Lead Lawyer - South East Asia Death Penalty

The Role

The South East Asia (SEA) team works toward an end to the death penalty in the region. We do this through casework on individual strategic cases, which often entails engaging in in-depth investigations, and through political and public advocacy as appropriate. Our work is diverse and constantly evolving to respond to changes in the domestic and regional death penalty landscape. Our strategy is developed in close collaboration with our partners and fellows in the region.

There has been significant change in the application of the death penalty in recent years, and harnessing this change and pushing for further reform, through individual cases and policy-focused projects, will be a significant part of the role.

The SEA Death Penalty Lead Lawyer is responsible for managing the SEA death penalty work and team, under the guidance of the Head of Death Penalty – Africa and South East Asia.

About Reprieve

Reprieve is a leading international human rights organisation working to end the death penalty and abuses committed under the banner of national security. Founded in 1999, our mission remains critically relevant as governments worldwide increasingly adopt authoritarian tactics, expanding executive power at the expense of civil liberties.

You can best judge a society by how it treats prisoners, criminal defendants, and the far-flung targets of an ever-changing counter-terror policy. To us, the rule of law means little if we selectively apply it to people we agree with. It is for all of us. Liberty is always eroded at the margins.

Reprieve’s staff is made up of courageous and committed human rights defenders. We provide vital legal and investigative support to those facing execution and victims of rendition, torture, arbitrary detention, extrajudicial killing, and citizenship stripping. Our work spans multiple jurisdictions, challenging states' most egregious human rights violations through strategic litigation, investigations, and advocacy.

We support cases in courts worldwide while building the legal and political momentum necessary to consign these practices to history.

Based in London with Fellows and partners globally, Reprieve operates at the intersection of law, policy, and human rights, working alongside governments, senior legal practitioners, and civil society to advance systemic change.

We collaborate closely with our independent partner organization Reprieve US.

Terms

This is a full-time role on a permanent contract.  The annual salary is £52,088 per annum, less any required deductions for income tax and national insurance.

This role is based in Reprieve’s London office. Reprieve operates a hybrid working model and we require staff to work 40% of their working hours from the London office and the rest of the week from home. Applicants must have the current right to work in the UK, which will be checked prior to interview.

Further information and how to apply

Please visit our website for the complete job description, including more information about the role and the person specification. To apply for this role please follow the link on our website to download and complete an application form. Please note that CVs, cover letters and other documents cannot be accepted for this role. The deadline for applications is 11.59pm on 12 March 2026.