National Lawyer

General Background
GRC possesses unrivaled expertise and granular knowledge of the OPG, its working methodology, and ongoing investigations and prosecutions within the context of the ongoing aggression by the Russian Federation. GRC is the only international organisation consisting of ICL specialists that have been consistently present in Ukraine since 2015, working with the OPG, law enforcement agencies, and CSOs to document international crimes and bring about criminal accountability.
Our Ukraine team has, over time, acquired an intimate knowledge of the conflict operating environment, and built trust-based relationships with all criminal justice system actors, relevant governmental bodies, CSOs, and international partners. Our blend of technical expertise, knowledge of the Ukraine context/conflict, and language proficiency is unrivaled and is, without doubt, our unique selling point.

Duty Station: Office based in Kyiv, Ukraine

Contract Duration: 6 months with probable extension

Purpose & Objective
The National Lawyer will assist in building the capacity of Ukrainian legal professionals, mainly investigators and prosecutors, to investigate and prosecute war crimes and other violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

Responsibilities
● Undertake legal and factual research.
● Collect information for investigative purposes.
● Support in drafting project deliverables.
● Support in the implementation of national investigative strategy.
● Attend meetings and other interactions with relevant stakeholders. Contribute to the planning and preparation.
● Provide assistance during crime scene visits, as required.
● Support with the planning and coordination of field investigations and trips.
● Other assistance to senior lawyers and senior investigators as needed, in particular for expert advice to both national and international colleagues.

Experience, Knowledge & Skills
● 3 or more years of relevant legal experience.
● Practical experience working with Ukrainian justice actors.
● ICL / IHL experience (in a practical application – solely academic study/work will be ineligible).
● Flexible and creative; able to work in an unstructured, changeable & fast-moving environment, proactive, anticipating problems, and solutions orientated.
● Practical thinker, able to break down and pursue the elements required to operationalize a strategy.
● Administratively competent; able to manage to compete for demands.
● Practical experience in working with highly sensitive material and an ability to demonstrate the requisite skill in storing, sharing, and working with such material.
● Fluency in English, written and verbal skills.
● Experience working in a post-Soviet country/system is desirable.
● Experience in investigations, (including supervision of investigations), or prosecutions is desirable.
● Fluency or competency in Ukrainian is desirable.