Call for Applications – Lawyer – Human Dignity Trust

Deadline: 10 August 2022

Human Dignity Trust is looking for a dynamic lawyer who will use their knowledge, experience and passion within an influential international human rights organisation to bring change to the lives of LGBT people globally through strategic litigation and legislative reform.

You will be a talented and detail-oriented lawyer with experience either as a litigator or in a legislative policy/drafting capacity in a common law system, and with education or experience in human rights, as well as a problem solver and a legal researcher with a keen eye for detail.

Job title: Lawyer
Type: Permanent full-time
Salary: In the region of £42,000 p/a
Location: Currently hybrid – remote working with at least 1-2 days per week in our London office (subject to review)
Reports to: Head of Legal
Interviews: Week beginning 15 August 2022
Ideal start date: As soon as possible

Job description
Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Head of Legal, the Lawyer will carry out the following duties:

Assisting in the development of compelling legal strategies to further HDT’s aims including legislative reform and / or strategic litigation.
Ensuring the technical integrity of legal and contextual research by consultants and pro bono lawyers.
Assisting the Head of Legal and the Senior Lawyers with the development of strategic litigation and / or draft legislation, working with all relevant stakeholders, including civil society partners, plaintiffs, consultants, pro bono lawyers, local lawyers and government representatives.
Reviewing and ensuring the technical integrity and persuasiveness of legal pleadings and submissions and / or draft legislation.
Developing and delivering compelling and technically sound content for strategic legal workshops for civil society and/or government partners.
Assisting other HDT leads (in particular the Head of Strategic Communications and the Head of Advocacy and Research) to develop and deliver research, communications and advocacy strategies to support litigation and / or legislative reform work.
Ensuring that programme deadlines are met and consistently excellent outputs are delivered, and contributing to and implementing any necessary programme course corrections.
Contributing to activity and financial reporting, internally and externally.
Contributing to HDT at meetings, conferences, workshops and other international events
Any other tasks as reasonably required by the Head of Legal.

Essential skills and experience

Minimum two years’ post-qualification experience working as a litigator or in a legislative policy/drafting capacity in a common law system.
Education or experience in the fields of human rights and/or public international law.
Excellent legal research skills.
Very high attention to detail and ability to critically assess and edit legal documents and
submissions.
Fluency in English with excellent writing, editorial, and oral advocacy skills.
Ability to communicate complex legal issues to a non-expert audience.
Ability to work well in a diverse multi-cultural environment and with sensitivity to local
cultures and contexts.
Ability to manage effectively multiple workstreams in a fast-paced environment.
Pleasant, diplomatic manner and disposition in interacting with colleagues at all levels, a
diverse range of local partners and the general public.
Integrity, professional discretion and ability to handle confidential matters.
Strong commitment to equality and human rights and to the mandate of HDT.

Desirable skills and experience

Experience in legislative reform and / or strategic human rights litigation.
Experience in working on multi-country legal and human rights programmes.
Experience working in any of the geographic regions in which HDT works.
Experience of working in different legal systems
Knowledge and experience of the global LGBT human rights movement and developments.
Languages – especially French or Arabic would be an asset.

Qualifications