Legal Projects Officer, TrustLaw

Job Description

The Thomson Reuters Foundation is the corporate foundation of Thomson Reuters, the global news and information services company. As an independent charity, registered in the UK and the USA, we leverage our media, legal and data-driven expertise to strengthen independent journalism, enable access to the law and promote responsible business. Through news, media development, free legal assistance and data intelligence, we aim to build free, fair and informed societies.

TrustLaw is the world's largest pro bono legal network. We work with leading law firms and corporate legal teams to facilitate free legal support, research and resources for civil society organisations (CSOs), social enterprises and non-profit independent media around the globe. By spreading the practice of pro bono worldwide, TrustLaw wants to strengthen civil society and drive change.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation is recruiting a dynamic Legal Projects Officer to support the delivery of legal activities on donor-funded projects. This role will work closely with CSOs and social enterprises focusing predominantly on human rights, social and economic justice, climate and just transition, connecting them with pro bono legal support from law firms around the world and helping to strengthen their operational and legal capacity.

You will report to a Legal Project Manager based in London, and will work closely with regional TrustLaw teams.

Key Responsibilities

Project Implementation

• Support the Legal Project Manager to develop, administer, implement and monitor progress against project plans, to ensure that activities and logistics are delivered in a timely manner.
• Conduct outreach to and onboard relevant civil society organisations, legal teams and other partners, and engage existing TrustLaw members.
• Scope and draft pro bono legal requests, and manage these legal requests from inception to completion, including connecting clients with lawyers in the TrustLaw network and following up with the parties involved.
• Design and manage cross-border legal research projects that address operational, advocacy, and policy needs of CSOs.
• Coordinate the development, design and dissemination of legal resources, tools and knowledge products.
• Organise and support the delivery of workshops, trainings, convenings and other events.
• Collect and compile data and information to support the projects’ Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) framework, including tracking key indicators, beneficiary feedback, and outcomes.
• Support knowledge capture and internal record keeping, including updating Salesforce and internal record-keeping systems, to ensure that networks, relationships and ongoing conversations are documented systematically.

External Coordination

• Actively support external project communications in collaboration with project teams, external engagement team, and project donors.
• Working closely with the Legal Project Manager, support the onboarding and management of project consultants including coordinating their workplans, deliverables and contractual obligations.
• Liaise with project stakeholders to support the planning, management and follow up of events and project activities.
• Support regular engagement with TrustLaw members, including coordinating introductions, follow-ups and relationship-building activities linked to the delivery of pro bono legal support.

Budget support

• Contribute to project budget oversight through monitoring of project expenses and tracking budget allocations as necessary.
• Collaborate with the Legal Project Manager and Finance team to ensure financial compliance and accurate project reporting.
• Support vendor and/or consultant procurement as per internal policy, manage processing and payment of invoices, and ensure all backing documentation is logged.

Other

• Undertake travel where required and safe to do so.
• Support other projects and tasks as needed.
• Work hours that overlap with global team availability, including some evening meetings each week.

Required qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with two years’ post-qualification experience (2+ years PQE), with experience gained in a law firm, in-house team, or non-profit organisation, ideally in pro bono, international development, or social change.
• Strong understanding of the legal and non-profit landscape in Africa and/or Asia, and familiarity with the opportunities and challenges pro bono work presents for both law firms and CSOs.
• Experience coordinating and delivering project or programme activities, including delivering or facilitating legal services, organising trainings, workshops and events. Experience with donor-funded projects is a plus.
• Comfortable engaging a wide range of stakeholders, from senior law firm partners to grassroots CSO leaders.
• Experience supporting beneficiaries such as CSOs and social enterprises to access and use legal services.
• Strong organisational, project management, and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong legal research, writing, and analytical abilities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience working with databases

Preferred qualifications

• Familiarity with Salesforce is an advantage.

To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter explaining the points.

• How you meet the criteria for this role
• Your experience of legal pro bono work and delivering donor-funded projects.
• (Applications without a cover letter containing this information will not be considered)

#LI-KP1

What’s in it For You?

• Global Perspective and Impact: Interested in working for a dynamic global organization with a focus on social impact? With hubs all over the world from Bangkok to Madrid to Rio de Janeiro, join a truly international team with a shared goal of helping to build societies around the world that are free, fair, and informed.
• Unique Approach: Our expertise in media and the law is world class. We combine the power of both to address the critical issues faced by humanity.
• Our Relevance: With a focus on advancing media freedom, fostering more inclusive economies and promoting human rights, our work has never been more needed than right now.
• Industry Competitive Benefits: We offer competitive salary packages and market-leading benefits.
• Learning & Development: We are dedicated to the continual professional development of our employees and offer access to both in-house and external training opportunities.

About Thomson Reuters Foundation

The Thomson Reuters Foundation is the corporate foundation of Thomson Reuters, the global news and information services company. As an independent charity, registered in the UK and USA, we leverage our media, legal and data driven expertise to strengthen independent journalism, enable access to the law and promote responsible business. Through news, media development, free legal assistance and data intelligence, we aim to build free, fair and informed societies.

About Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters informs the way forward by bringing together the trusted content and technology that people and organizations need to make the right decisions. We serve professionals across legal, tax, accounting, compliance, government, and media. Our products combine highly specialized software and insights to empower professionals with the data, intelligence, and solutions needed to make informed decisions, and to help institutions in their pursuit of justice, truth, and transparency. Reuters, part of Thomson Reuters, is a world leading provider of trusted journalism and news.

We are powered by the talents of 26,000 employees across more than 70 countries, where everyone has a chance to contribute and grow professionally in flexible work environments. At a time when objectivity, accuracy, fairness, and transparency are under attack, we consider it our duty to pursue them. Sound exciting? Join us and help shape the industries that move society forward.

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