Research Fellow (International Law)

Job Title:  Research Fellow (International Law)
Job Location: Cambridge (Flexible)
Salary: £34,176 per annum based on 35 hours per week
Contract Type: Fixed Term to End December 2028, with the possibility of extension

We have an exciting opportunity for a Research Fellow to join the customary international humanitarian law (IHL) research team located at the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law at the University of Cambridge. The team is part of the British Red Cross International Law and Policy team which performs a wide range of operational and advisory functions which help the British Red Cross to carry out many of its special statutory roles as the recognised National Red Cross Society for the UK. The customary IHL project is jointly managed by the British Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

In the first endeavour of its kind, in 2005 the ICRC published its Study on Customary International Humanitarian Law, which identified 161 key rules of customary IHL and presented the State practice on which they are based, as well as related international practice.  In 2007, in cooperation with the British Red Cross, the ICRC started a project to update the collection of State and international practice underlying the Study. 

What will a Research Fellow's job involve?

• Analyse and evaluate documents concerning global practice in international humanitarian law from a variety of State and international sources, evaluating those elements which are relevant to the ICRC rules on customary IHL. 
• Produce an initial assessment of practice received for a designated country and period and perform additional research in line with Project Guidance. 
• Ensure that all documents processed are official State practice, obtained from reliable official sources and containing no copyright or other restrictions.
• Accurate translation into English of relevant sources, requiring both legal expertise as well as technical/legal language skills.
• Participate in public events on topics related to the project, to promote the online database and its utility amongst relevant audiences.  This may involve travel within the UK and overseas.
• Deliver informal periodic updates on the progress of the work to the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law, including delivering presentations to academics and contributing to the Centre’s newsletter and annual report.

What will a Research Fellow need to be successful?

• LL.M. with a focus on international law or the equivalent professional experience
• Demonstrated understanding of the structure, scope and main areas of international law and international humanitarian law
• Excellent command of English. 
• Good knowledge of French essential, with knowledge of Spanish desirable
• Excellent analytical skills and a proven capability to work in a precise, structured and detailed manner
• Ability to maintain up-to-date and accurate records
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and public presentation skills
• Excellent IT skills
• Recent experience of working with international humanitarian law in an academic or professional context