Legal Advisor

About the Organisation

eyeWitness to Atrocities seeks to bring the perpetrators of atrocities to justice by providing technical expertise in building photo and video dossiers that can be authenticated for use in criminal investigations or trials.

eyeWitness has developed technology that allows users to capture photos and video with a mobile camera app which embeds metadata to verify where and when the footage was taken, and whether the image was altered or not. Both the images and the metadata are stored in a secure gallery within the app until the user submits them to a storage database controlled by eyeWitness and hosted by Lexis Nexis. The transmission protocols and secure server system set up by eyeWitness creates a chain of custody that allows this information to be presented in court.

An expert legal team analyses all information received, identifies the appropriate international, regional and/or national bodies to investigate further, and liaises with these mechanisms and our partner organisations to ensure the material is acted upon.

eyeWitness achieves its goals by developing close partnerships with litigators and organisations on the frontlines documenting human rights violations and other abuses that can amount to core international crimes (genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity). By providing these organisations with our technology and legal expertise, we ensure that the images can be authenticated for use in criminal investigations or trials, or for any other accountability efforts.

eyeWitness is a charity registered in the UK and governed by a Board of Trustees, with additional expertise provided by an Advisory Board. The names and affiliations of the Board members can be found on our website www.eyewitness.global.

About the role

The Legal Advisor is a senior position within eyeWitness.

Responsibilities:

· Design and implement a strategy for pursuing accountability using photo and video evidence submitted by eyeWitness partners with our app. This may include researching legal principles, investigating facts, drafting filings for national authorities and other accountability mechanisms, and overseeing case building strategies.

· Work in consortium with local activists, victims’ lawyers and litigation NGOs to bring justice for core international crimes and other human rights abuses, including cooperating with domestic law enforcement and international mechanisms (such as the UN and the ICC).

· In consultation with local and international partners and networks and the eyeWitness Partnership Advisor, advise on the strategic use of courts, tribunals, human rights bodies and procedures to advance accountability.

· Provide analysis of international criminal and human rights law that may impact eyeWitness interventions.

· Lead and manage the in house and pro bono team conducting the review of eyeWitness evidence and analysis of other evidence.

· Develop relationships with entities within relevant jurisdictions and/or UN bodies regarding possible collaborations with eyeWitness.

Location: We are currently working remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic; however, the role will be based in London, with a combination of remote and in-office working.

Conditions of contract: Full-time and permanent contract. eyeWitness began as an initiative of the International Bar Association (IBA) and the employment contract will be with the IBA. Same benefits package and conditions that apply to IBA employees will apply (e.g. holidays, time off in lieu, pension).

Salary Range: £38,000-£45,000, depending on experience

About you

You are an enthusiastic team player, highly organised, and forward thinking. A quick learner, you will be able to work with professionals of a variety of cultures and disciplines, including with local activists, victims’ lawyers, litigation NGOs, law enforcement and international institutions such as the UN and the ICC.

You will have a keen interest and ability in developing the role and the organisation, and will be open to learn on the job as we advance our mission. You will have experience in building cases, ideally with digital evidence such as photo and video, but also open source data. You will know how to juggle multiple priorities and lead cases and projects with minimal supervision.

You will have interest and passion for international justice for the most egregious crimes and will have a commitment to improving the standard of evidence presented in human rights cases, both in judicial and non-judicial settings.

Requirements:

· First-level university degree in law

· Advanced degree in criminal law, international criminal law, international humanitarian law, or international human rights law (desirable)

· Professional qualification to practice law in at least one European jurisdiction

· Experience conducting criminal and/or human rights investigations, building cases and drafting submissions, including carrying out field investigations, collecting and analysing different types of evidence, and identifying and pursuing legal avenues for justice at national and international levels

· Experience working with digital evidence, particularly photo and video, user generated content and open source materials in legal proceedings (desirable)

· Experience working with local activists, victims’ lawyers, litigation NGOs, and law enforcement or international mechanisms (such as the UN and the ICC)

· Experience chairing or speaking at international meetings and workshops

· Experience managing people, including coordinating external teams (desirable)

· Experience applying for and managing externally-funded projects and grants, including developing the strategy and vision and working with partners and networks on implementation

· Experience working with coders, developers and technologists, and/or developing proprietary software (desirable)

· Excellent written and oral communication skills, including ability to represent the organisation externally in diplomatic and law enforcement contexts, and to explain complex legal concepts to a variety of audience

· In-depth knowledge of international criminal law, particularly the elements of atrocity crimes and familiarity with national, regional, or international justice mechanisms

· Flexibility and ability to work under pressure, independently and with minimal supervision, take initiative and prioritise tasks

· Knowledge of languages other than English would be a strong advantage, in particular Arabic, Spanish or French

· Candidates applying should be aware that there will be a requirement to review graphic content of atrocities and to travel internationally, including to countries where the security situation may not be stable

About the team

• We are a small and multicultural team with expertise in human rights investigations, case building and technology. We are passionate about the use of technology to promote accountability, and have strong networks in countries where human rights abuses are recent or ongoing.
• Our work is at the forefront of law and technology. It is varied, multifaceted and creative, but also highly technical.
• We operate in a flexible, responsive way, constantly liaising with activists and human rights defenders who are often in high-risk locations. We are driven by their needs and concerns.
• We work as collaboratively as possible. We enjoy sharing ideas and finding solutions as a team.