Lawyer, Fundamental Rights Europe

ClientEarth; Brussel Hoofdstad; Hybrid; EUR 48,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

ClientEarth in Brussels is seeking a Lawyer for the Fundamental Rights Europe team. The role focuses on strategic litigation to strengthen the protection of communities and the environment within the EU legal framework.

The post holder will collaborate with colleagues and external stakeholders to advance rights-based interventions and ensure alignment with organisational priorities. This full-time role may be filled by someone working 80% of the time.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Contribute to setting strategy for the Fundamental Rights work area.
• Lead the planning and delivery of litigation and advocacy strategies.
• Initiate and maintain collaborations with civil society organisations, external counsel, and experts in support of strategic litigation projects.

Education

Law degree

Specialisation in human rights law

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

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 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

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

Note to candidates: We know that long lists of criteria can be daunting and that some candidates will not apply for a role unless they feel they are 100% qualified. If you feel you meet at least some of the essential criteria, we still encourage you to apply.

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Flexible working

We are proud to be a 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.

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.