Legal Codification Editor

Description

Please include a cover letter

Department: Operations

Location: Rochester, NY

Reports To: Editorial Team Manager

FLSA Code: Non-Exempt

Company Summary: The International Code Council is the leading global source of model codes, standards, and building safety solutions. This includes product evaluation, accreditation, technology, training, and certification. ICC Codes, Standards, and solutions are used to ensure safe, affordable, and sustainable communities and buildings worldwide. While our roots are firmly planted in the development of the Codes and Standards, our growth allows us to offer many more services to support our Codes and Standards. 

Subsidiary Summary: General Code is the nation’s leading provider of Municipal Code publishing and maintenance services (codification). Our passion for excellence, our focus on client service, and an ongoing investment in our people and technology have helped us to revolutionize the codification industry. General Code offers challenging work in a diverse, flexible, supportive environment where an appropriate work-life balance is emphasized. The successful applicant for this position will demonstrate keen desire to have a meaningful impact in a values-based, team-oriented business environment.

Why Join Us?

In this role, you will help local governments maintain accurate, organized, and accessible laws that support public transparency and effective governance. You will apply analytical thinking, editorial expertise, and project management skills to solve complex challenges while working closely with clients and a collaborative team of professionals.

Position Summary

We are seeking a detail-oriented Legal Codification Editor to analyze, organize, and edit municipal legislation for incorporation into municipal codes and related legal publications. 

This role combines analytical review, editorial expertise, project management, and client collaboration. The successful candidate will work directly with municipal clients to review legislative changes, identify and resolve inconsistencies, maintain legal accuracy, and prepare high-quality publications that serve as authoritative resources for local governments and their communities. 

This position is ideal for individuals who enjoy analytical reading, solving complex organizational challenges, reviewing legal language, and ensuring information is accurate, clear, and accessible. 

Key Responsibilities

Legislative Analysis and Codification

• Analyze legislation and its impact on municipal codes and related publications. 
• Review legislation for completeness, consistency, clarity, and proper organization. 
• Identify conflicts, duplications, obsolete provisions, and missing information. 
• Determine appropriate placement of legislative content within existing code structures. 
• Incorporate new legislation and amendments into municipal codes. 
• Compare legislation with statutes, regulations, and existing code provisions to identify issues requiring clarification or further review. 
• Research and work with clients to resolve questions regarding legislative intent, organization, and implementation. 

Editorial Review and Quality Assurance

• Edit and copyedit legislative content for style, grammar, clarity, consistency, and accuracy. 
• Create and revise chapter, article, and section titles. 
• Review and update statutory citations and legal references. 
• Verify and maintain accurate cross-references throughout publications. 
• Prepare editor's notes, historical annotations, and supporting documentation. 
• Ensure accuracy of amendment insertion, legislative histories, and publication records. 
• Identify missing legislation, missing wording, incorrect citations, and other content issues. 

Client and Project Management

• Work directly with municipal clients to clarify project requirements and deliverables. 
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting established deadlines and quality standards. 
• Communicate project status, schedules, questions, and recommendations to clients and internal stakeholders. 
• Follow up on outstanding materials and client decisions to keep projects moving forward. 
• Resolve project-related issues and recommend practical solutions. 

Publication Preparation

• Review and finalize tables of contents, disposition records, derivation tables, and related publication materials. 
• Prepare and update adopting ordinances and supporting documents.
  Implement approved client decisions and maintain records of substantive revisions. 
• Finalize manuscripts and related materials for publication. 

Collaboration

• Work closely with team members through editorial, production, customer support, and publishing functions. 
• Provide clear instructions and guidance to support staff involved in project execution. 
• Participate in discussions focused on quality improvement, workflow efficiency, and editorial standards. 

Secondary Functions:

• The ability to comprehend and analyze complex legal and legislative documents. 
• Strong editorial judgment and problem-solving skills. 
• The ability to identify inconsistencies, conflicts, and gaps in information. 
• A commitment to accuracy and quality. 
• Strong customer service and relationship management skills. 
• The ability to assimilate, retain, and apply complex information across multiple projects. 
• A willingness to learn new technologies, workflows, and editorial standards. 

Requirements

Essential Skills and Education/Experience

Required

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience. 
• Strong reading comprehension and analytical reasoning skills. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy. 
• Strong organizational and project management skills. 
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and standard business software. 
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a team environment. 

Preferred 

• Experience editing, analyzing, reviewing, or organizing legal, legislative, regulatory, technical, or policy documents. 
• Experience working with municipal government, legal publishing, legal research, law, public administration, planning, or related fields. 
• Experience managing client-facing projects. 

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit for extended periods while working at a computer or desk 
• Occasional standing, walking, and reaching to access files or office supplies 
• Manual dexterity for typing, filing, and handling office equipment 
• Ability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds occasionally (e.g., office supplies, documents) 
• Visual acuity to read printed and digital materials 
• Auditory ability to communicate effectively in person and over the phone 
• May need to climb stairs in multi-level office building 

Environmental Conditions

• Indoor environment
• Must be able to work in standard office environment with artificial lighting and climate control
  

Successful Candidates Will Demonstrate:

• The ability to comprehend and analyze legal and legislative documents.
• Strong editorial judgment and problem-solving skills. 
• The ability to identify inconsistencies, conflicts, and gaps in information. 
• A commitment to accuracy and quality. 
• Strong customer service and relationship management skills. 
• The ability to assimilate, retain, and apply complex information across multiple projects. 
• A willingness to learn new technologies, workflows, and editorial standards.