Litigation Officer

Responsibilities:

• Analyze legal, social, and policy systems in target countries to identify opportunities for strategic litigation aligned with Validity’s goals.
• Co-develop litigation and advocacy strategies with the Impact Manager and relevant stakeholders in areas including legal capacity, community living, and inclusive education.
• Map out litigation pathways and legal arguments with national partners; submit litigation proposals for internal approval.
• Initiate and manage impactful litigation across multiple forums (civil, criminal, administrative, quasi-judicial) in partnership with national legal teams.
• Influence regional and international jurisprudence through strategic litigation and third-party interventions at courts such as:
• Draft and submit high-quality legal documents and international legal submissions.
• Monitor and ensure the implementation of rulings at national and international levels through legal advocacy, capacity-building, and follow-up litigation.
• Track and evaluate the strategic impact of legal cases and contribute to reporting for internal and external audiences.
• Build and maintain networks with national, regional, and international legal experts, OPDs, legal aid organizations, and NGOs offering psychosocial support to persons with disabilities.
• Facilitate referrals to ensure clients' support needs are identified and appropriately addressed.
• Case ManagementMaintain detailed and professional case records using SharePoint, including scanned documents, engagement letters, and translated summaries.
• Participate in case file reviews and maintain regular communication with national lawyers and partners.
• Keep the Co-Executive Director (Litigation) informed of risks, opportunities, and key developments.
• Organizational Support & External RepresentationCollaborate with the Impact Manager and broader team to align litigation with advocacy and communications goals.
• Support the preparation of reports for the Board, donors, and stakeholders.
• Contribute to fundraising efforts through identifying opportunities and assisting in proposal writing.
• Represent Validity with professionalism in external engagements and maintain strong collaborative relationships with team members and partners.
• Willingness to travel regularly within Central and Eastern Europe and occasionally beyond, subject to safety and health guidelines.

Requirements:

• Qualified lawyer with experience in human rights or strategic litigation, preferably focused on disability rights or social justice.
• Strong understanding of the UN CRPD and international human rights frameworks.
• Proven ability to develop and execute litigation strategies with systemic impact.
• Demonstrated capacity to manage complex legal cases across multiple jurisdictions and forums.
• Experience working collaboratively with civil society organizations, legal aid providers, and disability rights networks.
• Excellent legal drafting and research skills, particularly for international legal submissions.
• Strong case management, documentation, and digital organizational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to manage sensitive client relationships and diverse stakeholder engagement.
• Commitment to ethical practice, inclusion, and the principles of non-discrimination.
• Willingness to travel and flexibility in a dynamic, impact-focused work environment.
• Fluency in English; knowledge of other languages spoken in Central and Eastern Europe is an advantage.