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Legal Fellow

How to Apply

Please send an email with the subject “Legal Fellow” to resumes@globaljusticecenter.net and attach a single .pdf file containing your CV, cover letter, a list of three references, and a 5-10 page writing sample. In the body of your email, please provide as much information as possible regarding the financial sponsorship circumstances and duration of your proposed fellowship. Candidates will be considered on a continuous basis. 

If you are an applicant who requires a reasonable accommodation to apply for the Legal Fellow position, please send an email to info@globaljusticecenter.net with your request. For more information about GJC, please visit www.globaljusticecenter.net.

Background

Founded in 2005, the Global Justice Center is a team of creative feminists who use international law to achieve gender equality. We work towards a world where every person has full bodily and decisional autonomy and the power to access justice. GJC’s legal team develops progressive international legal analyses to achieve feminist goals. We also conduct strategic advocacy in venues, including, but not limited to, the UN, the US administration, and national and international courts. And because change must be driven by those most affected, we work in partnership with organizations around the world. 

GJC’s work ensures:

  • Abortion access is respected, protected, and fulfilled as a fundamental human right.
  • Gender shapes the prevention of and response to violence, including conflict and atrocities.
  • Multilateral systems integrate principles of feminism, inclusivity, and non-discrimination.

Job Summary

GJC considers candidates for sponsored Legal Fellowships, i.e. where the prospective fellow has already secured or seeks to partner with GJC to apply to secure funding, on a continuous basis. Recent law school graduates with such external funding or opportunity to partner with GJC to apply for such funding are encouraged to apply. 

The successful candidate will have gender-equality and human rights experience. GJC prefers Legal Fellows to complete their position in a hybrid capacity in our New York office (3 days in-office, 2 days remote); fully remote fellowships may be possible where candidates can commit to working on Eastern Time. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. GJC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of disability, age, gender identity and expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation.

Reports To

Executive Director 

Responsibilities and Essential Job Functions

  • Legal Analysis & Drafting
    • Perform legal research and analysis in support of GJC projects.
    • Produce legal submissions to UN bodies, amicus briefs and observations to various courts, policy reports, background briefs, and op-eds to advance GJC’s objectives.
    • Leverage GJC’s outputs to generate domestic and international pressure to address global gender equality issues.
    • Provide technical expertise on abortion rights and sexual and gender-based violence.
  • Strategic Advocacy
    • Develop relationships with key stakeholders, including relevant UN actors, human rights organizations, grassroots actors, and other civil society partners.
    • Work collaboratively with other legal and programme staff. 
    • Promote & represent GJC at meetings, conferences, seminars, and before national, regional and international human rights bodies.

Necessary Skills/Experience/Qualifications

  • A graduate degree in law. 
  • High proficiency in international law analysis, research and writing. Ability to analyze international humanitarian, human rights, and criminal law from a gender perspective.
  • Knowledge of international human rights mechanisms and/or regional human rights mechanisms, international accountability mechanisms, and other substantive areas.
  • Strong organizational skills, self-direction and political astuteness.
  • Demonstrated awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations. 
  • Experience in analyzing US federal, state and local law compliance with human rights obligations. 
  • Demonstrated commitment to GJC’s mission.
  • Fluency and advanced writing skills in English. Additional language skills a plus.

Salary & Honors

Determined by fellowship sponsor

Start Date

Determined by fellowship sponsor, candidate, and GJC