ThaiNGO

Who We Are

International Justice Mission (IJM) is the global leader in protecting vulnerable people from violence around the world. Our team of over 1,200 professionals are at work worldwide in over 30 offices. Together we are on a mission to rescue millions, protect half a billion, and make justice unstoppable.

We are a global community that cares for one another. We believe that the way we work is as important as the results we achieve. We provide professional excellence with joy and celebration to all those we serve. 

The Need

For over 25 years, IJM has pioneered the work to protect vulnerable people from violence. As we grow to expand our impact to protect 500 million people from violence by 2030, we are seeking a Senior Lawyer, Legal Casework and Policy Advocacy to serve as IJM’s legal expert, contributing significantly to the success of IJM’s casework and engaging in legal and policy advocacy to improve the justice system’s response to forced labor.

This position is 2-years contract, based in Bangkok, Thailand, and reports to the Head of Legal and Survivor Services in Bangkok.

Responsibilities

Legal Casework

1. Pursue criminal and civil remedies for victims of forced labor, labor trafficking, and other labor abuses in assigned cases.
2. Draft legal documents and participate in oral arguments before courts.
3. Provide effective support to public prosecutors in assigned criminal cases; join cases as co-plaintiff lawyer to represent IJM clients in court proceedings, including pre-trial hearings, trials and appeals.
4. Achieve accountability for perpetrators through conviction, asset seizure, or other penalties and relief for victims, including payment of compensation or unpaid wages, in forced labor, labor trafficking cases under the Labor Protection Act.
5. Attend and/or participate in all legal proceedings relevant to assigned cases.
6. Perform legal research and draft pleadings as necessary in assigned cases.
7. Develop and implement litigation plans and strategies in assigned cases.
8. Complete case legal analysis using the Legal Assessment Form prior to case opening in assigned cases.
9. Advise the IJM Investigations and Law Enforcement Development Department in preparation of cases.
10. Fully understand criminal code and procedures as well as current and future laws related to forced labor and labor trafficking; stay informed and disseminate new relevant government regulations concerning forced labor or human trafficking to IJM Thailand casework staff.
11. Update IJM’s Justice Data Solution System (JDS), and other monitoring tools to enable a complete gathering of data on current forced labor trafficking casework.

Policy Advocacy and Capacity Building

1. Strengthen and ensure quality implementation of legal advocacy and policy recommendations and strategies to improve the government’s response to force labor and labor trafficking issues.
2. Conduct legal research study, write legal papers, articles and analyses on FL/LT and provide recommendations (written and spoken) for how to effectively reform, strengthen and improve the justice system response to FL/LT.
3. Provide support and effective inputs to IJM’s capacity building and training strategy for improving the law enforcement and prosecution responses of IJM’s government partners to forced labour and labour trafficking cases.
4. Provide training to government authorities and other IJM partners on legal issues related to forced labor and human trafficking offenses, laws and criminal procedures.
5. Stay informed of any new relevant government regulations, laws, or potential legal revisions concerning forced labour or human trafficking and provide updates to IJM casework staff.

Relationships

1. Develop and maintain strong, professional working relationships with officers from the Royal Thai Police (RTP), Department of Special Investigation (DSI), other relevant law enforcement units, prosecutors (OAG), judges (COJ), court officials, lawyers, and NGOs with whom IJM may partner on forced labor exploitation and human trafficking issues or cases.
2. Develop good rapport and consistently engage with IJM clients in a victim-sensitive, trauma-informed way, demonstrating proficiency in knowledge and practice of trauma-informed care in the provision of legal assistance.
3. Work and collaborate well with other IJM Thailand departments, including Investigations, Law Enforcement and Development team, Legal and Survivor Services, Advocacy and Community Engagement, Program Support, Finance, Human Resources and Administration.

Requirements:

• Law degree from an accredited Thai university required, with excellent academic achievement; Master’s Degree in Law preferred (L.L.M.).
• 3-5 years’ experience practicing law in criminal court, a corporate legal department or as an attorney at a private law firm or NGO.
• License to practice law in Thailand required.
• Strong written and spoken communication in English and Thai required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other computer software is required.
• No criminal record.

Critical Qualities:

• Leadership Skill
• Interpersonal Skills
• Commitment to serving the poor and oppressed.
• Attention to Detail
• Communications Skill
• High level of honesty, integrity, and reliability.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
• Skilled in networking, negotiation, and decision-making.
• Team Player
• Stress Management

Application Process:

Interested applicants, please send your Cover Letter and CV/Resume in English in one PDF document, and complete our application form ( IJM Bangkok Application Form.docx), and send all documents to bangkokrecruiting@ijm.org not later than 15 May 2025.

Remarks: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

IJM holds strict safeguarding principles and a zero tolerance to violations of the Safeguarding Policy, Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Policy and Code of Conduct. Parallel to technical competence, recruitment, selection and hiring decisions will give due emphasis to assessing the candidates value congruence and thorough background, police clearance and reference check processes.