Job description:
Lead-Legal Interventions
HAQ: Centre for Child Rights is dedicated to the recognition, promotion and protection of all rights for all children. As part of our initiative on access to justice and restorative care, we provide legal and counselling support, immediate medical and rehabilitation support to child victims of abuse and exploitation. Our long-term aim is to work towards responsive, sensitive and accountable justice system for children. (For more information on HAQ please visit www.haqcrc.org)
HAQ is recruiting Lead-Legal Interventions to lead HAQ’s legal intervention work for children who come in contact with law and enter into the criminal justice system, either as victims or alleged accused or as witnesses. The Lead will manage HAQ’s legal team consisting of in-house lawyers and retainer lawyers who represent children before various forums such as Juvenile Justice Boards, Children’s Courts, Special POCSO Courts, High Court and the Supreme Court. The Lead - Legal Interventions is expected to manage a caseload of cases of child abuse and other cases of children in difficult circumstances, ensure effective and efficient representation for children, administration of cases per established protocols and quality services.
Since HAQ’s Access to Justice initiative has a very strong component of action research and training, and is also part of HAQ’s work on children and governance, Lead – Legal Interventions is expected to contribute to the creation and analysis of data for research, development of training materials, undertaking capacity building programmes for various stakeholders, development of critical thinking on law and policy reform issues, and participation in various forums working towards strengthening the child protection system in the country.
The primary responsibilities include:
1. Legal case work management;
2. Team management;
3. Overseeing day-to-day execution of the legal team’s work;
4. Developing case-specific strategies to secure effective, fair and timely justice, uphold the rights and best interests of children, and promote accountability, while ensuring that all legal interventions remain consistent with due process and the principles of a fair trial;
5. Mentoring legal fellows and developing their perspectives on child rights and child protection;
6. Providing ongoing mentoring and training to legal team on case strategy, substantive child rights laws, child-sensitive investigation and trial processes, victim and witness support, professional ethics and effective courtroom practice;
7. Undertaking or overseeing field visits, as required, to engage with children and their families, understand their needs and concerns, and ensure that their views and participation inform the legal strategy;
8. Directly representing children and attending court hearings when required;
9. Assessing and providing strategic oversight on appeals, bail-related remedies, including applications for cancellation of bail where legally warranted, and other strategic litigation, including Public Interest Litigation
10. Evolving and implementing work plans and reporting procedures for the legal team;
11. Undertaking periodic review of work and progress made in each case as well as of systemic challenges faced by the legal team;
12. Proactively engaging with concerned national and state authorities, especially police and prosecution, medical practitioners, Child Welfare Committees (CWC), Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs), Courts, Ministry / Department of Women and Child Development, Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) and such other authorities and agencies as may be important for legal case work management, training, research, law and policy reform;
13. Contributing towards development of good practices in child rights lawyering;
14. Developing training modules and conducting capacity building programmes on child rights laws and policy framework;
15. Supervising legal internships; and
16. Working in coordination with the social work and counselling team, research and development team at HAQ.
Required qualifications and attributes:
• Bachelor’s degree in Law required, Master’s degree in Law preferred
• 7 years of professional experience, with 5 years’ experience at the trial court level
• 2-3 years’ experience managing and developing human resources
• Demonstrated commitment to securing and promoting human rights of the most vulnerable
• Sound working knowledge of criminal law and procedure and of the laws relating to children, including the POCSO Act, 2012 and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and familiarity with the new criminal laws (BNS, BNSS and BSA, 2023).
• Excellent drafting, written and oral advocacy skills in English and Hindi.
• Integrity and demonstrated excellence at work
• Commitment to meeting deadlines and achieving results under pressure
• Proficient in Microsoft Office or similar software and database systems
• Excellent written and spoken English and Hindi and comprehension skills
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to empower a team to accomplish the objectives
• Ability to analyze and solve complex problems
• Demonstrated ability to work in challenging, and sometimes hostile, environments
• Willingness to respond to sexual assault cases at the police station at all times, including late night
• Persistent, bold, yet diplomatic, when standing up for child’s interests
• Willingness to learn and stretch oneself beyond comfort levels
• Ability to adapt to the changing environment at work place and in the sector
Preference will be given to the following applicants:
• Candidates with at least one-year prior experience in the human rights sector, preferably in the areas of women’s and children’s rights;
• Candidates willing to give a minimum three years’ commitment
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should email the following to the Executive Director, HAQ: Centre for Child Rights, at applications@haqcrc.org, with the subject line “Application – Lead, Legal Interventions”:
• A cover letter (not more than one page) explaining their interest in and suitability for the role;
• A current CV;
• Two samples of their legal work (for example, a written submission, bail opposition, appeal or petition), with identifying details of the parties removed;
• At least 10 recent Court Orders (of trial court or High Court or Supreme Court), not older than two years, reflecting the candidate’s appearance; and
• Names and contact details of two referees.
The last date for application is 27 November 2026.
Location: Delhi/NCR
Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted by email about the selection process, which may include a written assessment and interviews. We will not entertain telephonic enquiries in this regard.