The Gumshoe Group connects freelance investigative reporters with pro-bono attorneys in the pursuit of government records. Lawyers and others in the Gumshoe network can assist not only with possible litigation, but also with helping investigative journalists re-work public records requests for greater impact.

Here’s how it works: If you’re a freelance investigative reporter looking for help with a FOIA-related project, get in touch. There are three means to do that:

• If you’re looking for assistance with a FOIA – whether it’s already been filed or is still being drafted — please fill out this form.
• If your project is sensitive, send an encrypted email via our PGP key with a brief summary of your request. Your message will be held in the strictest confidence.
• If you’re not sure or want to check in without Gumshoe about next steps, email us at contact@gumshoegroup.org.

Gumshoe will evaluate the project, set up a time to talk with you about it, and work to connect you with the right lawyer to help move it forward. If you don’t have a project that’s a good fit right now, but want to stay in touch, subscribe to the Gumshoe newsletter here. If you know of a freelance investigative reporter who may be interested, please feel free to share this email with them.

**Founded by investigative journalists Seth Freed Wessler and Azmat Khan, Gumshoe’s goal is to invest in the FOIA-related work of freelance investigative reporters, who produce brave, time-intensive work that news organizations often can’t undertake, but who also often lack structural support, such as in-house legal counsel.**