Research Assistant Private International Law, International Arbitration, & Comparative Contract Law

Deadline for applications: 6 September 2025, 12pm

Dr Brooke Marshall is looking for a Research Assistant to help with her research project, Arbitration and Jurisdiction Agreements: Franco-British Perspectives.

The project aims are to analyse critically the extent to which jurisdiction agreements nominating state courts and arbitration clauses selecting extra-judicial dispute resolution are and ought to be functionally and legally analogous. It aims to  analyse this question by reference to English and French law, with some reference to other common law jurisdictions that follow the English tradition.  

The research assistant employed for this project will assist Dr Marshall as she conducts research on this topic and writes it up into an academic article to be submitted to a scholarly journal for publication. 

Tasks for the Research Assistant will be:

  • Research support: finding legal literature, cases, legislation etc, and providing summaries of cases, legislation etc 
  • Editorial support: bringing text into line with a style guide, proof-reading

 

Duration and hours 

Working hours: a total of up to 37 hours across the duration of the project, to be agreed with the project supervisor.

Start date: 15 September 2026

Date by which the work must be completed: 31 March 2027

 

Reporting

The Research Assistant will report to Dr Brooke Marshall.

 

Requirements

Essential

  • A background, or current study in Law/Criminology/Socio-Legal Studies.
  • Experience with legal (caselaw) databases. Please list the databases with which you have experience in your application.
  • A knowledge of private international law (conflict of laws) and/or international arbitration law.
  • Experience of the legal systems in the following countries: England and/or common law systems that follow the English tradition 
  • Experience with the following software/applications: Microsoft Word

Desirable

  • Former research assistance or editorial experience is highly desirable.
  • Advanced French language abilities and experience of the French legal system is highly desirable.
  • Experience of law referencing systems.
  • Basic spreadsheet (Excel) skills. 

Your normal place of work will be the St Cross Building, Manor Road Building, or Bonavero Institute. However, provided you have the agreement of your PI/Supervisor, and a suitable space to work (including library access if required), it may be possible to undertake the work remotely.  

In all cases the work must be undertaken in the UK. 

Please note that you will be required to complete a Right to Work check before starting work. The Law Faculty HR Team will contact you directly to arrange for the appropriate check to take place. What is a right to work check? | Staff Immigration (ox.ac.uk)

 

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to all. Including graduated, current, and incoming graduate students of the University of Oxford’s Faculty of Law and its associated Centres. If the successful applicant is not a current student, the Faculty will engage them through the University's Temporary Staffing Service.

 

Rate of Pay

The work will be paid at £18.80 per hour, which equates to University Grade 6, point 1, on the basis of completed and approved timesheets, which must be submitted to payroll@law.ox.ac.uk, by the last Friday of each calendar month for payment on the last working day of the following month.

In addition, paid annual leave will be assumed to be taken in the month in which it was accrued.

 

Funding

This opportunity is funded by the IECL Fund

Funding reference number: IECL2610

 

How to Apply

A short CV (1 page max) and cover letter (1 page max) (including the name of your Oxford supervisor or advisor, if known) should be sent by email to brooke.marshall@law.ox.ac.uk before the deadline for applications. Please explain how you meet the requirements for the role, and give details of your availability. “[Your name], RA role, Marshall, IECL fund” must be included in the subject line of your email. Oxford Supervisors/advisors may be asked for a reference. 

General queries, e.g. about the appointment process, or eligibility, may be addressed to research@law.ox.ac.uk.

 

Guidelines for Faculty members, line managers and students

Work must not commence without a letter of engagement or variable hours contract and a right to work check having been carried out by the Faculty Personnel Officer.

Graduate student engagement opportunities in the Faculty of Law usually fall into one of three categories: Research Assistant; Graduate Teaching Assistant; or Blog Editor. 

The University guidance on paid work for Oxford graduate students recommends that full-time graduate research students ensure that any paid work should still allow them to spend at least 40 hours per week for a minimum 44 weeks of the year on their studies. Full-time graduate taught students are recommended not to undertake more than 8 hours’ paid work each week during term-time study periods.  There are additional rules for students with visas wishing to undertake paid work. 

Students may not work for their own supervisor without the approval of the Associate Dean for Graduate Students.

Any queries regarding the eligibility of a particular student should be directed to Graduate Studies Officer in the Faculty Office. 

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