Although the preferred job location is Bangkok, Thailand (Hybrid), remote work is possible for candidates with the legal right to work in their country, provided the location aligns with the organization’s operational and budgetary considerations.
Start date: March 2025
Note: Actual hiring is contingent upon funding approval
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) is a worldwide organization of judges and lawyers united in affirming international law and rule of law principles that advance human rights. Its strategic goals for 2021-2025 are: (1) to develop, defend, and strengthen international institutions, instruments, and standards on rule of law and human rights; (2) to improve domestic implementation of, and compliance with, international law and standards; (3) to bolster the effectiveness and independence of judges and lawyers; and (4) to improve access to justice for all and accountability. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, ICJ has a presence in Africa, Latin America, Asia & the Pacific, Europe & Central Asia, and the Middle East.
To lead the implementation of the ICJ’s work on human rights in the digital space at the global and regional levels, we are seeking a full-time Legal Adviser. Key requirements for this role include expertise and working experience related to human rights in the digital space, excellent legal skills and sound political judgment, and proven ability to develop and carry out legal advocacy strategies.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting directly to the Senior Director, Legal and Policy Office, the Legal Adviser is expected to:
• Provide leadership and contribute to the design and implementation of ICJ work related to human rights in the digital space, including the work at the country, regional and global levels;
• Lead and implement work on a global project aimed at developing policy and legal action on protecting human rights in the digital civic space;
• Implement the programme work on human rights in digital space in a way that advances the strategic directions of the ICJ.
Programme implementation:
- Lead the implementation of ICJ’s work on the thematic of human rights in the digital space.
- In collaboration with the ICJ’s project partners, help implement a project on policy and legal action protecting human rights in the digital civic space, including by:
- carrying out substantive research
- providing legal analysis and input toward the development of critical legal and policy output
- help to coordinate and organize project activities
- leading the convening of an Asian-Pacific regional workshop on human rights in the digital space for continuous engagement
- Co-organizing and participating in other regional and global workshops, both in person and online
- Carrying out legal advocacy and interventions on human rights in the digital space based on project outputs
- Contribute to the development of programme and budget planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting on human rights in the digital space.
- Actively maintain supportive working relations and seek opportunities for joint work with the staff of other regional programmes and the Legal and Policy Office.
- Monitor legal developments on human rights in the digital space relevant to the programme’s priorities.
- Lead drafting of institutional reports on the thematic of human rights in the digital space.
Representation and missions:
- As agreed with the Senior LPO Director and the International Advocacy Director, represent the ICJ at bilateral and multilateral institutions and events globally on the thematic area of human rights in the digital space, and in engagements with tech companies, institutions, State representatives, jurists, academic institutions, human rights defenders, NGOs and victim groups.
Relationships:
- Maintain and foster relationships with human rights defenders, local and international civil society, the legal profession, the judiciary, other State institutions and tech companies in relation to ICJ’s body of work on human rights in the digital space.
Media and communications:
- In conjunction with the ICJ media and communications team, implement the ICJ’s communication policies on human rights in the digital space, by engaging with the media and contributing to the development of the ICJ’s media strategy.
Support other ICJ programmes and projects:
- Actively maintain supportive working relations and seek opportunities for joint work with the staff in all parts of the ICJ in the areas under the SLA’s responsibility by advising on their areas of work and supporting them in their regions, where appropriate.
Publication Review:
- Conduct a review of the work products of ICJ colleagues, when requested, relating to issues of human rights in the digital space.
Fundraising:
- Contribute to fundraising, including through development and writing of project proposals, identification of funding opportunities and developing and maintaining contacts with donors.
- Carry out the overall management of projects assigned by the LPO Senior Director and ensure the meeting of the project’s goals.
Other Responsibilities:
- Carry out other, appropriate responsibilities as requested by the Senior LPO Director and substitute for other Programme staff including the Director in their absence as necessary.
REQUIREMENTS
- University degree in law with advanced studies in international human rights law.
- Proven experience working in the area of international human rights law.
- Expertise and working experience related to human rights in the digital space, including in the areas of freedom of expression, right to privacy, non-discrimination and equality, sexual and gender-based violence, and human rights and businesses enterprises.
- Excellent legal skills and sound political judgment and proven ability to develop and carry out legal advocacy strategies.
- Advanced expertise in general international human rights law
- Practical legal and advocacy experience on the implementation of international human rights standards; litigation experience desirable.
- English native speaker level; knowledge of Spanish, French, and/or Arabic an asset.
- Demonstrated analytic and writing ability, including substantial report-writing experience;
- Excellent written and oral communication skills;
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a multi-cultural team;
- Demonstrated commitment to human rights and the rule of law;
- Availability to start in March 2025 is required.
How to apply
Interested applicants should provide the materials outlined below to [email protected] by 16 February 2025, midnight Central European Time (CET). Early applications are encouraged as they will be reviewed on a rolling basis, the ICJ reserves the right to close this vacancy earlier if a sufficient number of quality applications has been received.
- A CV (maximum 2 pages);
- A cover letter;
- Application form filled out.
Please include “Legal Adviser HRDS” in the subject line of the application e-mail.
Only candidates with an existing right to work in the work location will be considered.
Foreseen dates for the recruitment steps (including a written test and interview): 17 to 28 February.
Please appreciate that due to the volume of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
The ICJ is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity and values a diverse workforce. The ICJ’s policy is to practice a fair and non-discriminatory recruitment and selection procedure and to strive for and maintain international and multi-cultural personnel.
Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.
ICJ staff must adhere to its Code of Ethics which states that discrimination, bullying and harassment in any form will not be tolerated, nor sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment in any form. The successful candidate will be required to pass a background check.
ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE: Applicants with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process may send their requests through an email to [email protected], or call +41 229 793 833.