UNPAID VOLUNTEER - Legal Advisors (Principal, Senior and Legal Assistants)

UNPAID VOLUNTEER – Legal Advisors (Principal, Senior and Legal Assistants)

Role Titles: Principal Legal Advisor / Senior Legal Advisor / Legal Assistant
Role Type: Unpaid Volunteer
Number of Positions: Multiple
Office: Director-General’s Office – Legal Advisory & Governance
Location: Home-based / Remote
Reporting To: General Counsel

THIS IS AN UNPAID VOLUNTEER ROLE.

About DTID

The Digital Technology Institute for Development (DTID) is an international non-profit institute advancing the responsible use of artificial intelligence, blockchain and emerging digital technologies to support sustainable development and policy implementation.

DTID brings together professionals, researchers, technology specialists and other stakeholders to generate research, develop practical solutions, strengthen partnerships and support informed decision-making at the intersection of technology, climate change and sustainable development.

The Role

DTID is seeking motivated and professionally committed legal professionals to join its Legal Advisory & Governance function as Principal Legal Advisors, Senior Legal Advisors and Legal Assistants.

Working under the leadership of the General Counsel, successful candidates will provide legal research, drafting, advisory and governance support across DTID’s international operations.

The nature and complexity of responsibilities will vary according to the level of appointment. Senior candidates will provide strategic legal advice and handle complex legal and governance matters, while Legal Assistants will primarily support legal research, documentation, contract review and administrative aspects of the legal function.

The team supports DTID across areas including:

• Corporate and nonprofit governance.
• Contract and commercial law.
• Employment and volunteer-related matters.
• Privacy and data protection.
• Intellectual property.
• Regulatory and compliance matters.
• Partnerships and institutional agreements.
• Legal risk management.
• Dispute prevention and resolution.
• Emerging technology governance.

Legal Advisors may also contribute to DTID’s work examining the legal and regulatory implications of artificial intelligence, blockchain and other emerging technologies within international development, climate action and sustainable development.

Appointment level will be determined according to qualifications, professional standing, relevant experience and demonstrated capability.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

Depending on appointment level, responsibilities may include:

• Providing legal research, advice and guidance to DTID Divisions and senior leadership.
• Drafting and reviewing contracts, agreements, memoranda, policies and other legal documentation.
• Conducting legal research on regulatory, governance and organisational matters.
• Supporting the identification, assessment and management of legal risks.
• Advising on corporate and nonprofit governance requirements.
• Supporting employment, volunteer and organisational policy matters.
• Advising on privacy, data protection and confidentiality requirements.
• Supporting intellectual property, copyright, trademark and related matters.
• Reviewing partnership, consultancy, confidentiality and other institutional agreements.
• Monitoring relevant legislative and regulatory developments.
• Preparing legal opinions, briefing notes and recommendations.
• Supporting dispute prevention and resolution where required.
• Contributing to the development and review of DTID policies, procedures and governance frameworks.
• Providing legal input into projects involving artificial intelligence, blockchain and emerging digital technologies.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across DTID to provide practical and proportionate legal solutions.
• Maintaining appropriate legal records and supporting effective knowledge management within the legal function.

Appointment Levels

Principal Legal Advisor

The Principal Legal Advisor will operate at a senior strategic level and may:

• Provide complex legal advice to the General Counsel, Director-General and senior leadership.
• Lead or oversee significant legal matters and institutional agreements.
• Advise on legal risk, governance, compliance and strategic organisational issues.
• Review and approve complex contracts and legal documentation.
• Provide guidance to Senior Legal Advisors and Legal Assistants.
• Support the development of legal strategies, policies and governance frameworks.
• Lead legal workstreams relating to complex projects, partnerships or organisational initiatives.
• Represent the legal function in senior-level internal or external discussions where appropriate.

Senior Legal Advisor

The Senior Legal Advisor will independently manage a range of legal matters and may:

• Provide legal advice across assigned subject areas.
• Draft, review and negotiate contracts and agreements.
• Prepare legal opinions, memoranda and briefing documents.
• Conduct complex legal research and regulatory analysis.
• Advise teams on legal risks and compliance requirements.
• Support policy and governance development.
• Provide guidance and support to Legal Assistants.
• Escalate significant legal or reputational risks to the General Counsel.

Legal Assistant

The Legal Assistant will support the Legal Advisory & Governance function through:

• Conducting legal and regulatory research.
• Preparing first drafts of legal documents and briefing notes.
• Supporting contract and policy reviews.
• Maintaining legal records, trackers and document repositories.
• Assisting with legal due diligence and background research.
• Monitoring relevant legal and regulatory developments.
• Supporting preparation for meetings and legal reviews.
• Assisting Principal and Senior Legal Advisors with assigned legal matters.
• Supporting the administration and organisation of the legal function.

