GLOBAL LEGAL ADVISOR (MATERNITY COVER) – UP TO A YEAR

GLOBAL LEGAL ADVISOR (MATERNITY COVER) – UP TO A YEAR

Remote | Temporary to Full Time | Experienced

JOB TITLE: Global Legal Adviser (Maternity Cover)
REPORTS TO: Global Lead, End Sexual Violence, and Other Equality Now Global Leads
LOCATION: Within 2 Hours of UK Time Zone
CONTRACT TYPE / HOURS: Full-time maternity cover for up to a year

REMUNERATION:

For guidance scales of Band 2 for the UK (London) £47,534 – £59,375, UK (non-London) – £38,822 – £48,509, Spain – $29,291 – $36,587, France – $45,818 – $57, 232). The salary for candidates in other locations will be set using a UN Cost of Living calculator that endeavors to generate a local salary that offers the same standard of living reflected by the NYC salary. The salary is subject to change at the time of hiring as the cost of living indicator changes and FX rates stabilize.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: March 22nd, 2024

ABOUT EQUALITY NOW

At Equality Now, we aspire to create a world in which women and men have equal rights under the law, and full enjoyment of their human rights. Our mission is gender equality. And how we get there matters.

Founded in 1992, Equality Now is an international human rights organization that works to protect and promote the rights of all women and girls around the world. Our campaigns are centered on four program areas: Legal Equality, End Sexual Violence, End Harmful Practices, and End Sexual Exploitation, with a cross-cutting focus on the unique needs of adolescent girls. Equality Now combines grassroots activism with international, regional, and national legal advocacy to achieve legal and systemic change to benefit all women and girls and works to ensure that governments enact and enforce laws and policies that uphold their rights. Equality Now is a global organization with partners and members all around the world. You’ll find our 80+ team across the world in places such as Beirut, London, Geneva, San Jose, New York, Nairobi, Tbilisi, Washington DC among others.

We offer a great experience for talented people who are passionate about equality. To work here, you’ll need to share our core values which are: integrity, tenaciousness, perseverance and inclusivity. For more information, visit equalitynow.org.

POSITION / ROLE SUMMARY

The Global Legal Advisor will enable Equality Now to bring about sex/gender equality in the law, prevent gender-based harms, and enable access to justice for victims and survivors of gender-based discrimination and abuse.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership:

• Support the shaping and implementation of Equality Now’s campaigns to promote ending sexual exploitation and sexual violence, as well as ending harmful practices and promoting legal equality globally
• Draft, coordinate and support colleagues in preparing Equality Now’s high-quality submissions to regional and international human rights bodies and public consultations
• Support case development
• Initiate, contribute to and/or oversee the drafting and preparation of legal documents (e.g., strategic litigation, amicus briefs, regional or international court submissions etc), advocacy reports, and advocacy letters to government authorities
• Identify and lead on opportunities to lever change through international and regional law

Learning:

• Provide legal research, analysis and recommendations on strategy
• Support the development of global learning from the disparate campaigns on sexual violence and sexual exploitation
• Deliver training on international human rights law and gender implications
• Facilitate litigation surgeries

Visibility:

• Engage through correspondence and meetings with relevant government and agency officials on active campaigns globally and leverage the support of global and regional actors for Equality Now’s campaigns
• Represent Equality Now in coalitions and at conferences and meetings, particularly UN-related
• Contribute key messages for communications, actions, alerts, reports and letters to key influencers and government authorities
• Engage with the media on women’s and girls’ intersectional equality issues as they pertain to Equality Now’s work

Management:

• Manage pro bono research and inputs
• Coordinate and work closely with all teams across the organization as guided by the Global Leads and ensure clear and consistent communications and coordination of work
• Document the legal and campaign process and any progress and ensure excellent record-keeping

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

Your key stakeholders will be Equality Now legal colleagues who need specific research, commentary or learning on areas of law that affect and support Equality Now’s work.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Knowledge and experience:

• Five+ years of professional experience in human rights, women’s rights, international advocacy or international law
• An advanced degree in law or equivalent experience in women’s rights or international human rights standards
• Knowledge of and/or experience in international and/or regional human rights law/frameworks
• Strong research and analytical skills
• Excellent written and oral communication in English
• Strong organizational and planning skills with a drive for results
• Other language competencies welcomed, with a preference for Arabic, French, Spanish, or Russian
• Experience in monitoring, evaluation, and learning would be an asset

Competencies:

• Ability to work effectively online in a dispersed organization
• Ability to work as part of a team and across teams and collaborate respectfully to achieve shared goals
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work under pressure in a multicultural environment
• Diligent in documentation and reporting, with an eye to effective knowledge management and information accessibility
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally, depending on the pandemic situation
• Willingness and ability to engage in public speaking and to represent Equality Now at external meetings and in the media

HOW TO APPLY

Please visit: Equality Now Job Portal and upload a resume/CV, and provide a cover letter together with a short writing sample that shows some knowledge/analysis of international law, preferably with respect to women’s rights. The deadline for applications is March 22nd, 2024. Due to the volume of applicants anticipated for this role, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

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SAMPLE COVER LETTER FOR A GLOBAL LEGAL ADVISOR

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[Your Email Address]
[Your Phone Number]
[Date]

[Recipient’s Name]
[Hiring Manager’s Title]
Equality Now
[Company Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]

Dear [Recipient’s Name],

I am writing to express my interest in the Global Legal Advisor position at Equality Now, as advertised. With a profound dedication to promoting gender equality and a solid background in international law, I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute to your impactful mission.

