Regional Legal Advisor (LGBT+ Rights)
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Human Dignity Trust
- Job type: Job
- Experience level: Other (specified in job description)
- Organisation type: Civil Society
- Remote option: No
- Right to work requirements: Right to work required in advance
- Remuneration: Remuneration not disclosed
- Work schedule: Full-time
- Length of contract: Temporary/ Fixed-term
- Deadline: 10/06/2026
- Location: South Africa
The Human Dignity Trust (‘the Trust’) is a legal charity based in London, UK that supports local lawyers and human rights defenders to uphold human rights and constitutional law in countries where private, consensual sexual conduct between people of the same sex is criminalised. At present, 65 jurisdictions worldwide maintain these criminal laws.
Job description
Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Deputy Head of Legal, and with further oversight from the Head of Legal, you will carry out the following duties, working closely and collaboratively with other members of the Trust’s legal team:
- Build and strengthen the Trust’s relationships with existing and potential stakeholders in civil society, government, international agencies, the legal profession and academia within the region
- Monitor the regional and local legal, political and civil society environment and context for opportunities to strengthen and expand the Trust’s work in the region
- Represent the Trust at key regional and international conferences and events to network with stakeholders and to monitor and advise the Trust on relevant developments
- Contribute to the development of strategic litigation and / or legislative reform, including by coordinating with relevant stakeholders, such as civil society partners, litigants, consultants, pro bono lawyers, in-country lawyers and government representatives
- Contribute to the development of compelling, context-specific legal strategies, including by carrying out legal and situational research
- Build strong professional relationships with LGBT+ communities and civil society partners across the region
- Alongside colleagues and external lawyers, help to oversee, review and ensure the technical integrity and persuasiveness of legal pleadings and submissions and / or draft legislation
- Develop and deliver compelling and technically sound strategic legal workshops for civil society and/or government partners, both online and in-country
- Collaborate with the Trust’s strategic communications team to develop compelling communications strategies to support litigation and / or legislative reform work
- Contribute to activity and financial reporting, internally and externally
- Deliver any other tasks as reasonably required by the Trust
Person specification
- Demonstrated experience delivering legal or human rights policy work, whether as a litigator, legislative drafter or policy advisor, in one or more common law jurisdictions in the region
- Experience working in or on several jurisdictions within the region, though not necessarily in a litigation or legislative drafting capacity
- Experience in holding partner relationships with marginalised and vulnerable persons
- Very high attention to detail and ability to critically assess and edit legal documents and submissions
- Fluency in English with excellent writing, editorial, and oral advocacy skills
- Experience and confidence in public speaking
- Ability to communicate effectively, persuasively and sensitively with senior figures in politics and the legal profession
- Ability to communicate complex legal issues to a wide range of stakeholders
- Ability to understand and adapt to differing and often sensitive social and cultural contexts, whilst employing compassion, tact and discretion
- Ability to manage effectively multiple workstreams in a fast-paced environment
- Integrity, professional discretion and ability to handle confidential matters
- Ability and willingness to undertake regional and international travel, sometimes at short notice
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