Legal Counsel - Campaigns

Job description

Permanent role* / full time

_*_offered on a 12 month contract basis initially, with possibility of extension / move to permanent contract, subject to local labour laws.

Location: The successful candidate may be based in a country where one of the independent National/Regional Greenpeace organisations (NRO’s) is located. See the locations here**.** [Please note that we are currently unable to host new staff in a number of NRO's at this present time, due to various restrictions. We are unable to support hosting in the US, in addition to some other NRO locations. The recruitment team may reach out to you to provide an update as necessary, depending on your location]. We offer competitive NGO level salary and benefits, the specifics of which depend on location where the successful candidates will be based. We aim to share this information with candidates before reaching the offer stage.

Are you an experienced lawyer who wants to use your skills to support environmental campaigns with defensive and proactive legal strategies? Are you ready to work for the planet rather than profit? Then this might be a role for you.

Greenpeace International (GPI) is seeking a Legal Counsel Campaigns to provide independent, campaign-related legal advice and support to GPI, and to advise the independent National and Regional Organisations (NROs) as requested. The role reports to the Senior Legal Counsels Strategic Defence / Strategic Litigation and is likely to focus on food, forests and oil-related campaign issues; this is subject to change.

In this role you will:

• Support or develop and implement strategic litigations for campaigns at the domestic, regional and international levels;

• Conduct legal risk assessments of actions and investigations, advising on how to mitigate risk without compromising campaign impact, and communicating this advice to relevant stakeholders;

• Provide legal support to the Operations Department and the relevant NROs during the unfolding of activities and find opportunities to turn threats into campaigning opportunities;

• Handle campaign-related legal disputes involving GPI or its staff as defendants, including overseeing the development and implementation of legal strategies for defensive litigation;

• Ensuring proper legal representation of GPI and NROs, their staff and volunteers, when facing campaign-related proceedings;

• Support development of strategies that advance fundamental rights conducive to the functioning of a vibrant civil society and the protection of public watchdogs, including freedom of expression & assembly, freedom of association, transparency and accountability of governments and corporations at a systemic level.

For further information about this role, please see the full job description /terms of reference by clicking HERE**.**

Job requirements

What we're looking for:

• University degree in law (required)

• Admission and good standing with a bar association that confers attorney-client privilege for advice given by in-house counsel (required)

• Substantial and demonstrable experience working as a professional lawyer (required - ideally at least 5 years), preferably in an international context

• Experience of using law in a campaigning context (preferred)

• Demonstrable knowledge of and experience in one or more of the following fields: international human rights law, criminal law, law of the sea, international environmental law (required)

• Experience in civil, administrative and/or criminal litigation (required), with experience in corporate accountability, climate litigation and/or biodiversity litigation being highly desirable

• Experience in freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly litigation (preferred)

• Ability to develop, implement and manage complex projects and to guide legal project teams

• Outstanding influencing skills, plus strong negotiation, conflict resolution, communication and presentation skills

• Ability to communicate complex legal issues, tailored to targeted audiences

• Strong skills in capacity-building, training and knowledge transfer

• Analytical skills and digital literacy

• Proficient written and spoken English (required), with knowledge/proficiency in additional languages preferred

• Ability to work under pressure, with the flexibility to work with colleagues across multiple time zones and to travel internationally if required

• Demonstrable support for and belief in Greenpeace’s core aims and values.

What you can expect:

You’ll be encouraged to develop both personally and professionally, taking advantage of the wide range of learning and development opportunities available to our staff. Staff can also access our wellness initiatives, such as yoga and meditation and also have the opportunity to join our global Equity, Diversity & Inclusion staff communities.

Please click HERE to visit the careers site, to learn more about working for Greenpeace.

About Greenpeace:

Our goal is to ensure the ability of the earth to nurture life in all its diversity. That means we want to:

• protect biodiversity in all its forms

• prevent pollution and abuse of the earth’s ocean, land, air and fresh water

• end all nuclear threats

• promote peace, global disarmament and non-violence

To Apply

If you share our vision, please click 'apply for this job' below, to begin your application.

To apply for this role, we require you to apply via our online application form by answering a selection of key criteria and uploading your CV (no longer than 3 pages). We also ask that you attach a writing sample (of no more than 4 pages, on any legal subject). All documents and answers must be in English.

Addressing the key criteria is an important part of your application. We will be looking for evidence that demonstrates your skills and experience in these areas. Use examples where possible, to draw attention to experience, knowledge, achievements and skills gained in past employment or voluntary/leisure activities, provided they are relevant to the post.

It’s advisable to prepare your responses to the key criteria before starting your online application, as you are unable to save and return to it at a later date.

If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please email us at recruitment.int@greenpeace.org. Please note that all applications have to be filled out via the website and can't be submitted via this email.

Greenpeace is a global campaigning network. It comprises 26 independent national/regional organisations, and a coordinating organisation, Greenpeace International. Greenpeace uses peaceful, creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems, and develop solutions for a green and peaceful future.

Greenpeace International is an equal opportunity employer with a longstanding commitment of providing a work environment that respects the dignity and worth of each individual. We recognise and value the benefits and strengths that diversity brings to our employees and the whole organisation and we thrive in an environment that encourages respect and trust. We do not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship, colour, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and would like to invite you especially to apply!

CLOSING DATE: Sunday 14th May 2023, 23:59 (CEST)