Throughout my career, I have demonstrated a commitment to human rights advocacy, particularly in the realm of women’s rights. My experience spans over [number of years] years, during which I have actively engaged in legal research, strategic advocacy, and policy development initiatives aimed at advancing gender equality on a global scale.

One of my notable achievements includes [mention a significant accomplishment or project relevant to the role or organization]. This experience equipped me with the skills to navigate complex legal frameworks and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders to drive positive change.

I am drawn to Equality Now’s holistic approach to addressing gender-based discrimination and abuse, as well as its dedication to amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. I am eager to contribute my expertise to your dynamic team and play a role in shaping impactful legal strategies that promote justice and equality for all.

Enclosed is my resume, which provides additional details about my qualifications and accomplishments. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my skills and experiences align with the needs of Equality Now. Thank you for considering my application.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Enclosure: Resume

POSSIBLE GLOBAL LEGAL ADVISOR INTERVIEW QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS

1. Question: Describe a complex legal challenge you encountered and how you resolved it. Answer: Certainly, during my tenure at [Previous Organization], I faced a situation where…
2. Question: How do you stay informed about developments in international human rights law? Answer: I make it a point to regularly attend seminars, workshops, and conferences focusing on human rights law. Additionally, I keep myself updated by subscribing to reputable legal journals and newsletters, and I actively engage with online forums and communities dedicated to human rights issues.
3. Question: Can you provide an example of a time when you had to navigate cultural differences while advocating for human rights? Answer: Absolutely. In a previous role, I collaborated with a diverse team to address a human rights violation in a culturally sensitive context. I ensured effective communication by fostering an environment of mutual respect and understanding, which ultimately led to successful resolution.
4. Question: How do you approach collaborating with stakeholders from various backgrounds and organizations? Answer: Collaboration is essential in human rights work. I believe in building strong relationships based on trust and mutual respect. By actively listening to diverse perspectives and fostering open dialogue, I strive to find common ground and achieve shared goals.
5. Question: In your opinion, what are the most pressing human rights issues globally, and how would you address them? Answer: While there are numerous pressing human rights issues, I believe issues such as gender inequality, discrimination, and access to justice are particularly urgent. Addressing these requires a multifaceted approach, including legal advocacy, policy reform, and grassroots mobilization.
6. Question: Can you discuss a time when you successfully advocated for legislative change or policy reform? Answer: Certainly. In a previous role, I played a key role in advocating for legislative reforms to combat gender-based violence. By collaborating with lawmakers, civil society organizations, and survivors, we were able to draft and enact impactful legislation that enhanced protections for vulnerable populations.
7. Question: How do you prioritize competing demands and manage multiple projects effectively? Answer: Prioritization and time management are crucial skills in the legal field. I utilize strategic planning techniques, such as setting clear goals and deadlines, and employing project management tools to ensure efficient allocation of resources and timely completion of tasks.
8. Question: Describe a situation where you had to adapt your legal strategy in response to unforeseen challenges. Answer: Flexibility is essential in the legal profession, especially when dealing with dynamic situations. For instance, during a litigation process, unexpected procedural hurdles arose, prompting us to reassess our approach and swiftly devise alternative strategies to achieve our objectives.
9. Question: How do you handle situations where ethical considerations conflict with legal obligations? Answer: Upholding ethical standards is paramount in the legal profession. In instances of ethical dilemmas, I rely on established principles, such as transparency, fairness, and integrity, to guide my decision-making process. I also seek guidance from mentors or ethics committees to ensure that my actions align with professional standards.
10. Question: Can you provide an example of a successful advocacy campaign you led, and what were the key factors contributing to its success? Answer: Certainly. In a recent advocacy campaign focused on promoting gender equality in education, we utilized a combination of strategic litigation, public awareness initiatives, and coalition-building efforts. Key factors contributing to its success included robust research, effective media engagement, and collaboration with stakeholders across sectors to amplify our message and drive meaningful change.

Equality Now is strong because it is diverse. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. Equality Now offers a competitive compensation package, including base salary, savings, health, and vacation benefits, and is an Equal Opportunity employer. Equality Now employees are selected on the basis of ability without regard to race, color, religious beliefs, sex, gender identity and expression, language, political or other opinion, nationality, ethnic or social origin, disability, pregnancy, mental status, HIV status, age, marital status, or sexual orientation. We welcome all kinds of diversity. Candidates are selected on the basis of ability, in accordance with all country and location-specific laws.

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