Legal Consultant

Role: Legal Consultant

Contract Type: Volunteer, Pro Bono

Interview: September 2026

Duration 12 Months (With Possible Extension)

Who we are & What do we believe?

Arcadia is a non-profit, international non-governmental organisation with a global presence, comprising 238 members from all seven continents. Founded and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, Arcadia is dedicated to two core missions:

Our primary mission is to make university-level education accessible to everyone, irrespective of financial, social, geographical, or political barriers. We strive for academic excellence and aim to diminish the limitations to education, ensuring that high-quality education is available to all. Our secondary mission is to foster a global appreciation and support for art. By addressing contemporary global issues through art in our exhibitions, and highlighting significant art events worldwide, we aim to cultivate a deep-seated art consciousness. Our goal is to inspire a greater appreciation for art in the modern world.

At Arcadia, our academic team consists of over 70 international researchers who contribute to Higher Education-level academic articles across a myriad of disciplines. Our commitment to sharing knowledge without any charges or subscriptions ensures that everyone, everywhere, can benefit from our collective expertise. We believe in the transformative power of education and art to create a better, more enlightened world, a modern utopia.

Wherever you are, whoever you are !

We believe that the internet is one of the greatest resources humanity has achieved, giving us the opportunity to exceed our physical boundaries. Arcadia welcomes all; regardless of gender, ethnicity, and age. We embrace diversity and as an international NGO with more than 79 different nationalities, our aim is to support diversity within our teams and allow people all around the world to have the opportunity to join and contribute and grow in their fields of interest.

About the Position

Arcadia is seeking a Legal Affairs Consultant to support the execution of legal advisory and legal support activities across the organisation, with a focus on international legal matters. Reporting to the Legal Affairs Manager, this role is responsible for conducting legal research, supporting contract development, and contributing to the preparation of legal outputs used across organisational operations and partnerships.The role operates at an intermediate level between task execution and legal validation. You will be expected to carry out legal research independently, interpret legal frameworks across different jurisdictions, and contribute to the preparation of structured legal outputs.

The role requires the ability to work across diverse legal contexts, reflecting the international nature of Arcadia’s operations.You will work closely with paralegals, ensuring that assigned legal tasks are completed accurately and consistently. The role involves handling more complex or cross-jurisdictional matters while ensuring that outputs are aligned with internal legal standards before escalation to the Manager and Director.

Jurisdiction-Specific Legal Research for Organisational Activities

• Conduct targeted legal research on specific jurisdictions relevant to Arcadia’s operations (e.g. partnerships, publications, volunteer structures), identifying applicable legal constraints and permissible structures rather than producing broad academic summaries.

Contract Drafting and Clause-Level Refinement

• Draft and revise contracts, MOUs, and collaboration agreements by working at clause level, ensuring internal consistency, alignment with jurisdiction-specific requirements, and compatibility with Arcadia’s standard contract structures before Manager review.

Preparation of Decision-Ready Legal Briefs

• Translate legal research and document inputs into structured legal briefs, outlining key risks, constraints, and options in a format that can be directly used by non-legal teams and escalated to the Director for final validation.

Skills & Competencies Required

Jurisdiction Mapping and Legal Applicability Assessment

• Ability to determine which legal system applies to a given activity and extract only the relevant legal constraints affecting that specific case.

Clause Structuring and Contract Logic Control

• Strong capability in identifying inconsistencies within contracts (conflicting clauses, missing protections, unclear obligations) and correcting them to ensure legal coherence.

Conversion of Legal Research into Usable Outputs

• Ability to convert raw legal findings into structured, concise outputs (briefs, summaries, annotated documents) that can be used for internal decision-making without further interpretation.

Qualifications

• A Master’s degree in Law, International Business Law, or a related field is required. Additional certifications in Legal Compliance, Risk Management, Corporate Governance, or related fields are highly welcomed.
• Advanced proficiency in both written and spoken English is essential; proficiency in French is not mandatory but highly desirable.
• 2–4 years of experience in legal research, legal advisory support, contract drafting, or similar legal functions, preferably within an international or multi-jurisdictional context.
• Strong experience in legal compliance, compliance reviews, and legal reporting is highly welcomed.
• Strong background in legal research and policy analysis, with the ability to interpret complex legal texts and translate them into clear, actionable guidance for non-legal stakeholders.
• A motivational and professional approach, fostering trust and credibility with candidates and within the recruitment team.
• Comfortable with part-time commitment, contributing 8–10 hours (20%) per week, with availability for remote work, selecting your own working hours.
• A motivational and empathetic leadership style, with a commitment to fostering inclusivity, integrity, and excellence. Strong interpersonal skills to inspire trust and credibility within the organization.

What We Offer

• An online certificate with an international serial number after completing one year at Arcadia.
• Access to Arcadia's Executive Education Certificate Program, which includes six courses totaling 64 hours, specifically tailored for your role, with international certification.
• Access to a global network of seasoned professionals and consultants, offering tailored support to help you grow, excel, and advance in your area of expertise.
• We promise you a green world, a new feature. Join a fully net-zero carbon emission organisation committed to supporting a greener world.
• Flexible working hours based on project deadlines. You must be available to work 8-10 hours per week, with the flexibility to choose your working hours.
• The chance to be part of our volunteer organisation, contributing to Arcadia's humanitarian mission to provide education for all.
• Possibility of contract renewal with advancement at your field at the end of your 1 year according to evaluation of the Arcadia Board.
• The opportunity to work remotely, providing flexibility and the ability to balance your work with other commitments.
• The chance to work with a diverse team of individuals from around the world, supporting the organisation's commitment to inclusivity and diversity.
• Being credited with your name, picture and also being credited in the '' Team '' section.
• Training sessions from our valuable and well-experienced team members.
• Being part of our volunteer-based organisation, and the satisfaction of contributing and doing good to the world.

Arcadia is an equal opportunity provider. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, familial status and other legally protected characteristics.