Associate Legal Advisor

International Bar Association; London; On-site; GBP 40,000; Full time

Job description

Location: London
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full time
Salary: £40,000 per annum.

The Role

Our client is seeking a legal professional with experience in international criminal law/international humanitarian law who also has strong interpersonal skills and a genuine interest in outreach, training, relationship-building and capacity strengthening.

While working on legal accountability strategies is a key component of this role, this position equally involves engaging with civil society partners, training frontline documenters, and strengthening networks that support accountability.

You should be comfortable moving between legal analysis and strategic litigation work and collaborating with human rights organisations. This position is ideal for someone who therefore values both legal impact and direct engagement with frontline partners.

The ideal candidate will have a litigation background with experience at an international tribunal or in human rights-focused litigation and strong communication skills to engage with partners in the field.

Accountability and Legal Strategy

• Analysing photo and video evidence to assess its potential for legal action.
• Researching and identifying strategic avenues for pursuing justice at national and international levels.
• Working in consortium with local activists, victims’ lawyers and litigation NGOs to bring justice for core international crimes and other human rights abuses, including cooperating with domestic law enforcement and international mechanisms (such as the UN and the ICC). Developing relationships with entities within relevant jurisdictions and/or UN bodies regarding possible collaborations with our client.

Outreach, Relationship-Building & Training

• Developing and maintaining partnerships with human rights organisations documenting atrocities.
• Developing and delivering field-based trainings for partner organisations and provide follow-up guidance as needed.
• Representing the organisation at conferences, working groups, and in discussions with civil society, international institutions, and legal bodies.
• Developing and updating training materials.

Additional Considerations

Candidates should be prepared to:

• Review graphic content related to atrocity crimes.
• Travel internationally, including to countries where the security situation may be unstable.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience Required:

• First level university degree in law
• Advanced degree in criminal law, international criminal law, international humanitarian law, or international human rights law (desirable)
• Minimum of three years’ experience in conducting criminal and/or human rights investigations, building cases and drafting submissions, and identifying and pursuing legal avenues for justice at national and international levels.
• Strong understanding of international criminal law, evidence standards, and justice mechanisms (national, regional, and international).
• Experience working with digital evidence, particularly photo and video, user generated content and open-source materials in legal proceedings (desirable).
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to represent our client externally and explain legal concepts to diverse audiences.
• Experience training and engaging with civil society organisations on documentation and legal accountability.
• Experience developing partnerships and collaborating with external stakeholders (lawyers, activists, NGOs, investigators, etc.).
• Project management skills, including designing and implementing legal accountability initiatives.
• Experience working in a fast-moving and responsive environment - able to work independently, manage multiple responsibilities/priorities, and adapt to changing circumstances/ adjusting priorities at short notice.
• Experience working with international accountability mechanisms, such as the ICC, UN bodies, or universal jurisdiction cases.
• Experience working with databases; strong IT skills; knowledge of Excel. Knowledge of languages other than English, in particular Arabic (highly desirable).

How to apply Please send your CV with a covering letter (including stating where you saw the advertisement) and provide a brief example (max 300 words) of a litigation case or investigation where you played a leading role.

The closing date for applications is 22 April 2025 at 23:59 (London time). Interviews may be conducted on a rolling basis.

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