Legal Consultant, Strategic Litigation Project

Atlantic Council of the United States
United States, D.C., Washington
1101 15th Street Northwest (Show on map)
Jan 13, 2025
Job Location: Remote Employment Type: Full-Time, six-month contract Seniority Level: Associate Job Category: Consultant About the Atlantic Council's Strategic Litigation Project The Atlantic Council's Strategic Litigation Project (SLP) works to advance prevention and accountability efforts for atrocity crimes, human rights violations, terrorism and corruption offenses. The SLP seeks to achieve this through the following ways: Advocate for legislators to create new legal tools and improve existing ones to aid victims and survivors of serious international crimes in seeking accountability. File and support impact litigation and human rights interventions in international, regional and national courts and forums. Publish leading scholarship and convene public and private events, all designed to advance the global debate on the sophisticated use of strategic litigation. The SLP's work is global in scope. Current projects focus on Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, China and Ukraine. Overview of the Role Under the supervision of the head of the SLP and in close cooperation with the project team, you will provide human rights and law related research and drafting support for project deliverables, produce content for different legal, policy, media and donor audiences and monitor and analyze rule of law related developments in key jurisdictions around the world. This position is based remote within the US. The Atlantic Council offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience, education, and organizational equity, with a compensation of $7,000 per month. Applications submitted by November 1, 2024, will be prioritized for consideration. Job responsibilities Research, analysis and drafting related to the use of international, regional and national courts, forums and mechanisms for justice and redress for human rights violations and atrocity crimes. Areas of research may include universal jurisdiction frameworks in Europe and other less-studied regions, civil actions pursuant to torture laws or other human rights related causes of action, and submissions to UN treaty bodies or other mechanisms. Research and analysis of responsibility of various state actors and non-state actors under international criminal law for purposes of case preparation in various international, regional and national forums. Monitor legal and political developments related to human rights and accountability, such as topical debates, legal reforms, landmark court cases or administrative proceedings, in key jurisdictions. Draft diverse project outputs including legal memos, legal briefs, analytical pieces, blog posts, explainers, fact sheets, newsletters and donor materials. Represent the SLP and its work to governments, policy makers, the media, victim and survivor communities, the global legal and human rights communities, academics, donors/funders and other stakeholders. Other duties as assigned by the SLP's management team. Qualifications A law degree with a minimum of 2-3 years of relevant experience, including in international human rights, humanitarian law, comparative law, and/or criminal law and procedure. Excellent writing skills. Team player with good interpersonal and diplomatic skills. A high level of personal dedication, reliability and commitment. Problem solver and ability to work independently. Fluency in English and preferred fluency in Arabic. Fluency in other languages a bonus. APPLY NOW Explore the Program Through our Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East and Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative, the Atlantic Council works with allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US interests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region. Learn more All Atlantic Council employees are required to adhere to the Atlantic Council's vaccination policy. All Atlantic Council employees must be fully vaccinated and boosted, and they must submit proof of both vaccination and COVID-19 booster shot on their first day of employment. Prospective or new employees may seek an exemption to the vaccination requirement through human resources and must have an approved exemption prior to the start of their employment. Please note: The Atlantic Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In accordance with Federal civil rights law and District of Columbia civil rights regulations and policies, the Atlantic Council does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics covered by applicable law. The Atlantic Council provides reasonable accommodation for all qualified applicants needing assistance, employees whose disability, sincere religious belief, or other protected characteristics are protected by law, and bases all employment decisions on qualifications, merit, and business need. The Atlantic Council believes that equity and inclusion amongst our team members are critical to our success as a global organization, and seeks to recruit, develop, and advance the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. Eligibility to work in the United States is confirmed with E-Verify; employment at the Atlantic Council is eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).