UNPAID VOLUNTEER - Principal / Senior / Legal Advisor / Assistant (UK based)

Blockchain & Climate Institute / BCI America Inc.; Remote; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading non-profit organization seeks a Volunteer Principal Legal Advisor for their Director-General’s Office. This role involves providing expert legal advice on issues like employment law and contract law, assisting in minimizing legal risks. The ideal candidate should have extensive legal experience, preferably within a non-profit environment. You'll work on initiatives that intersect climate change and legal governance, contributing to impactful projects. This is an unpaid role focused on making a difference in the climate sector.

Benefits

Gain meaningful experience

Develop professional connections

Work on impactful projects

Qualifications

• Minimum requirement for Legal Assistant: Bachelor's Degree / Postgraduate Degree in Law.
• Minimum requirement for Legal Advisor: Qualified solicitor / barrister with post-qualification experience.
• Minimum requirement for Senior Legal Advisor: Minimum of 3 years post-qualification experience.
• Minimum requirement for Principal Legal Advisor: Minimum of 7 years post-qualification experience.

Responsibilities

• Providing legal advice on various matters.
• Drafting legal opinions and documents.
• Advising on legal issues related to climate action frameworks.

Skills

Strong analytical and research skills

Effective interpersonal and communication skills

Ability to work well in a team

Excellent English writing skills

Excellent problem-solving skills

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's Degree / Postgraduate Degree in Law

Qualified solicitor / barrister in the UK with post-qualification experience

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Job description

THIS IS AN UNPAID VOLUNTEERING ROLE.

Role Title : Principal Legal Advisor / Senior Legal Advisor / Legal Advisor / Legal Assistant - Common Law Jurisdictions

Role Nature : Volunteer

Location : Home-based

The Blockchain & Climate Institute (BCI) is an international volunteers-led think tank supporting and advocating the application of blockchain technology in the global fight against climate change.

We are looking to recruit highly motivated and enthusiastic VOLUNTEER Principal Legal Advisor / Senior Legal Advisor / Legal Advisor / Legal Assistant for Common Law Jurisdictions to join our Director-General’s Office (Legal Advisory & Governance Section). The ideal candidate is driven and experienced, and looking to make a difference in international climate change governance. The successful candidate will ultimately report to the General Counsel, and provide expert and strategic legal advice to all BCI divisions, concerning the legal obligations and operations of BCI and assist in the minimization of any legal risk exposure, including employment law, contract law, privacy law, and competition law, etc.

Responsibilities

• Providing advice on legal matters;
• Evaluating and weighing multiple inputs and impacts of any decision or course of action;
• Supporting the formulation or review of internal governance policies and managing the impact of external factors;
• Drafting legal opinions, memoranda, and briefing documents;
• Formulating formalities regarding settlements of disputes;
• Monitoring the implementation of the legal clauses;
• Provide legal insights into the use of blockchain and emerging technologies in climate action frameworks;
• Advise members on legal issues and risks, including corporate and charity governance, fundraising, marketing, competition, data protection, trademarks, copyright, defamation, and litigation matters, etc.

Core competencies

• Strong analytical and research skills including critical thinking, organizational and problem-solving skills;
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills;
• Ability to work well within a team and individually;
• Seeking a complementary range of specialisms (charity, commercial, corporate, contract, employment, litigation, and others).

Requirements

Skills & Abilities

• Excellent English writing skills, including the ability to develop effective working relationships, work flexibly across professional and operational boundaries, and communicate professionally with internal and external stakeholders at all levels;
• Proven ability to effectively multitask and prioritize work;
• Excellent problem-solving skills;
• Excellent attention to detail and a proactive attitude are indispensable skills required for this role.

General & Specialist Knowledge

• Excellent use of Microsoft Office 365 suite (including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint & OneDrive) is essential to perform in this role;
• Some knowledge on topics central to the BCI such as climate change, climate finance, and blockchain technology preferred.

Education & Training

• (Legal Assistant) Minimum requirement: Bachelor's Degree / Postgraduate Degree in Law (e.g. LLB or GDL);
• (Legal Advisor) Minimum requirement: Qualified solicitor / barrister in the UK with some post-qualification experience in either private practice or in-house (ideally some in-house experience is highly preferable);
• (Senior Legal Advisor) Minimum requirement: Qualified solicitor / barrister in the UK with a minimum of 3 years post-qualification experience in either private practice or in-house (at least some in-house experience is highly preferable);
• (Principal Legal Advisor) Minimum requirement: Qualified solicitor / barrister in the UK with a minimum of 7 years post-qualification experience in either private practice or in-house (at least some in-house experience is highly preferable);

Relevant Experience

• Proven experience in a not-for-profit environment;
• Overall broad common law legal knowledge in relevant areas (corporate law, contract law, employment law, or litigation, etc.);
• In-depth understanding of how legal issues affect organizations;
• Ability to develop legal strategy and objectives;
• Experience in building constructive relationships with stakeholders;
• Experience in working independently and with teams to drive forward blockchain-related projects using your own initiative.

Benefits

Blockchain and other emerging technologies. Climate change and sustainability. These are two hot topic groups that have been headlining media outlets, dominating conferences & events, and gaining increasing traction in research and pilot projects. BCI is here as an expert platform to help governments, inter-governmental and regional organizations as well as relevant corporates to negotiate the complex landscape of emerging technologies for environmental good. We cement our expertise by putting in the hard work in researching, identifying, and analyzing the applications of emerging technologies so that informed decisions can be made by the stakeholders in the climate change and action network.

• You will hone or learn new skills including research, presentation, writing, professional etiquette;
• You will gain meaningful experience that enhances both your professional skills and sense of purpose;
• You will advance and boost your professional career by helping you to make professional connections and give you real-world experience at the intersection between climate and emerging technologies;
• Help you develop long-lasting professional relationships with others. People who come together to make the world a better place forge a close connection.

Selection Process

As a voluntary organization, we are pleased to open the door for candidates who may not have the prior experience they need to start, progress, or switch their careers. To recruit the most suitable, talented, or potential new members out of the volume of applications received, it is the BCI’s policy to also consider inexperienced candidates to fill our voluntary unpaid roles as long as they can demonstrate the skills required in the written assessment. In the selection process, most candidates will be invited to complete the following assessment.

Section A: Verbal and Numerical Reasoning (20 multiple-choice questions)

Section B: Situation Judgment Test (20 multiple-choice questions)

Section C: In-Tray Exercise (An open-ended assessment relevant to the duties of the role)

Candidates who pass all three sections will be invited to attend a phone screening, first interview, and final interview online.

Diversity and Inclusion

The BCI is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age, gender identity, ethnicity, nationality, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status. Our strength lies in the diversity of perspectives that our volunteers bring, and we believe this is essential to advancing innovative solutions at the intersection of climate change and emerging technologies.