Overview

Join to apply for the Casework Lawyer (Contract) role at International Justice Mission.

IJM is a global leader protecting vulnerable people from violence and has operated for 23 years in 30 countries, focusing on combating human trafficking and strengthening criminal justice systems to respond effectively to THB (trafficking in persons).

Position based in Warsaw, with potential extensive travel across Poland. This is a contracted position served through a legal contract.

Position Overview

The Partnerships Lawyer role strengthens the capacities of casework partners to ensure survivors of THB receive needed legal support and to bolster the Public Justice System’s ability to handle THB cases. The role works with internal and external stakeholders across law enforcement, prosecution, and social services, and builds strategic partnerships with public prosecutors and civil society organizations to ensure legal protection for survivors and effective representation. This position may require travel throughout Poland.

This position reports to IJM Poland’s Casework Manager.

Note: IJM’s European Anti-Trafficking Program (EATP) focuses on cross-border trafficking across Europe. Based in Romania, EATP is expanding operations to Poland to scale protections for victims.

Key Result Areas (KRAs)

• Strategy Development & Execution: Develop and execute a strategy to increase the capacity of casework partners to deliver effective legal services, grounded in analysis of legal mechanisms and identified gaps.
• Legal Representation: Provide direct legal representation to THB victims in trial proceedings; support prosecutors; help ensure victim compensation where relevant.
• Partnership Management: Establish and maintain partnerships with governmental and civil society actors capable of delivering quality legal services.
• Mentorship and Training: Train government and civil society partners in multidisciplinary, trauma-informed prosecution techniques and THB legal provisions to support convictions.

Roles And Responsibilities

Strategy Development & Implementation

• Contribute to strategy framework for external-partner casework implementation.
• Assist the casework team with ongoing program design, redesign, and analysis as needed.

Networking & Partnership

• Build effective partnerships with justice system officials, social welfare officers, and other stakeholders at district and national levels in Poland.
• Lead multi-disciplinary meetings and support inter-institutional dialogue and coordination on THB cases.
• Develop and maintain a network of contacts within the legal aid space.
• Develop capacity of casework partners to mentor and support public prosecutors and justice officials to ensure accountability for THB perpetrators.

Training and Development

• Mentor public justice system officials and other legal entities in THB response.
• Develop and deliver high-quality professional training curricula for multi-disciplinary stakeholders.
• Support joint training programs with police, prosecutors, judiciary, social welfare, and medical staff on survivor-friendly THB interventions.

Policies and Procedures

• Assist in developing processes for identifying, onboarding and managing casework partners.
• Document best practices for partnerships, incorporating IJM global learnings for internal and external use.

Documentation, Reporting & Data Management

• Analyze and document THB cases to inform updated case management protocols.
• Monitor and evaluate the project, including targets, results, and outputs.
• Collaborate with MERL to develop monitoring and evaluation metrics to maximize effectiveness.

Supervisory

• The Partnerships Lawyer reports to the Casework Manager.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in law; advanced degree preferred.
• Five+ years of professional legal experience; fully licensed in Poland.
• Experience on human trafficking issues; THB casework preferred.
• Experience networking with legal aid providers and justice system officials.

Technical Competencies

• Strong understanding of Polish law relevant to THB.
• Experience representing victims of trafficking or other violent crime in court preferred.
• Knowledge of European legal institutions and how they interact.
• Strong understanding of European law relevant to THB.
• Knowledge of Polish criminal justice system actors and processes; ability to mentor multi-disciplinary stakeholders.
• Knowledge of criminal prosecution best practices regarding THB preferred.
• Fluent in English and Polish; working knowledge of at least one additional European language preferred.
• Excellent writing, documentation and reporting skills; able to maintain digital records and generate high-quality reports.
• Strong analytical, advocacy, and oral/written communication skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office and ability to learn case management/M&E software.

Non-Technical Competencies

• Partnership-oriented mindset with collaboration and learning emphasis.
• Innovative thinker; capable of creating and implementing new projects and methods.
• Servant leadership, professionalism, integrity, and resilience under stress.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to live and work in Poland.

Requirements

• Part-time contracted (rates paid per case).
• Travel within Poland up to 30% of the time.

Preference

• Polish driver’s license preferred.

Application Process

• Submit Resume/CV and Cover Letter in one document to poland@ijm.org (IJM may contact only selected candidates).
• Initial interview in Polish and English; technical interview in English; assessment task; final interview; reference check; job offer.
• IJM adheres to safeguarding policies; recruitment includes background checks and policy alignment.

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 value congruence and thorough background checks.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Contract

Job function

• Legal
• Non-profit Organizations

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