Civitas Maxima Legal Counsel

Civitas Maxima (CM) coordinates a network of national and international lawyers and investigators who work for the interest of victims of international crimes. It operates in situations where no legal action to bring the perpetrators to justice has been successful and works in close partnership with the Global Justice and Research Project (GJRP) based in Monrovia. CM represents victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast.

CM was registered in September 2012 as an association in Geneva, Switzerland, and is recognized by the Swiss authorities as a not-for-profit organization. CM is an equal opportunity employer.

For more information: www.civitas-maxima.org

Position: Permanent contract under Dutch law, full time, 40h/ week. Location: The Hague, The Netherlands (can be changed to Switzerland).
Envisioned starting date: 1 January 2021
This position will be filled upon CM’s incorporation in The Netherlands.

Duties:

CM is seeking a Legal Counsel in its office based in the Hague. Under the responsibility of CM Geneva Director, and under the direct supervision of the head of the legal unit based in The Hague , you will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Conduct investigation, evidence collection, legal analysis, related to the cases assigned to the incumbent, including liaison with prosecuting authorities/national lawyers, disclosure of evidence, draft legal documentation and judicial acts, preparation of and participation, as the case may be, in hearings.

• Conduct mapping exercises as requested to identify potential lines of investigations and litigation strategies.

• Identify leads and advise about potential perpetrators, sources of evidence, witnesses (victims, insiders, experts or other), OSINT, documents, etc.;

• Produce analytical products.

• Prepare and conduct investigative field missions, including investigative planning, missions, interviews, etc.;

• Liaise with Civitas Maxima’s partners organizations and build their capacity as required.

• Conduct legal research and draft complaints, legal memoranda and other documents as required;

• Work on case management and analysis platforms to systematise evidence (current and backload) related to international crimes as required;

• Draft SOPs as required;

• Conduct any other tasks as required.

Experience Requirements

• Master degree in International Criminal Law or similar;

• At least 3 years of experience in International Criminal Law, and/or International

  Humanitarian Law, and/or International Human Rights Law;

• Experience with representing / working with victims and knowledge of victims’ rights;

• Experience with building extraterritorial cases;

• Experience with investigative work;

• Experience related to West Africa especially Liberia and Ivory Coast would be an asset;

• French native speaker or equivalent, fluency in written and spoken English and

  knowledge of Spanish is an asset;

• Excellent analysis, research and drafting skills;

• High motivation and demonstrated interest in international justice;

• Authorized to work in The Netherlands (EU national, Shengen Visa or Dutch Permit).

  Personal attributes

• Respect for other cultures and value systems, flexibility, ability to work independently and to take initiative;

• Comfortable working with a wide range of personalities and interact with them with tact, diplomacy and cultural sensitivity;

• Ability to work efficiently under time pressure and respond to a dynamic and changing environment, skilled at prioritizing and completing multiple tasks with autonomy, while working as part of a team;

• Energetic, resourceful, and innovative thinker, but also willing and ready to take a hands-on role;

• A genuine interest in victims’ rights and comfortable working with victims of human rights abuse;

• Ability and willingness to travel occasionally in challenging conditions.