Description:
The Center for Justice and Accountability is a United States-based nonprofit international human rights organization. We work globally with communities impacted by genocide, crimes against humanity, and other atrocities to seek truth, justice, and redress through innovative litigation and transitional justice strategies.Position Overview:
CJA is seeking a Legal Director to lead our litigation and legal strategy and contribute to its transitional justice capacity building programs. The Legal Director will guide a talented team of attorneys and fellows, oversee a cutting-edge docket that spans U.S. civil litigation and universal jurisdiction prosecutions. The Legal Director serves as a thought leader on strategic litigation to combat impunity for war crimes, crimes against humanity, torture, and other atrocity crimes, with the goal of utilizing transnational litigation to support domestic or locally-led accountability movements.
This position contributes to CJA's overall mission by supporting its holistic approach to justice, including by supporting technical assistance projects developed in close collaboration with local partners. This position requires substantial knowledge and experience in U.S. civil litigation, impact litigation, complex and trauma-informed investigations, capacity building, and partnership development and coalition building. This role requires deep collaboration with partners from impacted communities, including mentorship around effective documentation and investigations for legal accountability and collaborative case-building, and understanding of how to work with communities experiencing or recovering from individual and collective trauma.
Location - CJA's operations are fully remote, though the Legal Director will be required to live and work in California, Washington, DC, Maryland, Massachusetts, Florida, or Tennessee. Overseas locations will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The position requires international and domestic travel.
Reporting Relationships - The Legal Director reports to the Executive Director, is a member of the senior management team, and works closely with all staff.
Responsibilities:
Litigation:
- Provide strategic direction for developing and conducting impact litigation in U.S. courts; • Help identify, analyze and develop cases/opportunities to advance the field of international accountability and support locally-led accountability movements that are aligned with CJA's strategic priorities with the support of CJA attorneys;
- With the support of CJA attorneys, identify opportunities to intervene in human rights litigation in the U.S. and other jurisdictions;
- Oversee CJA's litigation docket, including are conducted with professionalism and at a high caliber, and meet the strategic objectives of the organization and CJA's clients;
- Build and nurture relationships with external stakeholders, including other international justice organizations, victims, survivors, clients, witnesses, experts, academia, psycho-social providers and others; • Lead the development of partnerships with pro bono counsel, national law enforcement agencies, international accountability bodies (IIMM, IIIM, COIs, etc.), and other legal partners; and • Lead CJA's work related to legal developments in the United States related to judicial remedies for human rights violations.
- Work in close collaborative partnerships with local human rights documenters, lawyers, and investigators around effective documentation for legal accountability; and
- Support civil society and community-based organizations in impacted communities in developing strategic avenues toward justice for atrocity crimes.
- Act as a spokesperson for CJA's legal programming across a wide variety of audiences; • Develop opportunities to engage with CJA stakeholders and the general public through writing, speaking engagements, and other avenues;
- Work with partners to develop collaborative advocacy campaigns around CJA cases; • Engage with the media;
- Help create, review and update programmatic and case content on CJA's website and other outreach materials and publications, including donor reports; and
- Provide oral and written programmatic reports to CJA's Board and other constituencies.
- Contribute to shaping and implementing CJA's strategic vision, priorities, and long-term goals; • Anticipate risks, opportunities, and trends that could affect the mission, and advise on proactive responses; • Collaborate with the Executive Director on Board engagement, staff retreats, and strategic discussions; • Promote a culture of accountability, equity, and collaboration across teams; and
- Backstop for the Executive Director.
- Provide input on litigation and other activities for budgeting purposes; and
- Ensure the appropriate use of funds and proper documentation of expenses.
Other Duties:
- Other duties as needed and requested by CJA to advance its mission.
Required Experience and Skills:
- Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent and minimum of ten (10) years of relevant experience; • Exceptional legal research, writing, and analytical skills;
- Experience litigating before U.S. federal district courts required; appellate experience strongly preferred; • Demonstrated commitment to and knowledge of international human rights and international criminal law;
- English language oral and written fluency required;
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
- Ability and willingness to travel, including internationally;
- Thrive as part of a team with diverse experience, expertise, and skills; and
- Ability to work independently based on self-initiative and strategic thinking.
CJA is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. People of color, women, people with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities are strongly encouraged to apply. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, CJA will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
