JOIN OUR TEAM: head of Legal

EN

Location: Option to be based in either Athens, Thessaloniki, or Samos Position Type: 4 days per week, option for flexible working

Reporting to: Project Manager

Salary: 1400 euro net per month

Starting date: September 2026

Duration: 12-month Greek contract with opportunity to extend

Application deadline: 21st of August

Organisational Context

The Human Rights Legal Project (HRLP) works to defend the dignity and fundamental rights of displaced people within the European Union, and at its borders, by providing legal assistance to individuals and affected communities, and by pursuing strategic action to hold responsible authorities and institutions to account.

HRLP was founded as a joint initiative of individual humanitarian workers in 2020, the primary intention being to focus on litigation and representation in cases of alleged human rights violations on behalf of asylum-seekers and refugees within the Greek asylum process, and the defence of people criminalised whilst migrating. Such cases may include, but are not limited to, denial of access to essential health care services, unlawful incarceration or with inadequate facilities, non-access to fair trial and police (or any public authority) brutality and misconduct, and cases of sexual abuse and violence.

As the organisation continues to expand and grow we are seeking to recruit a Head of Legal to oversee and manage the legal team and casework. The candidate for this role must be based in Athens, Thessaloniki, or Samos.

If based on the mainland, the candidate must be willing to travel regularly to Samos. They must have extensive knowledge of EU and Greek migration and asylum processes, and most importantly, be passionate about human rights and justice.

Responsibilities

The Head of Legal will work under the line management of the Project Manager who works on Samos. Primary tasks will include, but are not limited to:

1. Legal and Advocacy

● Leading on HRLP’s internal legal strategy and providing guidance to the wider team on HRLP’s legal approach.

● Providing legal consultancy and services to clients on a strictly pro-bono basis, in line with HRLP's mandate.

● Ensuring that all legal cases taken on by the team fit within the mandate of the project; in cases of exception, submitting proposals to the board.

● Ensuring that the representation of individuals by contracted staff in private cases does not conflict with the interests of HRLP.

● Developing and implementing a domestic and international advocacy strategy for the organisation that reflects legal challenges addressed by HRLP.

● Attendance and representation at relevant working groups, and other fora at a local, national, EU level and international level.

● Representing HRLP in external legal, advocacy and policy spaces, building the organisation's profile as a credible voice on migration and asylum rights.

● Coordinate with the Communications Officer to support HRLP’s communications and advocacy efforts, contributing to the organisation’s strategic positioning and strengthening its visibility across digital, media, and press channels.

● Monitoring and documenting violations of the rights of asylum seekers and refugees on Samos.

2. Management and Oversight

● Managing and supervising HRLP's legal team, including leading on recruitment processes.

● Providing technical supervision of the legal team's work, including reviewing and quality assuring legal arguments, submissions, and case strategies

● Conducting debriefing of major cases as part of wider team reflective practice.

● Ensuring regular follow-up on ongoing cases by organising weekly team meetings.

● Maintaining a data record and case management system.

● Promoting the provision of HRLP’s services through the organisation’s platforms and workshops.

3. Partnerships and Network Development

● Maintaining and expanding HRLP's existing network; developing new partnerships and nurturing existing ones.

● Contributing to donor reporting and relationship management, including attendance at donor meetings and briefings.

4. Organisational Development

● Supporting the board in strategic planning and organisational sustainability.

● Contributing to fundraising efforts, including input into grant applications where relevant to legal programming.

● Identifying gaps in HRLP's service provision and proposing solutions in line with organisational capacity.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• The right to live and work, without restriction, in Greece;

• A qualified lawyer, with a licence to practise in Greece;

• Fluent English language skills;

• Proven experience of EU and Greek migration, asylum and human rights law and processes;

• Experience in human rights litigation including the management of legal caseloads and representing clients before Greek and/or European and international tribunals and institutions.

• Proven experience in legal case management, including reviewing and quality-assuring legal arguments and submissions;

• Experience supervising and leading multidisciplinary legal teams, including lawyers and interpreters.

• Prior experience working within human rights, the migration sector, or an NGO/non-profit, ideally within a Greek context;

• Awareness of ethical guidelines for the humanitarian field, including GDPR and safeguarding best practices;

• Dedication to the pursuit of justice and due process in the field of migration;

• Ability and willingness to work in a dynamic and highly challenging environment, which may necessitate out-of-work hours;

• Excellent advocacy, negotiation, interpersonal, and communication skills.

• Strong administrative and organisational skills, with the ability to work and manage autonomously, while also leading a team.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• Experience in project management, strategic planning, and organisational development;

• Experience in advocacy, including representation at working groups, donor meetings, or policy fora;

• Experience contributing to fundraising or grant reporting;

• Proficiency in other languages

• Long term commitment to the project.

  
  

compensation & benefits

• 1,400 euro net per month.

• 25 days annual leave + public holidays (based on FTE).

• 2 days annual wellbeing leave.

• Contribution to relocation (if applicable).

• Travel and accommodation fully covered for all work related trips.

Application Procedure

Please send a CV and cover letter in English, no later than August 21st 2026, on how you meet the criteria listed above and how your experience is relevant to hrlp.steeringcommittee@gmail.com. Recruitment will be conducted in line with safer recruitment principles. Only appropriately qualified candidates will be considered, applications will be considered on a rolling basis and interested people are strongly encouraged to apply early.

HRLP is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. HRLP also encourages applicants with lived migration experience.