Intern - Research Associate

Open Society Justice Initiative
Open Society Foundation (London)

Application Deadline: December 1, 2009

The Open Society Institute works to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. Open societies are characterized by the rule of law; respect for human rights, minorities, and a diversity of opinions; democratically elected governments; market economies in which business and government are separate; and a civil society that helps keep government power in check. To achieve its mission, OSI seeks to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights. On a local level, OSI implements a range of initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media. At the same time, OSI builds alliances across borders and continents on issues such as corruption and freedom of information. OSI places high priority on protecting and improving the lives of marginalized people and communities.

Investor and philanthropist George Soros in 1993 created OSI as a private operating and grantmaking foundation to support his foundations in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Those foundations were established, starting in 1984, to help countries make the transition from communism. OSI has expanded the activities of the Soros foundations network to encompass the United States and more than 60 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Each national foundation relies on the expertise of boards composed of eminent citizens who determine individual agendas based on local priorities.

Open Society Foundation-London (part of the Soros Foundations Network) is a UK registered charity based in West London which aims to promote good citizenship and democratic governance, the advancement of education about human rights and elimination of racial and religious discrimination, the advancement of education in humanities and social sciences, and the advancement of education in journalism and reporting in other media.

The Open Society Justice Initiative, an operational program of the Open Society Institute, pursues law reform activities grounded in the protection of human rights, and contributes to the development of legal capacity for open societies worldwide. The Justice Initiative combines litigation, legal advocacy, technical assistance, and the dissemination of knowledge to secure advances in the following priority areas: anticorruption, equality and citizenship, freedom of information and expression, international justice, and national criminal justice. Its offices are in Abuja, Budapest, London, New York, and Washington DC.

Position

The Justice Initiative is seeking a research associate intern on a part-time basis during the full academic spring semester. Based in the London Hammersmith office, and working under the supervision of Justice Initiative Legal staff, the researcher will support the legal programs through the following tasks primarily in the fields of ethnic profiling and equality and citizenship:

Conduct all-source research via websites, Lexis/Nexis, foreign source materials, academic studies, oral interviews of experts, legal and political documents, U.S. Library of Congress materials, etc.
Write concise research memorandums (both legal and non-legal) and informational and analytic reports priority topics addressing the main themes of the Program, as outlined above, as well as specific country studies, political and economic developments, international organization activities, civil society surveys and evaluations, etc.
Attend scheduled staff conference calls and relevant meetings hosted by think tanks, non-governmental organizations, government briefings, etc.
Maintain electronic and paper files on substantive research areas.
Upload and contribute to the Justice Initiative website any pertinent research as required by the program staff.

Qualifications

Presently be pursuing a degree in International Human Rights law at the post-graduate level. Candidates with additional background in international affairs or political science will be favourably considered.
Prior legal research-related experience, preferably in the field of international law;
Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication, and organizational skills;
Very strong research, writing and analytic abilities;
Advanced computer research, database management and word processing skills, including Microsoft Outlook, web searching, Lexis/Nexis, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Access;
Ability to effectively manage several projects in a fast-paced environment;
Pleasant, diplomatic manner and disposition in interacting with senior management, colleagues, and the general public;
Integrity, professional discretion and ability to handle confidential matters;
In possession of a UK work permit.

Duration

12 weeks

Salary

The internship is a volunteer position.

To Apply

Please send curriculum vitae, cover letter and brief writing sample by December 1, 2009, to: recruitment-admin@osf-eu.org. Include job code in subject line:JIN/INT.

The Open Society Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.