PILnet is recruiting a Legal Officer (Moscow) to be responsible for managing the Russian Pro Bono Clearinghouse and supporting additional activities related to PILnet’s pro bono program in Moscow and other offices.

The Legal Officer reports to the Country Director (Moscow), coordinates closely with the team leader for pro bono (based in Budapest) and works in close collaboration with other PILnet staff in various offices.

Program Management and Development

o Coordinating the Russian Pro Bono Clearinghouse activities. Communicating regularly with NGOs and law firms’ pro bono coordinators; working with NGOs to define specific legal needs and matching those needs to law firms providing pro bono legal services;

o Monitoring, gathering and maintaining good records of statistical and other data related to pro bono matters placed and distributed via the Russian Pro Bono Clearinghouse; maintaining a database for tracking pro bono matters;

o Working closely with other Legal Officers and supporting the development of other PILnet clearinghouses;

o Liaising regularly with senior staff on status of projects and conducting internal monitoring and evaluation;

o Liaising with the Development Department and other senior staff on reporting and drafting new proposals related to pro bono development;

o Planning and organization of Russian pro bono trainings, including overseeing all logistics, assisting partner organizations, agenda, budgets and other matters where necessary;

o Supporting Country Director in representation of the Russian Clearinghouse before law firms, donors and other key stakeholders.

Research and Program Support

o Coordinating with pro bono lawyers, partner organizations and/or experts who are working with PILnet to develop resource materials, including legal memoranda by pro bono lawyers;

o Preparing and delivering presentations on pro bono topics at events;

o Preparing various articles and publications and monitoring partners’ publications devoted to pro bono;

o Assisting in maintaining PILnet’s web pages related to pro bono development;

o Coordinating pro bono contributions from time to time to PILnet-run projects furthering overall programmatic objectives.

Other duties

o Managing new projects as they emerge;

o Coordinating pro bono contributions to PILnet’s own administrative needs, in close collaboration with the Country Director;

o Performing any other tasks as assigned by the Country Director (which may include assistance in planning and organizing PILnet events in Moscow under other lines of work).


o Law degree; at least three years of relevant work experience

o Demonstrated interest in law, human rights, civil society development

o At least basic knowledge of civil and non-profit law

o Knowledge of or experience with law firm practice a plus

o Demonstrated project management and event planning experience

o Strong research and communication skills

o Fluent in Russian and English languages, both written and spoken

o High level of self-motivation and ability to work both independently and with others

o Ability to exercise good judgment in managing relationships with various third parties

o Goal-oriented with strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects within tight deadlines

o Pleasant, diplomatic manner and disposition in interacting with senior management, colleagues and third parties

o Extensive computer skills and high comfort level with computer research, database management and word processing skills, including Microsoft Word/Excel/Outlook, web searching.


Salary is commensurate with experience.

To apply: Interested candidates should submit in English a CV and cover letter that specifically addresses the candidate's suitability to perform the job responsibilities detailed above to: moscow@pilnet.org.

Deadline: Sunday, July 24, 2011

Start date: Monday, August 1, 2011 (or earliest date possible)

Only those offered interviews will be contacted. No phone calls, please.