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Junior Lawyer - Conservation and Indigenous Peoples Project

Location: Remote 

Contract type: Consultancy contract 

Compensation: Commensurate with experience 

Term: 3 months, with possible extension 

Deadline for applying: March 20. We are looking to fill this position as soon as possible and will review applications on a rolling basis. 



I. About Project Expedite Justice (“PEJ”)


PEJ, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, was founded in 2016 by Cynthia Tai, a former prosecutor in the U.S. and at the International Criminal Court in the Hague. With an increase in mass atrocities worldwide, PEJ believes now more than ever that there is an overwhelming need to empower local populations seeking justice. By partnering with local organizations, we train lawyers, investigators, and human rights defenders to have the skills necessary to collect and preserve evidence in a manner that meets international legal standards.


Together, PEJ’s staff and Board have decades of experience in international legal matters. Working in partnership with local organizations, we bring evidence of atrocities to the forefront in legal arenas, including international, regional, or national systems.


II. Project Description


Through the Conservation and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Project (“Conservation Project”), PEJ investigates and supports indigenous peoples (“IP”) in the pursuit of justice and accountability. In particular, the Conservation Project focuses on violations resulting from the implementation of “fortress conservation” models in protected areas (“PA”).1 In a previous phase, the Conservation Project published an exploratory report highlighting human rights violations against IPs in PAs and showing that these violations are a consequence of a systematic pattern derived from fortress conservation implementation.


Phase 2 of the PEJ Conservation Project is focused on preparing, investigating, and filing a case before a selected accountability body for the atrocities committed in a PA, as a case study to be sequenced and replicated in other PAs worldwide. Phase 2.2 of the project, to which these Terms of Reference relate, focuses on the further collection and analysis of evidence and preparing and filing legal brief(s) before the relevant accountability mechanism(s).


III. Duties, deliverables, and qualifications


The Junior Lawyer will be responsible for implementing the project activities and achieving the project. They will report directly to the Team Lead and work closely with the project team and other PEJ staff members.


Key Responsibilities:


  • Classifying, organizing, analyzing, and tagging evidence related to the project's subject matter.

  • Preparing legal documents such as Freedom of Information Act requests and other legal submissions and Memoranda.

  • Conducting legal research on the project's subject matter and accountability mechanisms.

  • Participating in meetings related to the project and taking notes.

  • Supporting the Team Lead during meetings with external actors.

  • Assisting in the preparation and planning of missions related to the project.


The Junior Lawyers will also be involved in the following general PEJ activities:


  • Participating in PEJ organizational meetings.

  • Contributing to concept development, proposal writing, and other fundraisingactivities.

  • Conducting research and drafting legal analysis memoranda on a variety of issues tosupport partners; and

  • Assisting with regular reporting needs.


Qualifications:


  • A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in investigative work in human rights, international criminal law, or similar.

  • Work experience in legal research and drafting legal documents.

  • Work experience gathering and analyzing evidence.

  • Knowledge and experience of international and criminal law and procedure.

  • A university degree in law. An advanced university degree in international criminal or human rights law is desired.

  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.

  • Ability to work independently and in high-pressure or complicated situations.

  • Technological awareness, willingness, and ability to learn new technology and work with technology relevant to the job.

  • Working fluency in English is required. Fluency in French is desired.

  • Knowledge and experience of the US legal system is an additional asset.


IV. How to apply for this position:


Please send your

  • CV (max two pages)

  • Cover letter

  • Writing sample

By March 20, email recruitment@projectexpeditejustice.org with “Application: Junior Lawyer Conservancy” in the subject line. 


PEJ is looking to fill this position as soon as possible and will review applications on a rolling basis.

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