Lawyer, Fundamental Rights Europe

ClientEarth; Brussel; On-site; EUR 48,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

ClientEarth in Brussels seeks a Lawyer for the Fundamental Rights Europe team to lead strategic litigation at national and European levels, developing rights-based legal interventions to strengthen protections for communities and the environment.

Reporting to Vesselina Newman and working within the Global Impact department, this permanent full-time role (80% considered) offers a compelling opportunity to advance climate justice and collaborate with external partners and colleagues.

Qualifications

• Law degree with specialization in human rights law.
• Experience litigating fundamental rights cases in national courts.
• Experience litigating before the European Court of Human Rights.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic litigation and advocacy planning for the Fundamental Rights Europe work.
• Contribute to setting strategy and alignment with programme priorities.
• Build partnerships with civil society, external counsel, and subject-matter experts.

Skills

Litigation experience

Strategic thinking

Education

Law degree

Human rights law specialization

Job description

Lawyer, Fundamental Rights Europe

Application Deadline: 14 October 2026

Department: Global Impact

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Brussels

Reporting To: Vesselina Newman

Compensation: €5,036 / month

Description

The Fundamental Rights team works at the nexus of human rights and environmental law to strengthen legal protection of communities affected by climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss and promote the justiciable right to a healthy environment in Europe. The post holder will play a leading role in bringing strategic litigation in national courts and before international and regional human rights fora, developing new and innovative rights-based legal interventions to establish stronger protections for communities and the environment. This will involve the implementation and enforcement of existing legislation based on the fundamental rights legal framework, advocating for new legal obligations and engaging in capacity development activities. The role involves close collaboration with other ClientEarth lawyers and teams, as well as an extensive network of external stakeholders.

Working pattern: Full time preferred, but would consider someone working 80% of the time.

Important dates to note:

• Deadline to submit an initial application: 14th of October
• If your profile passes initial screening, you will be asked to submit additional information in the form of 3 additional questions.
• The deadline to submit your answers to these questions is the 19th of October
• If we do not receive a response to these questions by the deadline we will assume you are no longer interested in the role.
• Interviews will take place the week beginnig of the 2nd of November

Main duties

• Contribute to setting strategy for the Fundamental Rights work area, identifying innovative legal interventions using fundamental rights and ensuring alignment with related programme and organisational priorities
• Lead the planning and delivery of agreed litigation and advocacy strategies, discussing key decisions with the Fundamental Rights Lead and the Fundamental Rights team
• Initiate and maintain collaborate partnerships with other civil society organisations, local communities, external counsel, science and policy experts in support of strategic litigation projects

See the job description (below) for a full list of duties for this role.

Role requirements

• Law degree
• Specialisation in human rights law
• Experience of litigating fundamental rights cases in national courts
• Experience of litigation before the European Court of Human Rights

See the job description (below) for a full list of requirements for this role.

Further Information

Flexible working: We are proud to be an Flexa accredited Employer. Visit our Flexa Employer page for more information on our approach to flexible working. Our flexible working policy allows our people the choice to decide to work from home/another location in the country where their contract of employment is issued for 80% of their month, with the other 20% of their month being office-based See our Benefits page for more as well as our flexible working FAQ.

ClientEarth values diversity and inclusion and the benefits this brings. We aim to appoint the most suitable candidate at all times and welcome applications from people from all different backgrounds. See our equity, diversity and inclusion journey page for more.

Please note that ClientEarth is only able to employ those who have the pre-existing legal right to work in the countries listed at the top of this job advert.

ClientEarth is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or legal services to third parties.