Legal Counsel Position (Geneva Office)

Civitas Maxima 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. Civitas Maxima represents victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast.

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

Civitas Maxima hereby advertises a Legal Counsel position.

• Position : Legal Counsel
• Contract : Fixed-term contract (1 year) with a possibility to extend to an indeterminate contract under Swiss law, 40h per week (100%)

Personal attributes:

• Respect for other cultures and value systems, flexibility, ability to work independently and take initiative
• Comfortable working with a wide range of personalities, and to interact 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, innovative thinker, and willing and ready to take a hands-on role
• A genuine interest in victims’ rights and comfortable working with victims of human rights abuses
• Ability and willingness to travel occasionally in challenging conditions.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of the Director, the Legal Counsel is responsible for the following tasks:

• Assist in preparing and conducting investigations, including investigative planning, evidence collection, interviews, reporting, etc.
• Assist in field missions and logistics, as required
• Assist in conducting open-source investigations.
• Legal:
  • Conduct legal and/or factual research and analysis related to the case assigned
  • Assist in drafting and/or draft complaints, legal memoranda, judicial acts, and any other legal documents, as required
  • Assist in liaising with prosecuting authorities and/or national lawyers
  • Assist in project management
  • Assist in developing litigation strategies.
• Analysis:
  • Identify leads and advise on potential perpetrators, sources of evidence, witnesses (victims, insiders, experts or other), OSINT, documents, etc.
  • Draft analytical synthesis/reports.
• Other:
  • Assist in day-to-day liaising with a variety of stakeholders and/or partner organizations (e.g. NGOs, international organizations, community leaders, etc.) and in establishing new partnerships, as required
  • Participate in drafting detailed preparation documents, agendas, minutes, follow-up communications, etc., as required
  • Assist on case management and analysis platforms to systematize evidence (current and backlog) related to international crimes, as required
  • Monitor various conflict developments and/or conduct ad-hoc research related to the main investigation and attend various events/conferences, as required
  • Assist in supervising interns
  • Assist in drafting SOPs, as required
  • Conduct any other tasks, as required, including possibly on other cases and/or with other Legal Counsels.

Qualifications:

• Education:
  • Master’s degree or equivalent advanced university degree in law with a specialization in International Criminal Law, Human Rights Law, or similar
  • Admission to the bar is an asset, and in particular the Swiss bar.
• 5 to 7 years’ experience in International Criminal Law, and/or International Humanitarian Law, and/or Human Rights Law, or equivalent domestic practice
• Experience building international, domestic, and/or extraterritorial cases
• Experience with corporate accountability and/or business and human rights cases
• Experience with investigative work.
• Experience representing and/or working with victims
• Experience working in the field
• Experience in Swiss law or legal studies in Switzerland is an asset
• Working experience in international criminal tribunals is an asset
• Languages:
  • Native English (or equivalent)
  • Working knowledge of French is an asset.
• Skills and Abilities:
  • Excellent analysis, research, and drafting skills
  • Opensource investigations skills
  • High motivation and demonstrated interest in international justice
  • Case management and excellent organizational skills
  • Knowledge of Case Map is an asset
  • Good ability to work with computers and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.)
  • Mandatory: Authorization to work in Switzerland (Only EU national, Schengen Visa or Swiss Permit).

Application Instructions:

• “Legal Counsel” in the title of the email;
• CV and Cover Letter ;
• The names and contact details of two (2) references (these will only be contacted after shortlisting );
• Please no phone enquiries. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

CM is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to religion or belief, race, national origins, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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