Ukraine Legal Adviser (Consultant)
LAW is an independent, non-profit organisation comprised of human rights lawyers and jurists working in fragile and conflict affected areas in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. LAW has a particular focus on gender equality and sexual and gender-based violence, the rule of law and accountability and transformative justice – working to bring justice to those who need it most.
LAW’s portfolio includes multiple ground-breaking cases, which utilise creative legal strategies on behalf of victims and survivors from some of the most challenging contexts, representing more than 1000 clients. LAW’s ground-breaking work has received international media coverage, including in the New York Times, the Times of London, the Guardian, Al-Jazeera, BBC News, France24, The Independent, Voice of America, Huffington Post and Foreign Policy, amongst others.
LAW’s new Ukraine program supports the delivery of justice to survivors of international crimes, including through trauma-informed investigations and case-building to prepare cases to be brought to UN Treaty Bodies and in domestic courts under principles of universal jurisdiction. LAW currently works with a consortium of experienced Ukrainian and international NGOs to deliver results for survivors.
Overview
LAW seeks an external expert to support LAW’s Ukraine Programme with developing case files to be submitted to prosecutors under the principle of universal jurisdiction. We invite consultants with expertise to join our panel of roster on a framework agreement.
Position Description
Reports to: Programme Manager for individual assignments
Duration: 12 months framework agreement, renewable subject to performance and funding
Location: Flexible – Remote or Kyiv, Ukraine. Travel may be required depending on assignment
Hours: Flexible /Part-time
Rates: Competitive daily rates apply
Key Deliverables:
The Consultant will perform a range of activities, which may include any or all of the following:
1. Conduct legal research related to universal jurisdiction cases developed by LAW.
2. Prepare clear and concise analytical summaries of research findings. These reports will be integrated into case files, inform other evidence gathering processes, and serve as the basis for advocacy efforts.
2. Identify and analyze potential jurisdictions suitable for filing a universal jurisdiction case, taking into account other forthcoming Ukraine-related universal jurisdiction filings and existing universal jurisdiction caseloads in various jurisdictions.
3. Liase with LAW’s NGO partners and other external researchers assisting with the case, including coordinating among groups that are interested in co-filing the case.
Qualifications and Experience Required:
- Masters degree in law, specializiation in international law preferred.
- Minimum of five years demonstrated experience with using universal jurisdiction principles to promote accountability for atrocity crimes and human rights violations
- Track record and proven experience researching and developing novel legal arguments is preferred.
- Ability to determine the credibility, value, significance, and relevance of information from diverse and voluminous data sources to produce clear, concise, and timely analytic products.
- Excellent written and oral communication in English; fluent in written and oral Ukrainian; knowledge of Russian is preferred.
- Extensive knowledge of the context and day-to-day events of Russia’s war in Ukraine; knowledge of the political or military context in Russia is a plus.
- Experience implementing a survivor-centered, trauma-informed approach to investigations and litigation.
- Familiarity with the volatile and unpredictable nature of working in conflict environments.
How to apply
We will review applications on a rolling basis and may close application early if suitable candidates are identified.
To apply, please click on this link: Legal Adviser – Ukraine
Your application should include a CV, list of past clients for whom the most closely related work was conducted, and your consultancy rate (daily in USD)
At LAW, we are strengthened by the diversity of our colleagues, reflecting the people and communities that we represent and support. Our team includes many nationalities with diverse professional backgrounds, skills and knowledge. This enables us to deliver and understand the cultural and political contexts on the ground and to tailor our support effectively and appropriately.
To learn more about LAW, please visit our website: www.legalactionworldwide.org.