News

Russian Justice Initiative Seeks Lawyer in Moscow For Implementation Projects

Russian Justice Initiative, a non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization, based in the Netherlands with offices in Moscow and Ingushetia, Russia, seeks a full-time lawyer based in Moscow to work on its projects in Russia, with a particular focus on implementation of ECHR judgments.

Russian Justice Initiative (RJI) is a groundbreaking initiative that utilizes domestic and international legal mechanisms to seek redress for human rights abuses committed in the North Caucasus. RJI provides free legal counsel to victims of human rights violations and their families. The organization’s lawyers and researchers investigate incidents of arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions and bring these cases to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, France. RJI has won more than 65 cases before the ECHR.

Job description:
The position is open to qualified women and men of any nationality. The ideal candidate shall be committed to justice and respect for human rights; creative and able to work both independently and as a part of a team; a quick learner who is able to acquire a nuanced understanding of the situation in the North Caucasus and the Council of Europe system. Fluent command of spoken and written English and Russian is essential; an accreditation from the Russian bar is particularly welcome.

Start-date for the position is as soon as possible.

The lawyer will be based in Moscow and work under the supervision of RJI's Executive Director and Legal and Program Director. S/he will work closely with the organization’s staff members based in offices in Moscow and Ingushetia. The lawyer is expected to travel to the North Caucasus and to Strasbourg, France several times a year.

The responsibilities of the lawyer will include:

·       Drafting submissions to the Council of Ministers regarding the progress of the implementation of various judgments;

·       Preparing requests and submissions to the Russian authorities regarding investigations into violations found by the ECHR;

·       Meeting with and briefing the organization's clients;

·       Coordinating joint efforts on implementation with RJI's partner organizations;

·       Identifying and cultivating contacts in Strasbourg or elsewhere involved in monitoring the implementation process and carrying out advocacy and awareness-raising work with those contacts;

·       Actively proposing new and innovative approaches to the implementation process;

·       As required, assisting s in drafting and preparing applications and submissions at all stages to the ECHR.

Qualifications:

·       Fluency in Russian and English at professional working levels;

·       Background in international human rights law, in particular, in the  Council of Europe system;

·       Knowledge of how the implementation of ECHR judgments works in principle;

·       Knowledge of Russian criminal and criminal procedure law;

·       Strong legal writing and research skills;

·       Computer literacy;

·       Good interpersonal skills.

Recommended:

·       Admission to the bar in Russia;

·       Working knowledge of French;

·       Knowledge of the conflict in the North Caucasus;

·       Demonstrated experience and interest in human rights.

RJI offers a competitive salary and benefits package and twenty days paid vacation per year.

How to apply:

Application deadline: 10 September 2009
Interested applicants should submit the following to srji.org@gmail.com:

·       motivation letter (in English);

·       CV (in English);

·       two short unedited writing samples, preferably on legal or advocacy-related topics (one in English and one in Russian);

·       contact details for two references

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