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.

For more information: www.civitas-maxima.org

Civitas Maxima hereby advertises two (2) positions, at the Legal Counsel or Senior Legal Counsel level, as below:

(1) Counsel for the War profiteering portfolio;

(2) Counsel for the General portfolio.

Civitas Maxima offers a salary range from 5000 CHF to 6000 CHF (gross) based on the level of experience.

Position: Counsel - War profiteering portfolio

Contract: Fixed-term contract (1 year) with a possibility to extend to an indeterminate contract under Swiss law, full time, 40h per week

Location: Geneva (Switzerland)

Deadline for application: 2 May 2021

Envisioned starting date: 1 June 2021

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 responsibility of CM Director, based in Geneva, and under the direct supervision of the Head of the Legal Unit, based in The Hague, this post is responsible for the following tasks:

Investigation:

  • Conduct mapping exercises, as requested, in order to identify potential lines of investigation and litigation strategies in relation to the war profiteering portfolio;
  • Prepare and conduct investigations, including investigative planning, evidence collection, interviews, etc.

Legal

  • Conduct legal research and analysis related to the cases assigned;
  • Draft complaints, legal memoranda, judicial acts, and other legal documents as required;
  • Liaise with prosecuting authorities and/or national lawyers;
  • Proceed to the disclosure of evidence, and preparation of/participation in (as the case may be) hearings;
  • Work on case management and analysis platforms to systematize evidence (current and backload) related to international crimes, as required. Analysis:
  • Identify leads and advise on potential perpetrators, sources of evidence, witnesses (victims, insiders, experts or other), OSINT, documents, etc.;
  • Produce analytical products.

Other:

  • Liaise with Civitas Maxima’s partner organizations and build their capacity as required;
  • Liaise with partner organizations and consultants;
  • Supervise interns;
  • Draft SOPs as required;
  • Conduct any other tasks as required.

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.

Work experience:

  • A minimum of 5 years of experience for Legal Counsel, or 10 years for Senior Legal Counsel, in International Criminal Law, and/or International Humanitarian Law, and/or Human Rights Law, or equivalent domestic practice;
  • Experience in war profiteering, complex financial crime, or enterprise liability cases;
  • Proven experience building international, domestic and/or extraterritorial cases;
  • Experience with investigative work; field experience is an asset;
  • Experience representing and working with victims;
  • Experience with SGBV survivors is an asset;
  • Working experience in international criminal tribunals is an asset;
  • Experience with case management;
  • Knowledge of and experience related to West Africa, especially Liberia and Ivory Coast, is an asset.

Languages:

  • Fluent in both Spanish and English;
  • Working knowledge of French is an asset.

Skills and Abilities:

  • Excellent analysis, research, and drafting skills;
  • High motivation and demonstrated interest in international justice;
  • Excellent organizational skills;
  • Knowledge of Case Map is an asset;
  • Good ability to work with computers and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, etc.);
  • Authorization to work in Switzerland (EU national, Schengen Visa or Swiss Permit).

This vacancy is archived.

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