Skills and Abilities

Candidates should demonstrate:

• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Strong legal research and analytical skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong critical-thinking and problem-solving capability.
• Ability to interpret legal and regulatory information.
• Ability to communicate legal issues clearly to non-legal colleagues.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• High standards of professional integrity and confidentiality.
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgement.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with others.
• Ability to work effectively within a remote and internationally distributed organisation.
• A proactive, practical and solutions-focused approach.

More senior appointments will require demonstrated ability to provide independent legal advice, manage complex matters and exercise senior-level professional judgement.

General and Specialist Knowledge

Candidates should have knowledge or experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Corporate law.
• Nonprofit and charity governance.
• Commercial and contract law.
• Employment law.
• Data protection and privacy.
• Intellectual property.
• Regulatory compliance.
• Corporate governance.
• Organisational policies and procedures.
• Dispute resolution.
• Competition law.
• International commercial arrangements.
• Technology law.
• Artificial intelligence governance.
• Blockchain and digital technology regulation.

Candidates are not expected to be specialists in every area.

DTID is particularly interested in building a legal team with complementary areas of expertise.

Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office 365, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams and OneDrive, is expected.

Knowledge of climate change, sustainability, international development or emerging technologies would be advantageous.

Education and Training

Principal Legal Advisor

Candidates should preferably:

• Be a qualified lawyer admitted to practise in a recognised jurisdiction.
• Hold an LLB, JD or equivalent recognised law degree.
• Have approximately 7 or more years of relevant post-qualification experience.

A postgraduate legal qualification or specialist professional certification would be advantageous.

Senior Legal Advisor

Candidates should preferably:

• Be a qualified lawyer admitted to practise in a recognised jurisdiction.
• Hold an LLB, JD or equivalent recognised law degree.
• Have approximately 3 or more years of relevant post-qualification experience.

Legal Assistant

Candidates should possess:

• A recognised degree in Law or equivalent legal qualification.

Candidates who are currently completing professional legal qualification requirements may also be considered where they demonstrate strong legal research, drafting and analytical capability.

Professional proficiency in English is required for all appointment levels.

Knowledge of an additional international language would be advantageous.

Experience

Depending on appointment level, candidates should demonstrate relevant experience in areas such as:

• Legal research and analysis.
• Contract drafting and review.
• Legal advisory work.
• Corporate or nonprofit governance.
• Employment or organisational law.
• Privacy and data protection.
• Regulatory compliance.
• Policy development.
• Intellectual property.
• Commercial transactions.
• Legal risk management.
• Working with internal or external stakeholders.

For Principal Legal Advisor appointments, candidates should demonstrate substantial experience managing complex legal matters and providing strategic advice to senior decision-makers.

For Senior Legal Advisor appointments, candidates should demonstrate the ability to independently manage legal matters and provide practical legal advice.

For Legal Assistant appointments, previous professional legal experience is desirable but may not be essential where the candidate demonstrates strong legal research, drafting and analytical capability.

Experience within an international organisation, nonprofit organisation, technology organisation, research institution, public-sector organisation or multinational environment would be advantageous.

Benefits

What Difference Will You Make?

DTID operates across countries, disciplines and rapidly evolving areas of technology and policy. Strong legal support is therefore essential to ensuring that the organisation develops responsibly, manages risk effectively and maintains appropriate governance standards.

As part of the Legal Advisory & Governance team, you will help protect DTID’s interests while enabling colleagues to pursue institutional objectives with greater legal clarity and confidence.

Your contribution will strengthen DTID’s governance, contractual arrangements, compliance, risk management and institutional accountability while supporting the organisation’s continued international development.

Benefits

What Will You Gain from Volunteering with DTID?

Although these positions are unpaid, volunteering with DTID provides opportunities to:

• Apply legal knowledge within an international organisation.
• Gain exposure to a broad range of organisational and commercial legal matters.
• Work alongside experienced legal professionals and senior leadership.
• Develop experience in international nonprofit governance and institutional operations.
• Strengthen legal research, drafting, advisory and contract-review skills.
• Gain exposure to emerging legal issues involving artificial intelligence, blockchain and digital technologies.
• Collaborate with professionals from different countries and disciplines.
• Develop international professional networks and relationships.
• Gain experience working within a fully remote and globally distributed organisation.
• Contribute directly to DTID’s governance, compliance and institutional development.

Selection Process

DTID is committed to identifying talented individuals with both demonstrated expertise and strong potential.

Applications will be assessed according to the requirements of the relevant appointment level. Candidates may be considered for a different level from the one initially applied for where their qualifications and experience indicate that another level is more appropriate.

The selection process will normally include:

1. Application screening
2. Written or legal assessment
3. Interview and/or technical legal discussion for shortlisted candidates
4. Final selection and onboarding

Candidates who successfully complete the written or legal assessment will be invited to progress to the next stage of the recruitment process.

Important Notice

These are unpaid volunteer positions.