Legal Writer

WRITER EDITOR 3 (004017)

UCPath Position ID: 40044045

Position Description History/Status

For Reference ONLY - PeopleAdmin JA Number:

1124298

Approved Date:

8/6/2025 7:39:50 PM

Date Last Edited:

8/6/2025 7:39:46 PM

Last Action Effective Date:

9/10/2020

Organization Details

Business Unit (Location):

LACMP

Organization Code:

8400O

Organization:

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Division Code:

8410D

Division:

CONTINUING EDUCATION-MISC.

Department:

556000 - CONTINUING EDUCATION OF THE BAR

Position Details

UCPath Position Number:

40044045

Position Description ID

166541

UC Payroll Title:

WRITER EDITOR 3 (004017)

Personnel Program

Professional and Support Staff (PSS)

Salary Grade:

Grade 21

Job Code FLSA:

Exempt

Union Code (Collective Bargaining Unit):

99: Non-Represented (PPSM)

Employee Relations Code:

E: All Others - Not Confidential

Employee Class (Appt Type):

2 - Staff: Career

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

1

SUPERVISION

UCPath Reports to Position Number:

40269177

Reports to Payroll Title:

PUB PROD MGR 1

UCPath Department Head Position Number:

40128838

Department Head Payroll Title:

PUBLICATIONS PROD MGR 2

DIRECTION - Indicates that the incumbent establishes procedures for attaining specific goals and objectives in a broad area of work. Only the final results of work done are typically reviewed. Incumbent typically develops procedures within the limits of established policy guidelines.

POSITION SUMMARY

As part of CEB's current awareness initiative, the legal staff writer will focus on cutting edge legal issues, major court cases and motion rulings, emerging legal trends, and important news about California courts, lawyers, judges, and other California legal professionals. Successful candidates will be committed to quality writing for a demanding and sophisticated legal audience, in the form of both free and paid content, including daily law alerts, blog posts, and more in-depth articles. We are seeking a writer who loves developing and talking to sources, understands legal materials and the legal industry, and can make legal content and complex analysis straightforward and engaging.

Writer

1) The staff legal journalist’s scope of coverage will include California’s state appellate courts, the California Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, California federal courts, the State Bar of California, the California Judicial Council, and the California legal profession. The journalist in this role will receive assignments from the managing editor and will also pitch their own story ideas. 2) The journalist will write 5-8 short-form news stories per week. The journalist will write one longform enterprise story per month, and will also produce one Q&A or CEB contributor spotlight per month.

75%

Source Development

1) Develop relationships with staff attorneys to understand and stay up-to-date in different practice areas. 2) Monitor public news sites, daily case feeds, blogs, and other legal news sources for industry trends and developments. 3) Develop and maintain network of sources among California lawyers, judges, court staff, law schools, bar associations and other legal professionals. 4) Coordinate with the CEB Newsroom’s freelance writers to generate story ideas and develop sources.

20%

Editor

Occasionally provide editorial support to the managing editor.

5%

•

Performs other duties as assigned.

•

Complies with all policies and standards.

•

Complies with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Principles of Community.

•

This position description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's Degree

in journalism, communication, English, or other related field

or equivalent combination of education, experience / training

Required

Superb research and writing skills

Required

Ability to maintain an ethical, honest, and objective standard in writing and

reporting

Required

Disciplined, with strong time management skills

Required

Ability to write clearly, engagingly, and authoritatively on a deadline.

Required

Ability to establish and nurture relationships with lawyers, judges, and

lawmakers

Required

Ability to comprehend and analyze legal documents and content - Required

Flexible, creative, adaptable, and self-driven

Required

Ability to juggle a stream of daily stories, while simultaneously writing and

developing more in-depth and complex stories with sophisticated analysis

Required

Excellent copyediting skills

Required

Superb interpersonal communication skills; a team player and strong

collaborator

Required

Strong understanding of the California legal industry

Required

2-3 years' news experience, with legal and/or business journalism experience

Preferred

Minimum 2-3 years' experience with the California legal industry

Preferred

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.

Age Requirement: Candidate(s) must be 18 years or older to be eligible to be hired.

LOCATION AND PHYSICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, MENTAL (PEM) REQUIREMENTS

Environment and Work Location Information

Environment Type:

Non-Clinical Setting

Location Setting:

Non-University Setting(s)

Location:

Remote

Standing/Walking

X

Sitting

X

Bending/Stooping

X

Squatting/Kneeling

X

Climbing

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 0-25 lbs

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 26-50 lbs

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull over 50 lbs

X

Physical requirements other

X

Chemicals, dust, gases, or fumes

X

Loud noise levels

X

Marked changes in humidity or temperature

X

Microwave/Radiation

X

Operating motor vehicles and/or equipment

X

Exposures other

X

Sustained attention and concentration

X

Complex problem solving/reasoning

X

Ability to organize & prioritize

X

Communication skills

X

Numerical Skills

X

Mental demands other

X

X

Classification 3:  Position in which exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues is not part of the position description. The normal routine task involves no exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues and the employee can decline to perform tasks which involve a perceived risk without retribution.