Legal Advisor- Reparations, REDRESS

Job Profile: Legal Advisor- Reparations, REDRESS

REDRESS is recruiting a Legal Advisor to manage our Reparations programme. We are seeking applications from senior lawyers with significant experience in the practice of human rights law to join the small team of senior lawyers at REDRESS.

Position Profile

REDRESS is seeking a Legal Advisor to oversee and manage our reparations work. The successful candidate will be an experienced human rights lawyer with team management and project management experience. The role will include strategic litigation, but also delivering legal policy and managing projects, and relevant experience will be essential.

The role includes promoting Magnitsky Sanctions in the UK and advocating for law reform, which means that experience in UK law and policy is a distinct advantage. The main responsibilities of the role are:

• Overseeing REDRESS’ work relating to Reparation.
• Managing a team of 5-6 legal officers and legal fellows delivering projects.
• Strategic litigation relating to reparation.
• Preparing Magnitsky sanctions submissions, and training and policy work on sanctions.
• Developing cases to recover the assets of perpetrators on behalf of survivors.
• Policy advocacy relating to implementation of human rights decisions and law reform.
• Project management of large multi-year projects.
• Representing REDRESS at high-level meetings with government, members of parliament, NGO coalitions, and on panels and media, as required.

General Responsibilities

The position will contribute to the work of REDRESS as follows:

• Legal Advice and Representation. Conduct strategic litigation on behalf of clients of REDRESS and partners, through (where necessary) client care, legal and factual research, interviewing witnesses, conducting documentation, evidential analysis, and drafting of submissions.
• Legal Advocacy. Conduct policy analysis and policy advocacy in support of the strategic objectives of REDRESS. Work with partners to advocate for legal and institutional reforms or to address systemic challenges. Draft reports, prepare submissions, and advocate to relevant stakeholders in national, regional, and international fora.
• Professional Responsibility. Maintain the highest ethical standards, including for direct representation of clients, and case management.
• Project Management. Develop, oversee, and deliver innovative and effective projects that further the strategic objectives of the organization. Contribute to the drafting of funding proposals, prepare and oversee budgets, and report on projects to donors and the board.
• Work collaboratively with other legal and programme staff. Supervise Legal Officers, junior project staff, and interns.
• Design and deliver training programs for specific projects where needed.
• Foster relations with existing and potential new partners and counterparts around the world on ongoing litigation, advocacy, training, and policy initiatives.
• Representing REDRESS. Contribute to the wider needs of the organization, including communicating REDRESS’ work to a wide array of audiences.

The position is also expected to carry out such further duties as may reasonably be required from time to time by REDRESS.

Person Specification

This is an experienced position, and so we expect candidates to have significant relevant experience.

Essential Competencies

The successful candidate will need to have the following essential competencies:

• At least seven years relevant post-qualification professional experience.
• Advanced degree specialised in international law or human rights law, or equivalent experience.
• Licensed to practice law through bar membership or the equivalent.
• Proficiency in international law and human rights, with knowledge of international criminal law, the law of torture, the rights of victims, or reparations.
• Demonstrated excellence in legal and non-legal writing and editing.
• Experience in human rights litigation at a national, regional, or international level.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically, and to develop plans for effective delivery of strategic goals.
• Demonstrated experience developing, budgeting, and implementing legal projects involving international partners.
• Experience working with NGOs and other stakeholders globally, and with regional or international institutions.
• Experience conducting legal policy advocacy at a national, regional, or international level.
• Experience working with survivors of torture or other serious human rights violations.
• Experience in public speaking to a variety of audiences.
• Experience managing junior staff, interns, and volunteers.
• Fluency in written and oral English, with skills in a second language highly desirable, in particular French or Spanish.
• Willingness to undertake frequent travel, including to countries with a history of systematic and severe human rights abuses.
• Literacy in social media in a professional environment (primarily Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook).

Desirable Competencies

A strong candidate will also have other desirable competencies:

• Experience in UK law and policy.
• A strong understanding of or experience in reparations, including the delivery of reparations and the law on reparations.
• Experience relating to Magnitsky sanctions and asset recovery.
• Experience working in a civil law system.
• Experience in report writing with prior publication experience.
• Fluency in a language other than English, in particular French or Spanish.

How to Apply

Please upload to our recruitment portal a single PDF file with:

• A cover letter of no more than one page explaining (a) why you would like to work for REDRESS, (b) how you fulfil the personal specification for the role, and (c) how you will contribute to the diversity of REDRESS.
• Your CV or resume.

Deadline: Monday 15 May 2023

For more information CLICK HERE