The American Bar Association Center for Human Rights (CHR) mobilizes lawyers to help threatened advocates, protect vulnerable communities, and hold governments accountable under law.
CHR is seeking a legal advisor to support the provision of pro bono technical legal assistance to human rights defenders at risk, advise on labor rights issues, and investigate corruption in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The legal advisor will support both the labor rights portfolio under the Justice Defenders program and the Center’s new program aimed at combatting corruption in Northern Central America.
Candidates with substantial experience working on issues pertaining to human rights and corruption in LAC and on issues pertaining to labor rights and business and human rights are encouraged to apply. All applicants must have authorization to work in the United States. The ABA does not sponsor visas.
Description
The legal advisor will report directly to the lead legal advisor for the labor rights portfolio.
Responsibilities shall include:
1) Undertake substantive legal work for a grant funded project and provide substantive support and expertise to the ABA Center for Human Rights. May be supervised by another attorney and frequently supervises more junior attorneys and/or other staff. Includes legal research, writing, speaking, provision of technical assistance, and may include grant development and/or fundraising.
2) Conduct legal or other research and write memoranda, speeches, and articles, frequently for publication.
3) Provide substantive advice, information, and make policy recommendations. Serve as principal ABA expert on a substantive area of law or public policy (labor rights globally and anti-corruption in LAC). Includes contact with government entities and with the media.
4) Give presentations and/or teach on legal and public policy issues. Assist in designing substantive content of events, developing model documents, and conducting trainings.
5) Manage substantive/legal project aspects. Oversee research, report-writing, and publication. Coordinate with external constituencies. Manage consultants, interns, and externs.
6) Analyze laws, regulations, court rules, and policies/policy proposals. Prepare memoranda on law or public policy.
7) Research, draft, author, review, and critique legislative/rule/policy or regulatory text. Manage policy adoption process.
8) Secure outside funding; write grants; interact with donors.
9) Perform other duties as assigned: Support lead legal advisors for Labor and LAC in a range of duties relating to case strategy, management, advocacy and other matters regarding the execution of case work.
Required Qualifications:
• Possession of a Doctorate degree (JD or PhD)
• At least 4 years working in relevant specialized area of law
• Outstanding legal research and writing, oral and written communication, and organizational skills
• Substantial experience in policy analysis
Preferred Qualifications:
• Full professional working proficiency in Spanish; Additional foreign language fluencies welcome.
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Demonstrated experience working on both labor/business and human rights issues globally and anti-corruption in LAC
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: JD or PhD
Extent of Travel Required in the Job
As a normal course of business, this job will typically require some travel.
Please submit a resume, cover letter, and writing sample via the ABA Dayforce Career Portal. In the cover letter, please outline language skills.
The American Bar Association is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with the American Bar Association please call 312-988-5188.
Flexible/hybrid work arrangements may be available for residents of CA, IL, IN, DC, MD, VA, and TX. Residency requirements may apply.
