Date Posted: 10/02/2025
Req ID:45357
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Law
Department: Faculty of Law
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Description:

About Us: 

The Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto is an internationally acclaimed institution situated in the heart of one of the most diverse and vibrant cities in the world. Ranked #1 in Canada and in the Top 25 globally across three major world university rankings, we attract exceptionally bright and ambitious students from all walks of life and educational backgrounds. 

The International Reproductive and Sexual Health Law Program in the Faculty of Law promotes and protects reproductive justice and the human right to health through improved understanding, application and formulation of relevant laws and policies. We do so through scholarship, advocacy and the production of resources for research and teaching.

Your Opportunity:

The International Reproductive and Sexual Health Law Program in the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law invites applications for a Research Associate - Limited Term to assist the Co-Directors with ongoing research, scholarship and advocacy projects in the area of international reproductive and sexual health law. Reporting to Professor Rebecca Cook, Principal Investigator and Co-Director of the Program, you will author or co-author conference presentations and scholarly articles concerning adolescent health and human rights to reproductive and sexual health care. You will conduct legal research (domestic and international, human rights, etc.), and assist in the drafting of reports, policy papers, and legal submissions to national, regional and international courts. Supporting documents of this kind will be needed for our current advocacy projects in Caribbean countries such as Antigua, Dominica, Grenada and Guyana. 

Your expertise on legal and policy issues surrounding the rights of the child, parental consent policies and adolescent capacity for decision-making in Latin America will be useful for presentations at upcoming international conferences. You will also play a key role in analyzing Latin American scholarship for inclusion in the forthcoming Elgar Concise Encyclopedia of Reproductive Rights and Justice. This will require the demonstrated ability to read and analyze laws, policies and court decisions in the Spanish language. Finally, you may be asked to help collect and analyze data to support our program’s Women’s Health Research projects in specific countries.

Job duties:

·         Conducting in-depth legal research, analyzing data, and contributing academic expertise to research projects led by a principal investigator.

·         Creating various written materials such as policy papers, legal submissions, reports, and advocacy materials related to human rights and other areas of law.

·         Assisting with the overall management of research projects, including implementation.

·         Developing advocacy strategies and liaising with various stakeholders, including community partners and other relevant entities.

·         Legal analysis of Spanish-language scholarship and jurisprudence for scholarship and advocacy projects.

·         Create and publish academic papers focusing on aspects of adolescent rights and capacity for decision-making in reproductive and sexual health, from a Latin American perspective.

Minimum Qualifications:

EDUCATION: J.D. and an advanced degree in Law (minimum LL.M. or equivalent) specializing in Reproductive and Sexual Health Law or equivalent combination of education and experience.

EXPERIENCE: Minimum of 3 years of recent professional experience working and collaborating with Latin American advocacy and research organizations such as CLACAI (Latin American Consortium against Unsafe Abortion), CEDES (Center for the Study of State and Society) and/or Fos Feminista. Experience writing publications, peer-reviewed journals, and analytical policy papers. Demonstrated experience writing legal resources in Spanish for Latin American research and activism.

SKILLS: Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Zoom.

OTHER: Proven ability to apply critical and analytical thinking. Strong written and oral English communication skills. Strong organizational skills. Self-motivated with ability to multi-task. A good team player who works collaboratively and thrives in a dynamic environment. Fluency in both English and Spanish required.

Note: This is a one (1) year term position with the possibility of an extension.

Closing Date: 10/10/2025,11:59PM ET
Employee Group: Research Associate 
Personnel Subarea:Research Assoc
Appointment Type: Budget - Term 
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: R01 -- Research Associates (Limited Term): $53,520 - $100,350
Job Category: Research Administration & Teaching