Senior Legal Adviser

**General Background**

GRC are policy makers, lawyers and development experts dedicated to promoting accountability and strengthening justice systems through the application of international law. With ongoing operations in some of the world’s most complex legal and security environments, Global Rights Compliance continues to provide specialised legal expertise, policy solutions, and strategic advisory services to uphold justice and strengthen the rule of law globally.

GRC’s work in Iraq aims to enhance the capacity of stakeholders in Duhok to integrate international law standards and best practices to organise, process and mobilize evidence of international crimes.

We are looking for a Senior Legal Adviser to join our International Team. The Senior Legal Adviser will provide independent legal expertise to support the development of investigative guidance, strengthen the legal soundness of analytical outputs, and provide ad hoc legal advice as required, in line with international standards and best practice.

**Full / Part-time:** Full-time

**Location:** Duhok, Iraq (preferred), subject to the security situation permitting deployment. Until conditions allow for in-country deployment, the Adviser will work remotely, with travel to Duhok to commence once it is deemed safe and operationally appropriate to do so.

**The Role**

- Lead the design and implementation of new project activities, ensuring effective delivery against agreed objectives and outcomes.
- Assist to shape the ongoing direction of the project, including the development of public outputs and stakeholder engagement activities.
- Review and provide legal input on investigative guidance, protocols, and standard operating procedures.
- Review analytical outputs (e.g. case files, analytical reports, briefing notes) for legal soundness, consistency with applicable legal frameworks, and evidentiary considerations.
- Provide legal advice and expert opinion on specific questions arising from investigative or analytical work, as requested.
- Identify gaps or risks in current methodologies from a legal perspective and recommend improvements.
- Support the development or refinement of internal guidance documents, templates, or frameworks as needed.
- Liaise with project beneficiary, relevant accountability mechanisms and other external stakeholders as required to support coordination.
- Liaise with relevant internal teams and, where appropriate, external counterparts to ensure legal coherence.
- Provide ad hoc advisory support on emerging legal or procedural issues as they arise during the consultancy period.
- Design and deliver training sessions, briefings, or mentoring to beneficiary staff on legal aspects of investigative and analytical work, as required.
- Assist in monitoring and reporting.
- Support and contribute to the ongoing development of the team’s work by identifying potential areas for future activity and collaboration, consistent with strategic priorities.
- Perform other tasks as requested (or authorised) by the Project Lead and reasonably foreseen under the scope of work.

**Your Background**

- Advanced degree in law.
- Minimum 10 years of relevant professional experience in international criminal law, international humanitarian law, and/or international human rights law.
- Demonstrated experience providing legal advisory support to criminal investigative or judicial bodies, including experience related to the investigation and documentation of core international crimes (e.g. war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide).
- Familiarity with international standards and best practice for criminal investigations, including evidentiary standards, chain of custody, and witness/victim protection considerations.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, including identifying priorities, structuring own workflow, and managing deliverables with minimal supervision, while liaising closely
- with the broader team and project beneficiary to ensure alignment.
- Strong analytical and report-writing and review skills.
- Experience supporting the institutional or capacity development of investigative, prosecutorial, or accountability mechanisms is an asset; prior experience working with, or supporting the development of, specialized national or international war crimes units preferred.
- Prior experience working in Iraq or the broader region is an asset.
- Excellent command of English; knowledge of Arabic and/or Kurdish is an asset.