting support as needed
• Oversees and assists with requests for reprint permission

To apply, submit a resume, a list of three references, and a cover letter indicating requested salary by email (info@nalp.org) to:

Fred Thrasher, Deputy Director
NALP
1220 19th Street, NW, Suite 510
Washington, DC  20036
info@nalp.org

In your e-mail application, please put ‘Editor’ in the subject field.  Review of credentials and interviewing will begin immediately.  Benefits include fully paid employee medical and dental insurance coverage, paid holidays, sick leave, vacation, and a retirement plan.  Position is available immediately.

Position requirements:

• demonstrated excellent and advanced writing, editing, and proofreading skills;
• the ability to consistently identify, calendar, and meet both internal and external schedules to facilitate production and dissemination of publications;
• familiarity with publication layout software, including layout of copy involving extensive tables; experience with Adobe Creative Suite (particularly InDesign and Illustrator, with knowledge of Dreamweaver and Photoshop a plus) and Acrobat;
• knowledge of production processes for both print and digital publishing, including a general knowledge of HTML and web graphics, as well as experience working with a CMS;
• extensive knowledge of the field in which NALP members work or a commitment to learning the field combined with demonstrated experience in gaining in-depth knowledge of a specific industry;
• demonstrated ability to undertake successful negotiation with potential authors and publishing-related vendors; experience in print buying is a plus;
• excellent interpersonal communication skills — both to work collaboratively in a collegial environment and to work with members;
• bachelor’s degree required, and legal industry experience is a plus;
• the ability to help project and monitor publication budgets;
• some travel required.

The Editor-in-Chief and Director of Communications also assists in the coordination of the work of volunteer or consulting authors and supports section- and committee-level initiatives as they relate to publications. The Editor-in-Chief and Director of Communications collaborates with senior-level staff to devise and disseminate internal and external communications to members and the public and serves as an information resource to members.

This position reports to and is evaluated by the Senior Director of Member Professional Development, Communications, and Research, as well as the Deputy Director and Executive Director, and interacts collaboratively with all other staff. Work project sources include Executive and Deputy Directors, other NALP staff members, volunteer working groups, Board, Officers, and outside authors.

NALP’s Editor-in-Chief and Director of Communications works in close collaboration with all senior staff, yet also works independently and with self-direction, handling multiple tasks and deadlines. The editor maintains positive working relationships with supervisors, co-workers, and members, and observes the confidentiality of organizational and association matters.

To apply, submit a resume, a list of three references, and a cover letter indicating requested salary by email (info@nalp.org) to:

Fred Thrasher, Deputy Director
NALP
1220 19th Street, NW, Suite 510
Washington, DC  20036
info@nalp.org

In your e-mail application, please put ‘Editor’ in the subject field.  Review of credentials and interviewing will begin immediately.  Benefits include fully paid employee medical and dental insurance coverage, paid holidays, sick leave, vacation, and a retirement plan.  Position is available immediately.