Associate Attorney/Staff Attorney, Accountability

Job Title: Associate Attorney/Staff Attorney, Accountability

Reporting Office: Washington, DC or New York City

Department: Accountability Job Classification: Full-Time, Exempt

Supervisor: Senior Director, Accountability Union Classification: Union

Accountable To: Senior Counsel, Accountability

Purpose of the Job

Individuals who are responsible for serious human rights abuses and corruption too rarely face consequences for their actions. Human Rights First’s Accountability program works in partnership with civil society groups around the world to employ innovative advocacy tools, including targeted sanctions, to promote accountability. We also advocate for governments to support and protect independent justice institutions, and we work to prevent the misuse of targeted sanctions and similar policy tools to attack such institutions, their personnel, and other people exercising their rights.

The person who holds this position will be a versatile and passionate human rights lawyer. They will report to the Senior Director, Accountability, and play an important role in our work to promote and facilitate the effective use of targeted sanctions as part of a global coalition of civil society organizations that we help coordinate. This coalition of more than 340 civil society groups works to shape and inform the use of human rights and anti-corruption sanctions by authorities in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, and Australia. This position will also be involved in our efforts to protect accountability institutions and human rights activists from attack by the Trump administration and other actors.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Review, edit, and jointly draft sanctions recommendation files being developed with partner NGOs for legal and evidentiary sufficiency and for submission to the U.S. or other Magnitsky sanctions jurisdictions. Research and prepare sanctions recommendations being developed independently by Human Rights First.
• Coordinate with coalition co-leads on specific cross-jurisdictional advocacy and help adapt recommendation files from one Magnitsky jurisdiction to another. Develop familiarity with Magnitsky-style programs in other jurisdictions.
• Within an identified regional portfolio and thematic priorities (e.g., security partners, human trafficking), develop relationships with partner organizations and identify advocacy opportunities for pursuing and following up on sanctions recommendations.
• Conduct technical trainings and consultations with coalition partners on the use of human rights and anti-corruption sanctions (e.g., Global Magnitsky sanctions, Section 7031(c) visa restrictions, and similar U.S. authorities).
• Contribute to reports, op-eds, explainers, blog posts, and other analysis and advocacy materials and events regarding targeted human rights and anti-corruption sanctions and other program topics. Prepare or contribute to press releases and social media content and engage with reporters.
• Monitor and track U.S. uses of targeted sanctions and update related analytical resources. Monitor problematic misuse of sanctions tools, work with colleagues to identify opportunities to challenge specific instances of misuse, and help organize consultations aimed at developing reforms to prevent such misuse in the future.
• Support and advise on advocacy against U.S. sanctions targeting the International Criminal Court and other attacks on accountability institutions.
• Collaborate with HRF’s Litigation program to identify opportunities for advancing key goals through litigation in U.S. federal courts.
• Conduct research and advocacy related to other issues relevant to U.S. foreign policy and global human rights and anti-corruption issues.
• Support advocacy for increased international support to the ICC’s investigations into war crimes and other atrocities and more rigorous implementation of U.S. legal restrictions on security assistance based on human rights and accountability grounds.
• Assist in developing grant proposals and reports in partnership with the Development team.
• Supervise one or more interns.
• Other duties as requested based on program and organizational need.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Competencies (DEIA)

Human Rights First acknowledges the existence of systemic and structural biases and believes it is necessary to be strategic and intentional in pursuing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in all aspects of governance, operations, and programming. As an employee, you are expected to:

• Support adoption of best practices to create a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible work experience for colleagues and external partners.
• Strive to consider the people, places, and cultures that might be missing from your work and look for opportunities to increase inclusivity in all the work you do.
• Support the mission of Human Rights First in all interactions with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Dedicate efforts to enriching DEIA consciousness throughout our office-wide interactions.
• Foster a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by promoting adherence to the standards delineated in the Culture of Respect and Teamwork statement in the Employee Handbook.

Required Knowledge, Skill, and Experience

• A U.S. law degree from an ABA-accredited law school and admission to the bar in a U.S. jurisdiction.
• Authorization to work in the United States.
• One year of relevant professional experience following law school, including substantive legal analysis, research, writing, and advocacy, to be considered for associate attorney; three years’ experience for staff attorney.
• Demonstrated interest in pursuing accountability for human rights abuses or corruption.
• Experience in some combination of the following: sanctions law and policy in the United States; human rights or anti-corruption advocacy from a civil society perspective; accountability for war crimes; advocacy with U.S. congressional and executive branch audiences and United Nations mechanisms.
• Strong research, writing, and editing skills, including demonstrated ability to communicate highly technical material for audiences ranging from government investigators to congressional staff to readers of mainstream newspapers.
• Project management experience, strong organizational and interpersonal skills, and an ability to work independently while functioning as a member of a team, and coordinate efforts internally and with outside partners.
• A strong work ethic, demonstrated capacity to take initiative, and time management skills to handle multiple tasks and projects and maintain relationships with stakeholders.
• A sense of humor and an ability to work collegially with other staff members.
• Ability to monitor and analyze relevant national and international policy and legal developments.
• Ability to communicate patiently, respectfully, and empathetically with individuals from a variety of backgrounds, including survivors of trauma or family members of political prisoners.
• High level of integrity and discretion in handling sensitive information.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally, as required, and subject to public health restrictions.
• Competence in languages other than English would be an asset but is not required.

Position is based in either Washington, DC or New York City

Salary Range for Associate Attorney is $63,000 to $70,000 and for Staff Attorney is $69,800 to $78,000