Legal Research Officer (Trustlaw)- Tr Foundation

Legal Research Officer or Research Officer

TrustLaw, Thomson Reuters Foundation

About the Thomson Reuters Foundation

Join a team which leverages media, legal and data-driven expertise to strengthen independent journalism, enable access to the law and promote responsible business. The Thomson Reuters Foundation is an independent charity that uses media, law, and data expertise to promote free, fair, and informed societies. Our mission is to empower key actors to make informed decisions that positively impact people, society, and the environment.

What We Do

• Deliver targeted programs, research, news, and legal support to strengthen independent journalism and promote responsible business.

• Provide capacity-building initiatives to support our mission.

TrustLaw

TrustLaw is the global pro bono service of the Thomson Reuters Foundation which connects high-impact NGOs, social enterprises, and independent media with free legal assistance from top law firms and corporate legal teams worldwide. We also:

• Conduct groundbreaking legal research on key social and policy issues.

• Run strategic initiatives, including:

  • TrustLaw Index of Pro Bono , (a global benchmark survey).

  • Fees and Hours collection (an annual survey on pro bono work).

About the Role

The Foundation is recruiting a highly skilled Legal Research Officer/ Research Officer, TrustLaw to work with the Access to Law team to support partner engagement, data analysis and report writing and the design, coordination and successful delivery of global initiatives for our legal network. This role involves balanced responsibility across two core areas:

(1) dedicated support for the TrustLaw Index of Pro Bono (approximately 50% of time), and

(2) broader Global Legal Team initiatives and programmes (approximately 50% of time).

About the Role:

As a Legal Research Officer/ Research Officer reporting into the Legal Manager, Global (based in London), you will:

TrustLaw Index of Pro Bono (50%)

• Provide dedicated support for the TrustLaw Index of Pro Bono, our global biennial benchmark survey of the scale and trends of the pro bono legal sector, including:

• Work with the Legal Manager, Global and other stakeholders to develop and make refinements to the survey every two years, taking account of current or future pro bono sector needs and trends

• Run the data collection process and related legal sector engagement to ensure strong engagement with and participation in the survey

• Manage, clean, and analyse complex data sets from participating law firms and legal teams across multiple jurisdictions

• Work with data analysts to ensure high-quality data analysis and to identify emerging trends in the data sets

• Draft and develop the report in an easy-to-read, engaging style based on quantitative and qualitative analysis of the data

• Work with Communications and other teams to develop a sustained, exciting communications strategy to engage the TrustLaw team and broader legal pro bono community in the findings of the Index

• Work closely with the Legal Manager, Global and others throughout the lifecycle of the Index from planning and kick-off, to supporting project management and successful delivery.

Global Legal Initiatives and Team Support (50%)

• Support the work of the Legal Manager, Global to track the pro bono sector, identify opportunities and gaps, and support with the development of initiatives, trainings and resources to address them.

• Support collaboration with regional teams to ensure alignment between global and regional legal initiatives.

• Support our work to develop, refine and manage resources geared to the legal pro bono sector, such as our Championing Pro Bono Guide, Measuring Pro Bono Impact, the Global Pro Bono Survey, the UK Collaborative Project (UKCP) and Global Corporate Pro Bono resources.

• Support the work of the Legal Manager, Global, and Senior Leadership Team within TrustLaw in engaging with key legal partners, including by obtaining data and feedback to develop pro bono impact reports and supporting with the TrustLaw Giving Programme.

• Liaise with the Foundation’s Communications, Digital and Design teams to ensure strong communications and engagement and smooth development of digital assets to showcase global initiatives.

• Provide cover support to the Programme Coordinator, Global as needed during periods of leave, ensuring continuity of global legal team operations.

• Contribute to other Access to Law team initiatives and research, as needed.

Please note that this role requires you to work hours that overlap significantly with core team availability, which may require at least two late shifts each week.

About You:

This role is all about using the power of data to drive access to law through better and stronger legal pro bono practices. You are a fit for the role of Legal Research Officer/ Research Officer if your background includes most or all of the following:

• An exceptional, independent self-starter with 3+ years of relevant work experience, and a passion for social change.

