Junior Legal Officer – Digital Freedom Fund

Description:

The Digital Freedom Fund works to advance digital rights through strategic litigation in Europe  through grants to support the legal, advocacy, research, and other costs involved in
litigation; through facilitating litigators’ access to pro bono legal support; and through facilitating skill development and networking in the digital rights field. As part of its work in facilitating skill development and networking, DFF organises a number of events, including an annual Strategy Meeting, litigation retreats, workshops and virtual meetings to collaboratively strategise on litigation across different digital rights issues. DFF is seeking a (Junior) Legal Officer to assist the organisation in successfully carrying out these activities, and to work with the digital rights field to bring about change.
DFF operates with a light operational staff as its focus is on grantmaking and field support
activities rather than participating in litigation work itself. The (Junior) Legal Officer will work closely with the Legal Adviser, under the supervision of the Director, on implementing DFF’s strategy through its core activities. DFF is incorporated as a Stichting under Dutch law, with its office based in Berlin, where the (Junior) Legal Officer position in based.

The majority of the (Junior) Legal Officer's time will be dedicated to DFF’s field support and knowledge building activities, including the following main tasks:

• Assisting in the development of case ideas and providing other forms of substantive and strategy assistance, including through the coordination of support from DFF’s pro bono network, to organisations and individuals in DFF’s network;
• Taking a lead in conceptualising, designing, and delivering trainings and other convenings on a range of digital rights issues and litigation tactics, including through the development of curricula, programmes, and agendas for such events;
• Coordinating and assisting in DFF’s follow-up to trainings and other convenings to help ensure further support can be given to litigators at the early stages of their case development;
• Assisting in the development of litigation strategies across different thematic issues, including data protection, copyright, children’s rights and the right to social security in the digital age, with a view to them being utilised by DFF and its wider network in the planning of their work;
• Supporting the development of DFF’s internal legal knowledge and facilitating knowledge sharing within DFF’s network, including through the tracking and documenting of legal developments and litigation activities across the globe that are relevant to digital rights in Europe;
• Assisting in the development of litigation tools, resources and other materials for the digital rights field; and
• Writing about digital rights issues for DFF’s blog and other publications, providing assistance with legal assessments of grant applications, and representing DFF at digital rights conferences.

All staff members are involved in the building of DFF as it is a young organisation. This will
require hands-on work and flexibility from all staff and a willingness to, from time to time, take on tasks that do not strictly fall within anyone's job description. This, however, is also an opportunity to be part of a new organisation from the start and help shape its vision, strategy, profile and further development.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in law; post-graduate degree preferred;
• 2-6 years of progressively responsible professional experience, with specific experience in the field of tech policy and/or digital rights;
• Knowledge of key organisations and networks active in the field of digital rights;
• Understanding of human rights and key digital rights legal issues; litigation experience is a strong plus;
• Able to work effectively both as a team member and independently, with a high-level of self-motivation and ability to set and meet goals;
• Excellent written, verbal, organisational, and interpersonal skills in English; attention to detail essential; language skills in other European languages are a plus;
• Experience in developing litigation strategies, legal networks, and/or offering training to lawyers in legal or tech issues is a plus;
• Willingness to occasionally travel internationally.

Application:

Interested applicants can view the posting here.