Most of us will never know what happens inside the hallowed courtroom doors, where pathbreaking and trailblazing decisions redefining rights and reshaping policies are made. Reporting these happenings is a way for us to grasp the happenings with clarity.
It is here that legal journalists play a crucial role. Legal journalism essentially refers to reporting on legal matters, including legal policies, court proceedings, regulations and law enforcement activities. Legal journalists work across various media such as magazines, newspapers, TV stations or even online news portals.
Who is a legal journalist? What is their role?
A legal journalist works at the intersection of journalism and law and has the power to educate the public on law matters. They are responsible for simplifying complex legal decisions and developments and must explain legal jargon in a precise and credible manner.
They play a vital role in keeping the judicial system transparent and creating awareness among the general public on important legal happenings and changes. They may cover any legal issue, ranging from the Supreme Court judgements or parliamentary bills to high-profile trials or corporate law disputes.
What are the responsibilities of a legal journalist?
The following are the roles and responsibilities of a legal journalist:
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Case reporting: They must participate in court hearings and publish reports on court verdicts, proceedings and judgements. They must be able to comprehend legal matters clearly and present them in a lucid and logical way, so that they are easily understood by the readers.
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Legal research and analysis: Law is a field that is research-intensive, owing to the nature of the subjects. A legal journalist is accountable for presenting facts accurately and must minimise the risk of misinterpretation. They must study laws and legal precedents for the same.
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Expert interviews: While research is important, another method of gaining more insights on important judgements and verdicts is by interviewing subject matter experts such as lawyers, judges or even policymakers and legal scholars and learning from their perspectives.
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Tracking legislation: They must constantly monitor and report on new bills, amendments and government policies, while grasping the legal nuances and maintaining a neutral stance.
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Legal awareness: They must break down complex legal matters into simple components that can easily be consumed by the interested members of the public.
What are the skills required to become a legal journalist?
Besides the formal education aspect, the following are the tangible skills required for a legal journalist:
- Strong legal knowledge
- Curiosity
- Writing skills
- Communication skills
- Ability to perform research
- Investigative skills
- Ethics
- Interviewing skills
What are the associated entrance exams?
For aspiring legal journalists, academic paths include degrees in law, journalism or mass communication. At the undergraduate level, law programmes require entrance exams such as CLAT, AILET and various state-level law entrance tests, while journalism and media degrees may require CUET, IIMC Entrance exam, GMCET and other university-specific exams.
At the postgraduate level, candidates can pursue LLM, MA in Journalism or interdisciplinary law-media programmes, with entrance exams like CLAT-PG and CUET-PG. Those aiming to study abroad at the UG level may need LSAT (for the US, Canada, Australia) or LNAT (for the UK and other countries). At the PG level, they may need LSAT/LNAT or GRE. Across all levels, IELTS or TOEFL is generally required as proof of English language proficiency by international universities.
What is the growth trajectory in this field?
The career progression in legal journalism typically moves from reporting support roles to editorial leadership and domain authority. The hierarchy generally unfolds as follows:
Entry-level legal reporter (0-2 years of experience)
This is the starting point in legal journalism. Your work usually involves tracking court proceedings, summarising judgments, monitoring legal developments, assisting senior reporters and writing short news pieces. At this stage, you focus on understanding legal terminology, court procedures and ethics.
Legal journalist (3-7 years of experience)
At this level, you begin reporting independently. Responsibilities include covering specific courts, interviewing lawyers and academics, writing detailed case analyses and producing explanatory or background pieces on laws and policies. You may also start developing a niche, such as constitutional law, corporate law or criminal justice.
Senior legal journalist (8-10+ years of experience)
By this stage, you are considered a subject-matter specialist. You lead coverage on complex or high-profile cases, uncover original stories, contribute opinion or long-form analytical pieces and mentor junior reporters. You may influence editorial direction on legal coverage and represent the publication in panels or discussions.
What is the expected salary in this field?
An entry-level legal journalist can expect an annual salary in the range of INR 4-5 lakhs, which increases to around INR 8-9 lakhs as you gain experience. At the senior level, experienced legal journalists, correspondents, or editors can expect salaries of INR 12-19 lakhs or more, depending on the organisation and the nature of their role. Currently, there are approximately 35-40 job opportunities across the country for legal journalists in digital media platforms, newspapers, and specialised legal publications.
In terms of USD, your starting pay will typically fall in the range of USD 50k-60k annually. A senior professional working with international media organisations or policy-focused publications may earn around USD 100k to 150k annually.
Legal journalists are commonly employed by organisations such as Live Law, Bar and Bench, The Hindu, Reuters, Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal.
Who are the leading figures in legal journalism?
The most notable personalities in this field include Mr Dhananjay Mahapatra, Mr Krishnadas Rajagopal and Ms Sukanya Shantha, who have played a significant role in strengthening court reporting and legal analysis in India.
Prominent legal journalists across the world include Mr Adam Liptak, Ms Dahlia Lithwick and Ms Emily Bazelon. These legal journalists have contributed to impactful reporting, shaped public understanding of complex legal issues, and influenced how law, justice, and constitutional values are discussed in the public domain.
Legal journalism strengthens democratic processes by making the legal system more accessible and understandable to the public. As legal frameworks evolve, the demand for ethical and accurate reporting also rises. This is a very suitable career choice if you are interested in law, storytelling and public affairs, alongside promoting the principles of justice and law.
