The Signals Network Inc. Legal intern Remote · Part time

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About The Signals Network

Transparency and accountability are the guardrails that keep democracy on track. In many cases, the public relies on courageous whistleblowers for knowledge of government and industry malfeasance. But whistleblowers who come forward often face legal, physical, psychological and economic retaliation.

The Signals Network (TSN) is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting whistleblowers who have shared public interest information with the press and public. Founded in 2017 by journalists, whistleblowers, lawyers and entrepreneurs, TSN operates internationally to hold powerful interests accountable.

To support whistleblowers and hold power to account, The Signals Network has developed an end-to-end approach that includes: empowering workers to stand up to power and speak out about wrongdoing; protecting whistleblowers who contribute to published reports of wrongdoing; supporting journalists to investigate wrongdoing; and, advocating for lasting change as a result of whistleblower revelations.

The Signals Network actively supports dozens of whistleblowers globally as they report on wrongdoing and fight for lasting change. These courageous individuals have provided information on the biggest media stories of our time to a range of international media outlets, including Big Tech data violations and government and corporate corruption, #MeToo abuses, political propaganda online, health hazards and more. Their information has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Time, Le Monde, BBC, Der Spiegel, The New Yorker and more. We have coordinated the publication of major investigations through media in the U.S. and across Europe that reached tens of millions of readers. Recently, we provided protections for whistleblowers in Africa as part of a major report in Time magazine on Facebook’s content moderation system, in Europe as part of Uber’s labor practices and lobbying efforts, and in the US as part of Twitter’s business practices. More information is available on our website.

Responsibilities

The Legal Intern will work with the Legal Director and the Whistleblower Protection Team to help advance the organization’s Whistleblower Protection Program. The Intern will be exposed to all aspects of TSN’s work with whistleblowers and thus must be able to operate with the utmost confidentiality and sensitivity.

The intern will:

• Conduct legal, factual and policy research at the national, regional and international levels;
• Draft memoranda and briefings to further progress individual cases;
• Undertake case management with respect to individual whistleblowers;
• Field initial requests for whistleblower support through our whistleblower intake system;
• Participate in meetings related to whistleblower support, including with external counsel & partner organizations;
• Draft and edit educational and case-specific advocacy materials for external audiences;
• Support the Whistleblower Protection Team on specific projects aimed at improving the legal environment for whistleblowers and improving public support for whistleblowers themselves;
• Assist in communications aimed at strengthening whistleblower protection, including engaging and training journalists;
• Assist with administrative, fundraising and reporting tasks as required.

Qualifications

Required

• Autumn/Winter Legal Intern, at a minimum, must be in the process of obtaining a qualification in law, either an LLB, LLM or JD.
• A key qualification of this role is the ability to work sensitively and with the utmost confidentiality.
• Strong legal and non-legal research and writing skills and the ability to work independently are also essential.
• A demonstrable commitment to human rights issues.

Desired

• Experience working directly with clients, especially ones who have been traumatized and are vulnerable.
• Exposure to and/or an interest in working with the media and/or policy makers.
• Experience working with NGOs or small organizations, and with regional or international institutions.

Salary and Benefits:

Unpaid internship. An opportunity to extend the internship is possible and Legal Interns will be prioritized for hiring as openings arise.

Location

Remote work. The team is currently located on the East Coast of U.S. and in Europe. EST is preferred, but West Coast and other time zones will be considered if the candidate can be flexible in terms of working hours.

JEDI

The Signals Network strives for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) and prioritizes these values in our organization, programming, and employment practices. JEDI is at the forefront of our strategy and culture, and we are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, cultures, skills, and experiences, knowing that the more inclusive we are, the more successful we will be. We are an equal opportunity employer.

The Signals Network actively seeks a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. The Signals Network does not discriminate on the basis of disability, age, gender identity and expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or criminal record. We welcome all kinds of diversity.

To Apply

Please apply in Word or PDF (max. 8 MB) as soon as possible. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

Please include:

• A cover letter describing your motivations for wanting to work for TSN;
• A CV/Resume;
• The location where you will be based during the internship;
• Your availability in terms of dates to undertake the internship;