Full Job Description
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS AN UNPAID VOLUNTEERING ROLE
Role title: Legal Research Officer (Climate
Change/ Emerging Technologies)
Role nature:
Volunteer
Location: Europe (United
Kingdom, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway) (Home-based)
The
Blockchain & Climate Institute (BCI) is an international volunteer-led
think tank supporting and advocating the application of blockchain
technology in the global fight against climate change.
The
candidates for this VOLUNTARY, unpaid role should
possess the required knowledge about climate change-related
legislation and affinity with distributed ledger technologies, but
also be motivated to accomplish BCI’s mission.
Able to develop
rigorous methodologies for legal research projects, candidates are
expected to conduct independent legal research and analyses, as well
as engage key stakeholders, including legislators, regulators,
lawyers, and policymakers, to establish strategic partnerships for
accomplishing the BCI’s core mission. With support from Members of the
Regulatory Reform Working Group and under the guidance of the Head of
Legal Research, Legal Research Officers are given opportunities to
publish research papers and produce briefing materials for the
consumption of partner governments. Principal/Senior Legal Research
Officers will also be assigned to draft speeches and/or deliver
presentations on behalf of the BCI at external conferences.
The
standard time commitment for all BCI roles is, on average, one day per
week to be flexibly spread across the week.
Responsibilities:
- To provide
research support on topics around legislation or regulation regarding
international climate and environment-related treaties, etc.
- To engage relevant stakeholders in the change and sustainability
policy space for developing strategic partnerships or collaboration
opportunities
- To communicate BCI’s research findings and
insights at international conferences or high-level events
Requirements
Skills &
Abilities
- Excellent oral communication skills,
including the ability to develop effective working relationships, work
flexibly across professional and operational boundaries, and
communicate professionally with internal and external stakeholders at
all levels
- Purpose-driven professional, with a passion for
climate justice, innovation, and complex systems
- Fluency in
one of these languages is desirable
- Arabic
- Chinese
- French
- Russian
- Spanish
General & Specialist Knowledge
- Strong in-depth knowledge of the following topics:
- Big data (security)
- Climate change
- UNFCCC
processes
- Public international laws related to climate
change and the environment
- Basic understanding of the
functioning of
- Distributed ledger technology
- Token economy
- Smart contracts
- Crypto-assets
- Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office and legal
research databases such as Lexis Nexis
- Familiarity with
academic and referencing tools such as Mendeley
Education & Training
- A degree in
law is required
- A master’s degree in one of the following
fields is highly desirable:
- International Environmental
Law
- Climate Policy
- Information Technology Law
Relevant Experience
- Proven ability to conduct (academic) research in the fields of
international environmental law, climate change policy, and/or
Internet/Technology law (desirable)
- Proven experience
working independently and collaboratively in a team to drive forward
projects using his/her own initiative
- Experience in
designing, planning, and facilitating independent research and the
ability to meet tight deadlines
- Law firm/start-up experience
is not required, but is desirable
Benefits
Blockchain and other emerging technologies, as well
as climate change and sustainability, are two hot topic groups that
have been headlining media outlets, dominating conferences & events,
and gaining increasing traction in research and pilot projects. One of
the most important aspects of BCI’s mission is to support legislators
and policymakers to create an enabling environment for the adoption of
distributed ledger technologies. To that end, this opportunity will
deepen BCI's legal research on the interaction between existing legal
frameworks and innovative technologies.
The benefits
you will get from volunteering with BCI are enormous and include:
- You will refine existing skills or acquire new
ones, including legal research, presentation, writing, and
professional etiquette
- Your mind will be engaged, providing
you with a fulfilling sense of purpose
- You will enhance and
elevate your professional trajectory by building meaningful
connections, gaining practical experience at the convergence of
climate and emerging technologies
- You will cultivate
enduring professional relationships with individuals united in their
mission to improve the world and will establish close connections in
the nonprofit sector
Selection Process
As a voluntary organization, we are pleased to open
the door for candidates who may not have the prior experience they
need to start, progress, or switch their careers. To recruit the most
suitable, talented, or potential new members out of the volume of
applications received, it is the BCI’s policy to also consider
inexperienced candidates to fill our voluntary unpaid roles as long as
they can demonstrate the skills required in the written assessment. In
the selection process, most candidates will be invited to complete the
following assessment.
Section A:
Verbal and numerical reasoning (20 multiple-choice questions)
Section B:
Situation judgement test
(20 multiple-choice questions)
Section C:
In-tray exercise (an open-ended assessment relevant to the
duties of the role)
Candidates who pass all three sections
will be invited to attend a phone screening, first interview, and
final interview online.