International Justice Mission
Website:
ijm.org
Job details:
Legal Affairs Specialist, India
Who We Are
International Justice Mission (IJM) is a global leader in protecting vulnerable people from violence around the world. Our team of over 1,200 professionals are at work worldwide in over 30 offices. In partnership with local governments, we aim to rescue millions, protect half a billion, and make justice unstoppable.
We are a global community that cares for one another. We believe that the way we work is as important as the results we achieve. We provide professional excellence with joy and celebration to all those we serve.
The Need
For over 25 years, IJM has pioneered the work to protect vulnerable people from violence. 9 out of 9 times in the last decade, IJM’s Justice System Strengthening Projects have supported the reduction in human trafficking and violence between 50 and 85% for very large populations of people in poverty.
The Legal Affairs Specialist will play a dual role; first by providing direct legal services to IJM in India, ensuring compliance and risk mitigation as IJM begins operations in India; and second by establishing processes and frameworks aimed at increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the legal function in India. The Legal Affairs Specialist is expected to consistently provide solutions that are legally sound yet pragmatic. The Legal Affairs Specialist will interface with their customers i.e. staff in India and will work closely with leaders serving India particularly the Regional Director Security & Risks and Regional Director Business Solutions. The Legal Affairs Specialist will also liaise with Regional Counsel/in-country attorneys across regions and the Legal Governance Risk & Compliance team based at IJM Global.
The role is based in India, but will provide support nationally, including travelling to each of IJM’s program locations.
Responsibilities:
Strategy & Knowledge Development & Implementation:
- Provide periodic analysis of the changing legal landscape, particularly in areas such as employment laws, data privacy laws and related regulations, and the impact on operations in-country. Based on this analysis, provide the leadership team with strategic recommendations, outlining a range of actionable options along with timeline and urgency of these options based on legal compliance deadlines. Collaborate with relevant teams to conduct cost and feasibility assessments for each option to support informed and effective decision-making.
- Provide timely and practical legal guidance during cross-functional projects and strategic decisions.
- Provide timely high-quality legal advice, strategic guidance and solutions to customers.
Networking & Partnership:
- Develop and manage a roster of external counsel across multiple jurisdictions and practice areas, ensuring availability of specialist legal services on short notice.
- Identify and secure pro bono legal services.
- Maintain active participation in professional legal associations and ensure departmental access to relevant memberships and legal networks.
- Organize events and forums to strengthen relationships with the legal community.
Policies and Procedures:
- Manage the maintenance of legal registration in-country and provide regular advice to program teams on the same.
- Periodically update internal documentation related to risks and due diligence.
- Support country wide implementation of Global Policies and Standards of the organization including creation of locally required addendums, periodic reviews, tracking compliance, and support staff orientation and ongoing training on the same.
Documentation, Reporting & Data Management:
- Maintain litigation trackers and prepare updates for leadership.
- Produce comprehensive legal memos, white papers, position papers, reports.
- Set up and refine internal systems, workflows, and SOPs including an internal knowledge repository for legal memos, research papers, case precedents and other similar legal documents.
Training and Development:
- Conduct legal training sessions, Q&A forums, awareness workshops and induction sessions for new employees as required, both on internal policies/guidelines and applicable laws and regulations.
- Ensure that business teams are aligned with legal and compliance standards through regular updates and Q&A forums.
Research, Program Management and M&E:
- Conduct in-depth legal research on relevant laws and regulations.
- Work closely with program and business teams to identify and mitigate legal risks, ensuring business continuity and compliance.
Administration:
- Automate and digitize legal operations where feasible to improve efficiency and transparency.
- Coordinate with admin, finance, and HR teams to streamline operations.
- Track vendor payments, help establish internal communication protocols, onboarding guides, and knowledge-sharing practices.
Qualifications
Education & Experience:
- LLB (Bachelor of Laws) degree from a recognized university; additional certifications in contract law, employment law, tax law, or compliance are preferred.
- Bar License to practice law preferred;
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in in-house Legal Affairs Specialist/compliance roles and/or as an associate in a corporate law firm with significant exposure to employment law, risk mitigation, compliance, IP, contracts, non-profit and regulatory compliance in India.
Technical Competencies:
- Strong legal drafting and negotiation skills, especially contract drafting and review skills.
- Knowledge of corporate, contract, intellectual property, data protection, non-profit/NGO and employment laws.
- Experience with contract management systems and legal tech tools preferred.
- Maintains a well-developed network within the legal profession, cultivated over at least three years, with a proven ability to engage external counsel, industry bodies, and peer legal professionals to support business needs.
- High attention to detail with an ability to manage complex legal and compliance documents.
- Has a self-starter mentality and operates independently with minimal oversight in unstructured and dynamic settings;
- Demonstrated problem-solving, innovation, and analytical skills.
Critical Qualities
- Proven ability to collaborate effectively with diverse, cross-functional and international teams in a complex, matrixed environment.
- Maintains clarity, focus, and professionalism under pressure, including in high-stakes situations involving demanding stakeholders, shifting priorities, or limited information.
- Skilled in managing challenging internal and external relationships with diplomacy and credibility, including under tight deadlines or adverse circumstances.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English and Bengali.
Application Process:
Upload Resume & Cover Letter in one PDF document and send the application to saijmhiring@ijm.org
IJM holds strict safeguarding principles and a zero tolerance to violations of the Safeguarding
Policy, Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Policy, and Code of Ethics. Candidate selection is based on technical competence, recruitment, selection and hiring criteria subject to assessing the candidate's value congruence and thorough background, police clearance, and reference check processes.
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