National Consultants – Legal Experts for Strategic Litigation

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women, established in July 2010, is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. Its mission is to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, empower women, and achieve equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. UN Women operates globally, with a focus on various countries, including Georgia, where it supports state and non-state partners to achieve substantive gender equality. The organization emphasizes key areas such as ending violence against women, promoting women's peace and security, and mainstreaming gender into national planning and budgeting processes. UN Women Georgia is part of the UN Country Team’s Partnership for Sustainable Development Framework with the government of Georgia, and it has been actively involved in initiatives to combat violence against women and girls since its inception, providing technical assistance and establishing specialized services for survivors of domestic violence.

Job Overview:
The National Consultants – Legal Experts for Strategic Litigation will play a crucial role in advancing legal protection and accountability for issues related to violence against women and girls (VAWG), domestic violence (DV), and discrimination against LGBTIQ+ persons and women with disabilities. The consultants will engage directly with survivors, ensuring a survivor-centered approach that respects their rights and agency. They will be responsible for identifying and developing strategic litigation cases that have the potential to create systemic change, representing survivors' interests before judicial and quasi-judicial bodies at national and international levels. This position requires a deep understanding of national legislation and international human rights standards, as well as the ability to conduct legal research and comparative analysis on relevant case law. The consultants will also coordinate with civil society organizations and other stakeholders to strengthen case development and protection mechanisms for survivors.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The national consultants will be responsible for providing expert legal analysis and advice on cases related to VAWG, DV, discrimination, and violence against LGBTIQ+ persons and women with disabilities. They will identify, assess, and develop strategic litigation cases, engage directly with survivors, represent their interests before judicial bodies, draft and review legal documents, conduct legal research, support the use of international human rights mechanisms, coordinate with civil society organizations, contribute to risk assessments, document and report on strategic litigation cases, and provide technical inputs to capacity-building activities. The consultants will also perform any other related tasks as required for the successful implementation of the programme.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree (Master’s) in law; a Bachelor’s degree in law combined with two additional years of relevant working experience may be considered in lieu of the Master’s degree. They should have at least five years of professional experience as a licensed attorney-at-law, with active membership in good standing of the Georgian Bar Association, including experience in litigation before national courts. Additionally, candidates should have at least five years of relevant professional experience in gender equality and women’s rights, including legal work related to VAWG and/or DV, as well as demonstrated experience in strategic litigation or legal advocacy in human rights cases. Experience working with civil society organizations and addressing intersectional discrimination is considered a strong asset.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree in law is required for this position. However, candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in law may be considered if they have an additional two years of relevant working experience. This educational background is essential to ensure that the consultants have the necessary legal knowledge and expertise to effectively engage in strategic litigation and provide legal advice on complex issues related to gender equality and human rights.

Experience:
The position requires at least five years of professional experience working as a licensed attorney-at-law, with a focus on litigation before national courts. Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree must have at least seven years of relevant experience. Additionally, candidates should have substantial experience in the field of gender equality and women’s rights, particularly in legal work related to VAWG and DV, as well as strategic litigation or legal advocacy in human rights cases. Experience in cooperating with civil society organizations and addressing intersectional discrimination is also highly valued.

Languages:
Fluency in Georgian is mandatory, along with a good knowledge of English. These language skills are essential for effective communication with survivors, stakeholders, and legal bodies, as well as for conducting legal research and drafting documents in both languages.

Additional Notes:
This is a home-based consultancy position, but it may require travel to various regions of Georgia, with up to 20 trips anticipated during the contract period. The consultants will work under the supervision of the UN Women Country Representative and will be supported by a Project Assistant for contract and payment issues. The position emphasizes the importance of ethical standards and survivor safeguarding obligations, and the consultants will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures, including a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with the aims of the organization.