Associate Strategic Litigation Officers – Open Society Justice Initiative

Associate Strategic Litigation Officers – Open Society Justice Initiative

Competitive salary + excellent benefits

London, Berlin, Brussels, Nairobi, Seoul, New York, Washington D.C, Mexico City, Bogota or Rio de Janeiro

Do you want to help make the world a better place with your expertise in integrating litigation with out of court legal advocacy and community engagement? We are seeking an Associate Strategic Litigation Officer x 4 (internal title Associate Lawyer) based in London, Berlin, Brussels, Nairobi, Seoul, New York, Washington D.C, Mexico City, Bogota or Rio de Janeiro within the OSJI program to engage in strategic litigation through representation of clients, preparation of pleadings, legal and factual research, and the provision of legal advice to team members and foundation partners.

The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and inclusive democracies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people. We are active in more than 120 countries, making us the world’s largest private funder of independent groups working for justice, democratic governance, and human rights.

The Open Society Justice Initiative undertakes strategic litigation in national, regional, and international courts and administrative forums across the globe to advance Open Society Foundations’ goals. The Justice Initiative is comprised of lawyers with a wide range of practice experience who combine in-court interventions with out of court legal advocacy and community engagement. The Justice Initiative works closely with OSF’s regional and global programs to deploy the tool of strategic litigation effectively, and to provide support to OSF grantees and partners. For more info click here.

As an Associate Strategic Litigation Officer at Open Society, you will:

• Undertake legal and factual research relating to potential litigation and evaluate issues and cases for potential involvement
• Prepare drafts of pleadings as well as internal and external litigation and legal advice and research memos
• Provide editing support, including cite checking and proofreading, to ensure OSJI case outputs meet and maintain high standards
• Provide legal advice to team members and partners within/outside OSF under supervision
• Build and maintain relationships with legal clinics and pro bono law firms, to implement collaborative partnerships for litigation support.

What we are looking for:

• Graduate degree in Law (a degree required to practice law in a jurisdiction, i.e. the minimum degree required to become eligible to gain admission to a bar), license to practice in at least one OSF jurisdiction preferred
• 5 to 7 years of post-qualification experience in litigation
• Proficiency in English, with strong written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrated experience in legal writing including meticulous editing skills with a high attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to conduct legal research, write and edit a range of different materials including protocols, guidance, memoranda, and other legal documents such as powers of attorney, NDAs, legal representation agreements
• Ability to effectively manage multiple projects and responsibilities in a fast-paced environment
• Experience in undertaking and/or providing litigation support throughout the different stages, including research, intake interviews with clients, preparing legal filings, collecting and organizing evidence; preparing case summaries, and managing litigation teams
• Familiarity conducting all-source research via websites, Lexis/Nexis, WestLaw, foreign source materials, academic studies and, oral interviews of experts
• Commitment to listening and working with humility; ways of working that are respectful to all people; and that support space and voice for all diverse perspectives in our workplace
• Commitment to continuous learning and growth in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, antiracism, and social justice.

Desirable (but not required):

• Experience in strategic litigation in more than one jurisdiction
• Practical experience of working with non-governmental organizations
• Reading and writing proficiency in either French or Spanish
• Experience with public international law and especially human rights law.

What we offer:

• Ample opportunities to learn and grow, from annual professional development allowances to onsite trainings and learning conversations with visiting experts
• Top-notch benefits and perks designed for your well-being and a healthy work-life balance. With some variability according to location, this includes generous time off, flexible work arrangements, employer-paid health insurance, generous retirement savings plan, progressive paid parental leave, reproductive and family planning support, sabbatical opportunities, and much more
• A commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that enables everyone to bring their full self to work and make a positive impact on the world.