POSITION AVAILABLE
LEGAL OFFICER – INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE
FOCUS: INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
LOCATION: THE HAGUE
Seeking a lawyer with at least five years’ legal practice experience,
including particular experience with the International Criminal Court,
and/or with other international and hybrid courts; knowledge of justice
institutions within Africa, preferred.
The Open Society Institute works to build vibrant and tolerant
democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. Open
societies are characterized by the rule of law; respect for human
rights, minorities, and a diversity of opinions; democratically elected
governments; market economies in which business and government are
separate; and a civil society that helps keep government power in check.
To achieve its mission, OSI seeks to shape public policies that assure
greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard
fundamental rights. On a local level, OSI implements a range of
initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and
independent media. At the same time, OSI builds alliances across borders
and continents on issues such as corruption and freedom of information.
OSI places high priority on protecting and improving the lives of
marginalized people and communities! .
Investor and philanthropist George Soros in 1993 created OSI as a
private operating and grantmaking foundation to support his foundations
in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Those
foundations were established, starting in 1984, to help countries make
the transition from communism. OSI has expanded the activities of the
Soros foundations network to encompass the United States and more than
60 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Each national
foundation relies on the expertise of boards composed of eminent
citizens who determine individual agendas based on local priorities.
The Open Society Justice Initiative, an operational program of the Open
Society Institute (OSI) <http://www.soros.org/>, pursues law reform
activities grounded in the protection of human rights, and contributes
to the development of legal capacity for open societies worldwide. The
Justice Initiative combines litigation, legal advocacy, technical
assistance, and the dissemination of knowledge to secure advances in the
following priority areas: anticorruption, equality and citizenship,
freedom of information and expression, international justice, and
national criminal justice. Its offices are in Abuja, Brussels, Budapest,
London, New York, and Washington DC.
In the area of International Justice, the Justice Initiative undertakes
projects that strengthen international and hybrid courts established to
secure accountability for international crimes. In some instances, it
works to strengthen the capacity of national courts to prosecute these
crimes, particularly in contexts where an international tribunal has
been established. For example, the program has been involved in
developing the capacity of Rwandan courts to take over genocide cases
that cannot be prosecuted before the International Criminal Tribunal for
Rwanda.
Based in The Hague, The Netherlands, the Legal Officer works under the
supervision of the Senior Legal Officer, International Justice, in all
assigned tasks focused principally on the International Criminal Court
(ICC).
Responsibilities
Legal Advocacy and Analysis
· Develop and maintain professional relationships with all
organs of the ICC, as well as relevant media, diplomatic personnel and
non governmental organizations;
· Liaise with the Assembly of States Parties Hague working
group on ICC cooperation;
· Participate in ICC-NGO meetings and Assembly of States
Parties functions;
· Foster ICC contacts with NGOs in situation countries and
other countries/regions where ICC activity is underway or likely;
· Develop and maintain strong relationships and partnerships
with civil society, government and inter-governmental actors in these
countries/regions, including the African Union;
· Provide ongoing analysis of, and research, draft and
participate in outreach to disseminate, reports on ICC-related issues,
including complementarity, witness proofing, victim and witness
protection, immunity for cooperating witnesses, relationships with NGOs
and governments.
Project Implementation
· Develop plans and strategies to support the effective
functioning of the ICC through a variety of means;
· Oversee development of projects, propose projects and
recommend potential partners to address identified needs of the ICC;
· Direct, manage, and undertake ICC related research, writing,
and investigation projects;
· Provide guidance on strategies for Justice Initiative to
pursue on ICC Cooperation issues, with particular focus on securing
arrest of indictees;
· In collaboration with other Justice Initiative and OSI staff,
engage and educate legal advisers of national governments on ICC issues;
· Help ICC secure information at various stages of analysis
and/or investigation necessary to make informed decisions;
· Where appropriate, assist with development of International
Justice curricula for African universities;
· Inform and mobilize the OSI/Justice Initiative network and
other relevant actors in support of protection of partners on the ground
who are at risk because of ICC-related activity;
· Convene and/or participate in trainings or workshops on
substantive and procedural aspects of the ICC’s work, including
international criminal law and jurisprudence of international courts;
· Prepare and monitor budgets and expenditures on individual
projects.
Communication
· In cooperation with the Senior Officer, Communications and
/or OSI communications staff, contribute to and produce Justice
Initiative publications and press releases;
· Provide material for the Justice Initiative website;
· Coordinate with the Associate Legal Officer in the
preparation of budgets, memorandums and other documents required to
activate budgets and implement activities;
· Liaise and maintain contact with partners and all affected
National and Regional Foundations and other OSI entities in the Network
regarding activities with the ICC, with particular care to share
information regularly with OSISA, OSIEA, OSIWA, and OSI-Africa;
· Maintain regular communication with the Senior Legal Officer,
as well as others within the Justice Initiative, and provide a weekly
update on activities.
Administrative
· Establish a Justice Initiative office in The Hague, The
Netherlands;
· Supervise the work of consultants, pro bono lawyers and interns;
· Travel as required (may be extensive).
Supervisory
· Direct the work of pro bono lawyers, consultants, fellows and
interns working on ICC and Africa projects.
Qualifications
Education & Experience
· A law degree and a minimum of five years’ legal experience,
including particular experience with the International Criminal Court,
and/or with other international and hybrid courts;
· Demonstrable knowledge of the ICC Statute, international
criminal/humanitarian law, and jurisprudence of other international
courts;
· Knowledge of the Africa Union, African courts, and African
justice institutions and civil society organizations and jurisprudence
is highly desirable.
Essential Skills
· Excellent political judgment and the proven ability to
develop and carry out innovative advocacy strategies;
· Strong analytic and organizational skills and the ability to
maintain and expand a program;
· Excellent oral advocacy and communication skills;
· Fluent in English with proven legal writing and editing
skills. Working knowledge of French highly desirable;
· Excellent interpersonal and communication and networking
skills and ability to work as part of a multi-cultural team;
· Ability to manage effectively multiple projects in a
fast-paced environment.
Individuals with experience in countries and regions of ICC activity
strongly encouraged to apply.
Start Date
July 2009
Compensation
Commensurate with experience. Excellent benefit package.
To Apply
Send resume, cover letter, writing sample and salary requirements no
later than June 24, 2009 to Humanresources@sorosny.org
OR
Open Society Institute
Human Resources – LO/IJ/OSJI
400 West 59th Street
New York, New York 10019
Fax: (212) 548-4675
No phone calls, please. The Open Society Institute is an Equal
Opportunity Employer
For more information go to
http://www.justiceinitiative.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Position Available: Legal Officer, International Justice
