How to Become a Legal Journalist and Cover the Courts
Learn tips on how to cover the court system from NBC News’ senior legal correspondent Laura Jarrett.
From the Supreme Court’s latest set of rulings, including presidential immunity, to other high-profile court cases like actor Alec Baldwin’s dismissed involuntary manslaughter trial, legal news often tops the day’s headlines. But even less-splashy cases are worth covering, as they can affect people's lives and civil rights.
Laura Jarrett, NBC News’ senior legal correspondent and “TODAY” co-host, sat down with NBCU Academy to give tips on how journalists can parse lawsuits, verdicts and crime.
While Jarrett clerked for two federal judges and worked at a law firm before becoming a journalist, she says reporters don’t need a legal background to understand the courts.
“The only essential element in covering the legal beat is to go in with an open mind,” Jarrett said. “The only essential element is to be fair to both sides.”
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Timestamps:
0:00 Covering the Courts
1:04 Understanding Federal and State Courts
2:00 Finding Legal News Sources
3:06 Getting Legal Documents under Embargo
3:35 Interpreting Court Documents
4:15 Tips for Combing Through Legal Documents
4:42 Reporting Gear in Courtrooms
5:15 Electronics in a Courtroom
6:19 Make Connections with Legal Sources
6:53 Remember: Innocent Until Proven Guilty
7:10 Final Tips on Covering the Courts
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