FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY
STAFF ATTORNEY
General Counsel’s Office
New York Office
Application Deadline: January 6, 2020

Human Rights Watch seeks a lawyer for a new position in the office of the General Counsel. This position offers a rare entrée into a non-profit leader in the global human rights movement, known for its fearless and accurate reporting and global advocacy to end abuses. The right candidate will engage in almost every aspect of legal management of the organization and will be centrally placed to guide and protect its work and success.

The General Counsel’s Office at Human Rights Watch is responsible for legal oversight of the organization's policies, compliance, risk management, and governance, as well as a wide range of corporate matters including media law, intellectual property, foreign operations, tax, insurance and contract review, worldwide litigation and international and domestic employment matters including labor relations. The Staff Attorney will assist the General Counsel across all areas of work, as part of a growing legal team and a diverse and collegial staff on a variety of projects. Human Rights Watch is dedicated to taking on human rights abuses around the world; accordingly, its lawyers are dedicated to its mission and its defense, and must be able to provide sound legal and policy advice to colleagues around the world who often operate in high-risk and stressful conditions. The focus of this position is institutional growth, expansion, and defense and legal compliance – not human rights advocacy or reporting per se – but opportunities to engage with and promote the program of the organization are plentiful.

This position will be based in New York and will report to the General Counsel, also based in New York.

Responsibilities:

1. Provide legal counsel and guidance to various departments in the organization in areas such as employment law, tax and charity law, intellectual property management and licensing; and establishment of branch offices and charitable affiliates;
2. Review, draft, negotiate and approve contracts and licenses, leases, registrations, and other legal documents as required;
3. Provide guidance, systems and policies to aid institutional compliance with U.S. and foreign laws (such as GDPR and other privacy law, sanctions, and lobbying);
4. Manage and defend litigation where necessary;
5. Provide proactive advice and research into legal risks and opportunities for a prominent international human rights advocacy organization;
6. Create manuals and guidance materials to assist different parts of the organization with legal matters and helps train various staff in legal management and compliance issues as needed;
7. Help build and maintain a worldwide network of pro bono and paid counsel; and
8. Undertake special projects and other duties as required.

Salary and Benefits: HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers competitive compensation and employer-paid benefits, including medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, an outstanding retirement savings plan and twenty (20) days of vacation per year.

How to Apply: Please apply immediately by visiting our online job portal at careers.hrw.org and attaching a cover letter, resume, and a brief writing sample (unedited by others). No calls or email inquiries, please. Only complete applications will be reviewed and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your application submission, please email recruitment@hrw.org. Due to the large response, application submissions via email will not be accepted and inquiries regarding the status of applications will go unanswered.

Human Rights Watch is strong because it is diverse. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. Human Rights Watch does not discriminate on the basis of ability, age, gender identity and expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or criminal record. We welcome all kinds of diversity. Our employees include people who are parents and nonparents, the self-taught and university educated, and from a wide span of socio-economic backgrounds and perspectives on the world. Human Rights Watch is an equal opportunity employer.

Human Rights Watch is an international human rights monitoring and advocacy organization known for its in-depth investigations, its incisive and timely reporting, its innovative and high-profile advocacy campaigns, and its success in changing the human rights-related policies and practices of influential governments and international institutions.