About Us

Legal Research & Advocacy Post Graduate Fellowship (Remote)

The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) is seeking a full-time post-graduate fellow for its London office. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment, contributing to our human rights work, including our global programme to eradicate contemporary forms of human slavery and human trafficking, and our international advocacy work with the UN and Commonwealth mechanisms. Our other programme areas include access to justice, access to information, and freedom of expression and media freedom. You will be part of a small team, conducting critical research and supporting advocacy efforts, as well as involved in awareness raising and campaigns. 

About CHRI

CHRI is an international, independent, non-governmental organisation that works for the practical realisation of human rights through research, advocacy, capacity building, and network engagement. We believe that the promotion and protection of human rights is the responsibility of governments but that the active informed participation of civil society is also vital to ensuring rule of law and the realisation of human rights.

CHRI has offices in London, Accra and New Delhi. Our global work focuses on the intersection of human rights, transparency and good governance.

CHRI’s work to eradicate contemporary forms of slavery and human trafficking, as well as freedom of expression and media freedom, is led by the London office. The London office also founded and acts as the Secretariat for the Commonwealth 8.7 Network - a group of 100+ local civil society organisations from across the globe who share a common vision to eradicate contemporary forms of slavery and human trafficking.

To learn more about the work of CHRI London see our website. (Note that our website is currently being updated). For more information on the Commonwealth 8.7 Network, see the 8.7 Network website.

What We Offer

The successful fellowship candidate will gain work experience in human rights for an established international NGO by contributing to research and advocacy work focused on contemporary forms of slavery and freedom of expression. The London Office also collaborates regularly with the other CHRI offices, which may offer opportunities to work across CHRI issue areas, especially access to justice.

The selected post-graduate fellow will be a key member of our London team, contributing to our high-profile research and advocacy agenda. The members of the London team are located across geographies and time zones; all working remotely. This provides fellows and interns the opportunity to own and lead their own work streams while being part of a supportive team environment.

We are a learning organisation committed to building the skills and knowledge of our team. Fellows will be fully integrated as part of the team, gaining insight into how a small NGO is run, including programme design, project management, capacity building, and communications.

Key responsibilities, amongst others, are listed below:

  • Legal research & evidence building: Conduct legal research supporting CHRI London’s work on contemporary forms of slavery and human trafficking, freedom of expression, and climate change; gather and analyse data to draft evidence-based human rights reports, policies, and statements.
  • International and Commonwealth advocacy: Contribute to advocacy efforts at the UN (Human Rights Council, Treaty Bodies, UPR, and other human rights mechanisms) and Commonwealth mechanisms, including advocacy for and at CHOGM (November 2026); prepare submissions, reports, statements, and articles; monitor relevant developments to identify opportunities for engagement.
  • Capacity building: Support the strengthening of the Commonwealth 8.7 Network through technical advice, research, and the design/delivery of trainings, webinars, and other learning activities.
  • Programme coordination & collaboration: Collaborate with team members to plan and deliver research projects and advocacy initiatives; support to coordinate CHRI London’s partnerships; provide guidance to interns and assist with project delivery within agreed timelines.
  • Administrative and communications support: Support to produce the CHRI Human Rights Update (weekly newsletter on current human rights issues across the Commonwealth); draft, review, and edit blogs on issues relating to contemporary forms of slavery for The 8.7 Quarterly newsletter; liaise with and support the advocacy and communications efforts of the Commonwealth 8.7 Network; create content for social media and the websites; and contribute to other duties related to the CHRI’s programmes, as required – we are a small team and flexibility is needed!

When to start

We are looking for someone able to commit full time for their full fellowship period.

What we Look for 

Fellows should be legal post-graduates with the necessary qualifications for the relevant fellowship for which funding is sought.

Required qualifications and skills include:

  • Substantial expertise and professional experience in human rights law
  • Working knowledge of the UN human rights mechanisms
  • Commitment to the promotion of human rights, social justice, and public service
  • Demonstrated legal drafting and analytical skills, for example, through experience in the application of international human rights law
  • Excellent communications skills, including the ability to write clearly and concisely in English
  • High degree of personal responsibility for one’s work and the ability to manage one’s own time and workload
  • Ability to organise, prioritise, and deliver high quality products under time constraints and pressure
  • Interest, knowledge and experience in the areas of contemporary forms of slavery and human trafficking, as well as freedom of expression and media freedom, including understanding of regulatory frameworks and rights at risk
  • Willingness to show initiative and creativity to respond to human rights issues as they arise Desirable qualifications and skills include:
  • Experience working as part of an international, cross-cultural team
  • Experience working with the legal professionals, inter-governmental organisations and/or human rights NGOs

To Apply

Please send your CV, a personal statement of no more than 500 words outlining why you are interested in this role, what you can offer CHRI and what you aim to achieve in your fellowship,  and two recent writing/research samples which you have produced yourself to london@humanrightsinitiative.org.

In accordance with our diversity policy, we welcome applications from LGBTQ+ community and/or minority groups.

CHRI does not provide direct funding for year long fellows and so asks applicants interested in our fellowships to seek sponsorships from their law schools, corporate foundations and public interest fellowships. Please state the funding for which you are eligible in your application.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.