How to apply for Volunteer, Legal Researcher

About Animal Law Focus

Animal Law Focus is a Chilean nonprofit that works on legal protection for farmed and aquatic animals. It uses research, regulatory enforcement, and policy reform rather than direct animal care. This is a fit for someone who wants to use legal skills on animal law in Latin America and is comfortable working remotely with a Chilean organization.

About the role

This is a part-time, remote volunteer legal researcher role. You will research farm animal protection laws, case law, and welfare policies across Latin American jurisdictions, then turn that into reports, articles, and policy recommendations. The work supports advocacy campaigns and policy strategy, so your research has a direct use rather than sitting in a drawer.

A typical day

You might spend a morning reading statutes and regulations from one or two Latin American countries, then drafting a summary of how they apply to farmed animal welfare. In the afternoon you could revise a policy recommendation or prepare a short memo for the advocacy team. Communication with the Chilean team likely happens over email or messaging, with occasional calls scheduled around time zone differences.

Who Animal Law Focus is looking for

• Holds a law degree and has strong legal writing and analysis skills.
• Is fluent in Spanish and English at C1 level or above, with the ability to read legal texts in both languages.
• Has knowledge of or a demonstrated interest in animal law, especially farmed and aquatic animal protection.
• Can commit 8–10 hours per week to remote work and communicate reliably with a Chilean team across time zones.

Tips for this application

• Write your application in English but include one short paragraph in Spanish to show your written Spanish. This role requires both languages, and a bilingual sample is more useful than a claim of fluency.
• Name specific Latin American countries and legal systems you have researched or studied. The role covers multiple jurisdictions, so show that you understand the difference between, for example, Chilean, Mexican, and Brazilian regulatory frameworks.
• Mention any prior work, coursework, or writing on animal law, even if it was not farmed animal law. The job description says animal law knowledge or interest is preferred, so a short note on how you developed that interest is relevant.
• Provide a writing sample of legal analysis, not a policy op-ed. The role asks you to synthesize complex legal information into reports and policy recommendations, so a research memo or case note is the closest match.
• Confirm in your application that you can commit 8–10 hours per week and work remotely. Since this is a volunteer role with a fixed weekly commitment, stating your availability clearly saves the organization time.

What to cover in your cover letter

Explain why you want to work on farmed and aquatic animal protection specifically, not animal welfare in general. Describe your experience with Latin American legal systems and which countries you can research. Give a concrete example of turning legal research into a written product, such as a memo, report, or article. State your Spanish and English proficiency with evidence, such as a writing sample or work history.

Research before applying

• Read Animal Law Focus's published reports, articles, or policy submissions to understand their current priorities and the jurisdictions they work in.
• Look up the main farm animal protection laws in Chile and at least one other Latin American country, so you can speak concretely about the legal landscape.
• Check the organization's website and social media for recent campaigns or regulatory enforcement actions. This shows what kind of research they need.
• Find out how Animal Law Focus is structured and who leads the legal research work, so you know who you would be reporting to and what the team looks like.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How you would research farm animal protection laws across multiple Latin American jurisdictions, including where you would look for primary sources.
• Your familiarity with specific legal frameworks for farmed animal welfare in Latin America, such as Chile's Law 20.380 or similar national laws.
• How you approach writing a legal report for a non-legal advocacy audience.
• Your level of Spanish legal reading and writing, possibly tested with a short translation or summary exercise.
• How you manage a remote, part-time volunteer schedule with a team based in Chile.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without any Spanish writing sample or evidence of legal Spanish ability. The role requires C1+ in both languages, and a resume line is not enough.
• Treating this as a generic animal welfare volunteer role. The job is legal research on farmed and aquatic animals, not shelter work or general advocacy.
• Ignoring the Latin America focus. A cover letter that only discusses U.S. or European animal law misses the core of the role.