• Degree in law (LLB/JD), applied data science or related field. Pro bono or public interest law knowledge and experience is preferred.

• Demonstrated interest and/or prior experience in legal or other industry sector engagement and/or research relating to the legal, access to justice, pro bono or similar sectors.

• Proven project management skills, organisational ability and experience managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Affinity for detail and demonstrated experience working on detail-oriented tasks and projects.

• Knowledge of applied research methods, including data-gathering and qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques. Experience organising, analysing, and interpreting data and information using Excel and/or other software strongly preferred. (Note: We work with experts/data analysts for highly technical aspects of our data analysis, but the role requires a comfort with the basics of research and analysis, and strong knowledge of Excel is essential).

• Experience with databases and survey tools (specific knowledge of Salesforce and/or Alchemer would be an advantage).

• Experience in client outreach and external communication management

• Experience with report writing and/or development of practical tools.

• Experience stewarding and tracking relationships and partnerships, would be favourable.

• Fluency in English with strong written and verbal communication skills.

• A strong team player, able to work remotely and communicate effectively with a global team.

• Ability to work quickly under pressure, to prioritise work and meet deadlines to drive projects to completion.

• Willingness to travel internationally, as needed and Pre-existing right to work in India.

This is a full-time role based in India (Mumbai or Bangalore).

There is an expectation to go to the office a minimum of two days a week.

How to apply:

To apply, please submit:

1) Your CV

2) A cover letter in English (essential) that:

• Describes how you meet the role's specifications

• Outlines what you bring to the position

• States your availability to start

Application Deadline: 14 August 2025 (rolling basis until the post is filled)

#LI-SS3

What’s in it For You?

• Global Perspective and Impact: Interested in working for a dynamic global organization with a focus on social impact? With hubs all over the world from Bangkok to Madrid to Rio de Janeiro, join a truly international team with a shared goal of helping to build societies around the world that are free, fair, and informed.

• Unique Approach: Our expertise in media and the law is world class. We combine the power of both to address the critical issues faced by humanity.

• Our Relevance: With a focus on advancing media freedom, fostering more inclusive economies and promoting human rights, our work has never been more needed than right now.

• Industry Competitive Benefits: We offer competitive salary packages and market-leading benefits.

• Learning & Development: We are dedicated to the continual professional development of our employees and offer access to both in-house and external training opportunities.

About Thomson Reuters Foundation

The Thomson Reuters Foundation is corporate foundation of Thomson Reuters, the global news and information services company. As an independent charity, registered in the UK and the USA, we work to advance media freedom, foster more inclusive economies, and promote human rights. Through news, media development, free legal assistance and convening initiatives, we combine our unique media and legal services to drive systemic change.

About Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters informs the way forward by bringing together the trusted content and technology that people and organizations need to make the right decisions. We serve professionals across legal, tax, accounting, compliance, government, and media. Our products combine highly specialized software and insights to empower professionals with the data, intelligence, and solutions needed to make informed decisions, and to help institutions in their pursuit of justice, truth, and transparency. Reuters, part of Thomson Reuters, is a world leading provider of trusted journalism and news.

We are powered by the talents of 26,000 employees across more than 70 countries, where everyone has a chance to contribute and grow professionally in flexible work environments. At a time when objectivity, accuracy, fairness, and transparency are under attack, we consider it our duty to pursue them. Sound exciting? Join us and help shape the industries that move society forward.

As a global business, we rely on the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of all employees to deliver on our business goals. To ensure we can do that, we seek talented, qualified employees in all our operations around the world regardless of race, color, sex/gender, including pregnancy, gender identity and expression, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, citizen status, veteran status, or any other protected classification under applicable law. Thomson Reuters is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer providing a drug-free workplace.

We also make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs in accordance with applicable law. More information on requesting an accommodation here .

Learn more on how to protect yourself from fraudulent job postings here .

More information about Thomson Reuters can be found on thomsonreuters.com.