UNPAID VOLUNTEER - Legal Advisors (Principal, Senior and Legal Assistants)

Overview

Unpaid volunteer opportunities for Legal Advisors (Principal, Senior, and Legal Assistant) are available. Multiple positions are open.

• Role type: Unpaid volunteer
• Office/Function: Director-General’s Office – Legal Advisory & Governance
• Reporting to: General Counsel
• Work arrangement: Home-based / Remote
• Appointment level(s): Principal Legal Advisor, Senior Legal Advisor, Legal Assistant

Responsibilities

Responsibilities vary by appointment level, and may include support across international operations in areas such as corporate and nonprofit governance, contract and commercial law, employment and volunteer-related matters, privacy and data protection, intellectual property, regulatory and compliance matters, partnerships and institutional agreements, legal risk management, dispute prevention and resolution, and emerging technology governance.

Common responsibilities (may include)

• Provide legal research, advice, guidance, and recommendations to divisions and senior leadership.
• Draft and review contracts, agreements, memoranda, policies, and other legal documentation.
• Support identification, assessment, and management of legal risks.
• Advise on corporate and nonprofit governance requirements.
• Support employment, volunteer, and organisational policy matters.
• Advise on privacy, data protection, and confidentiality requirements.
• Support intellectual property, copyright, trademark, and related matters.
• Review partnership, consultancy, confidentiality, and other institutional agreements.
• Monitor relevant legislative and regulatory developments.
• Prepare legal opinions, briefing notes, and recommendations.
• Support dispute prevention and resolution where required.
• Contribute to the development and review of policies, procedures, and governance frameworks.
• Provide legal input into projects involving artificial intelligence, blockchain, and emerging digital technologies.
• Collaborate with colleagues to provide practical and proportionate legal solutions.
• Maintain appropriate legal records and support knowledge management within the legal function.

Principal Legal Advisor (senior strategic level; may include)

• Provide complex legal advice to the General Counsel, Director-General, and senior leadership.
• Lead or oversee significant legal matters and institutional agreements.
• Advise on legal risk, governance, compliance, and strategic organisational issues.
• Review and approve complex contracts and legal documentation.
• Provide guidance to Senior Legal Advisors and Legal Assistants.
• Support the development of legal strategies, policies, and governance frameworks.
• Lead legal workstreams relating to complex projects, partnerships, or organisational initiatives.
• Represent the legal function in senior-level internal or external discussions where appropriate.

Senior Legal Advisor (independent management of assigned matters; may include)

• Provide legal advice across assigned subject areas.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts and agreements.
• Prepare legal opinions, memoranda, and briefing documents.
• Conduct complex legal research and regulatory analysis.
• Advise teams on legal risks and compliance requirements.
• Support policy and governance development.
• Provide guidance and support to Legal Assistants.
• Escalate significant legal or reputational risks to the General Counsel.

Legal Assistant (supporting the legal function; may include)

• Conduct legal and regulatory research.
• Prepare first drafts of legal documents and briefing notes.
• Support contract and policy reviews.
• Maintain legal records, trackers, and document repositories.
• Assist with legal due diligence and background research.
• Monitor relevant legal and regulatory developments.
• Support preparation for meetings and legal reviews.
• Assist Principal and Senior Legal Advisors with assigned legal matters.
• Support the administration and organisation of the legal function.

Requirements

All appointment levels require professional proficiency in English.

Skills and abilities (all levels)

• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Strong legal research and analytical skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong critical-thinking and problem-solving capability.
• Ability to interpret legal and regulatory information.
• Ability to communicate legal issues clearly to non-legal colleagues.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• High standards of professional integrity and confidentiality.
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgement.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with others.
• Ability to work effectively within a remote and internationally distributed organisation.
• A proactive, practical, solutions-focused approach.

General and specialist knowledge (preferred across levels)

Knowledge or experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Corporate law; nonprofit and charity governance
• Commercial and contract law
• Employment law
• Data protection and privacy
• Intellectual property
• Regulatory compliance; corporate governance
• Organisational policies and procedures
• Dispute resolution; competition law
• International commercial arrangements
• Technology law (including artificial intelligence governance)
• Blockchain and digital technology regulation

Candidates are not expected to be specialists in every area.

Microsoft Office 365

Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 is expected, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and OneDrive.

Principal Legal Advisor – education and eligibility (preferred)

• Qualified lawyer admitted to practise in a recognised jurisdiction.
• LLB, JD, or equivalent recognised law degree.
• Approximately 7 or more years of relevant post-qualification experience.
• Postgraduate legal qualification or specialist professional certification would be advantageous.

Senior Legal Advisor – education and eligibility (preferred)

• Qualified lawyer admitted to practise in a recognised jurisdiction.
• LLB, JD, or equivalent recognised law degree.
• Approximately 3 or more years of relevant post-qualification experience.

Legal Assistant – education and eligibility

• A recognised degree in Law or equivalent legal qualification.
• Candidates who are currently completing professional legal qualification requirements may also be considered where they demonstrate strong legal research, drafting, and analytical capability.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge or experience in climate change, sustainability, international development, or emerging technologies would be advantageous.
• Knowledge of an additional international language would be advantageous.
• Experience within an international organisation, nonprofit organisation, technology organisation, research institution, public-sector organisation, or multinational environment would be advantageous.

Experience Expectations (by appointment level)

Principal Legal Advisor

• Substantial experience managing complex legal matters and providing strategic advice to senior decision-makers.

Senior Legal Advisor

• Ability to independently manage legal matters and provide practical legal advice.

Legal Assistant

• Previous professional legal experience is desirable but may not be essential where the candidate demonstrates strong legal research, drafting, and analytical capability.

Selection Process

Applications will be assessed according to the requirements of the relevant appointment level. Candidates may be considered for a different level than initially applied for where qualifications and experience indicate another level is more appropriate.

The selection process normally includes:

• Application screening
• Written or legal assessment
• Interview and/or technical legal discussion for shortlisted candidates
• Final selection and onboarding

Candidates who successfully complete the written or legal assessment will be invited to progress to the next stage.

Compensation & Benefits

• Compensation: Unpaid volunteer role.

Location

• Home-based / Remote
• Reporting line: General Counsel