Pro Bono Legal Services Lead

Advocates for International Development (A4ID) is seeking to appoint a Pro Bono Legal Services Lead at a pivotal moment in our organisation’s journey.

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full-time

Location: London

Salary: £40,000 – £50,000 per annum

Eligibility: Applicants must have the right to work in the UK

ABOUT A4ID

Advocates for International Development (A4ID) is a global charity that believes in the power of the law to drive positive change. We broker partnerships between leading law firms, in-house legal teams and civil society organisations to support the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Our work, places access to justice and the rule of law at the centre of sustainable development, supporting impactful, long-term change across multiple jurisdictions.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Pro Bono Legal Services Lead is responsible for the strategic direction, growth, and impact of A4ID’s Pro Bono Legal Services (PBLS) function.

As the organisational lead for PBLS, you will set the vision and direction for A4ID’s flagship brokering service, ensuring it remains innovative, scalable, and aligned with both partner needs and global development priorities. You will oversee a complex portfolio of international pro bono projects, lead and develop a high-performing team, and play a central role in strengthening A4ID’s global legal and civil society networks.

This role carries responsibility for partnership development, and income generation. You will work closely with the CEO and senior leadership team to shape organisational strategy, contribute to sustainability and growth, and ensure that PBLS continues to deliver measurable, high-quality impact.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Strategic Focus and Organisational Contribution

• Set and lead the strategic direction for PBLS, in agreement with the CEO, positioning it as a leading global pro bono broker service
• Identify and drive opportunities for growth, innovation, and diversification of PBLS services
• Ensure alignment between PBLS strategy and A4ID’s mission, SDG priorities, and funding landscape
• Establish and oversee performance frameworks, including KPIs, impact metrics, and reporting to CEO and the Board as required
• Collaborating with other teams across A4ID to coordinate networks, develop opportunities and effective work models

2. Oversight of Pro Bono Broker Service and Portfolio Delivery

• Provide strategic oversight of the end-to-end broker service, ensuring quality, consistency, and impact across all projects.
• Oversee the development of a strong pipeline of high-impact, multi-jurisdictional pro bono projects
• Ensure effective matching of legal expertise to complex CSO needs across diverse thematic areas
• Personally lead or oversee high-value, sensitive, or strategically significant partnerships and projects
• Ensure PBLS delivers a responsive, professional, and partner-focused service at all times

3. Team Leadership and Capability Building

• Lead, manage, and develop the PBLS team, fostering a high-performance, accountable and collaborative culture
• Provide strategic direction, coaching, and professional development to team members
• Oversee workforce planning, and recruitment including the intern programme
• Ensure effective delegation, workload management, and succession planning within the team

4. Partnership Development

• Build and sustain strategic, long-term partnerships with key legal and development actors globally
• Identify and cultivate new markets, regions, and sectors for PBLS engagement
• Develop tailored engagement strategies for different jurisdictions and stakeholder groups

5. Income Generation and Financial Sustainability

• Lead on income generation for PBLS, including strengthening and expanding financial contributions from legal partners
• Work closely with the CEO and fundraising function to identify and secure new funding streams
• Contribute to and, where appropriate, lead on grant proposals, funding bids, and donor engagement
• Develop sustainable income models linked to PBLS services, events, and partnerships
• Ensure robust financial oversight and value-for-money delivery across the function

6. Operations, Systems and Innovation

• Oversee the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of PBLS systems and processes
• Ensure effective use of digital platforms (e.g. Salesforce) to support scale and efficiency
• Drive innovation in service delivery, including digital solutions and new brokering models
• Ensure operational excellence, consistency, and scalability across all PBLS activities

7. Communications, Events and Profile Raising

• Ensure strategic use of communications to showcase PBLS impact and strengthen A4ID’s profile
• Develop high-quality outputs, together with the Communications team including case studies, reports, and thought leadership pieces
• Design and support delivery of high-level events, workshops, and convenings for partners
• Work closely with the Communications team to ensure consistent and compelling messaging

8. Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning

• Ensure robust systems are in place to measure, evaluate, and communicate PBLS impact
• Use data and insights to inform strategic decision-making and continuous improvement
• Oversee research into trends across legal and development sectors to maintain A4ID’s relevance and leadership
• Embed a culture of learning, reflection, and evidence-based practice within the team

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

• Qualified lawyer (or law degree) in any jurisdiction
• Significant experience (typically 5+ years) in legal practice, pro bono, or access to justice work
• Demonstrable experience in a leadership or senior management role
• Proven ability to develop and implement strategy and drive organisational or programme growth
• Strong track record of building and managing high-value external partnerships
• Experience managing complex projects or programmes, ideally across multiple jurisdictions
• Experience of leading and developing teams, including line management
• Strong commercial awareness and experience contributing to income generation or fundraising
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with experience engaging senior stakeholders
• Experience using Salesforce to support delivery and reporting
• Strong organisational, analytical, and problem-solving skills

Desirable

• Experience working in international development or with SDG-focused organisations

• Experience in pro bono brokering or legal service delivery models
• Experience engaging with law firms or corporate legal teams at a strategic level
• Knowledge of monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) frameworks
• Experience designing and delivering high-level events or convenings
• Additional language skills

Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into delivery
• Credible, confident and professional, with the ability to represent A4ID at senior levels
• Collaborative and inclusive leadership style
• Entrepreneurial, proactive, and solutions-oriented
• Resilient and adaptable in a fast-paced, evolving environment
• Strong commitment to A4ID’s mission and values

To Apply

Interested candidates are requested to send a CV and cover letter to alice.morley@a4id.org. The cover letter must include why you are interested in this job and how you match the specification.