Job Description
The incumbent is required to manage and direct the activities of the Legal Services Unit or Division of a Ministry/Department and render legal services. Duties include planning, directing and coordinating the work of professional legal staff and legal support staff. Duties also include providing legal advice, representing the Ministry/Department in Court, at Tribunals and meetings, drafting and reviewing legal agreements and other legal documents and participating in negotiations, mediation and arbitration.
Key and Critical Responsibilities
<p></p><p><ul></ul> <ul></ul> <ul></ul> </p><ul><li style="margin: 4.6pt 5.45pt 0.0001pt 22.3pt; letter-spacing: 0.4px; line-height: 15.75px;"><span style="line-height: 15.75px;">Plans, directs and coordinates the activities of the professional legal staff and other support staff engaged in the provision of legal services to a Ministry/Department.</span><span style="line-height: 15.75px;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 2.65pt 0in 0.0001pt 22.3pt; letter-spacing: 0.4px;">Plans, organises and directs the development of the work programme of the Legal Services Unit/Division.</li><li style="margin: 2.65pt 0in 0.0001pt 22.3pt; letter-spacing: 0.4px;">Directs, coordinates and reviews the work of professional legal staff performing duties such as :<span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;">&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></li></ul><p><p class="TableParagraph" style="margin-top:3.95pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: 0in;margin-left:60.45pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops:60.45pt 60.5pt"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;">- appearing in court and before other tribunals;</span><br></p><p class="TableParagraph" style="margin-top:3.95pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: 0in;margin-left:60.45pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops:60.45pt 60.5pt"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="TableParagraph" style="margin-top:3.7pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: 0in;margin-left:60.45pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops:60.45pt 60.5pt">- providing advice on legal issues related to the administration, interpretation and enforcement of&nbsp;<span style="text-indent: 0in;">laws</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">pertinent</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">to</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">the</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Ministry/Departments</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">operations;</span></p> <p class="TableParagraph" style="margin-top:3.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: 0in;margin-left:60.45pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops:60.45pt 60.5pt">- drafting legal documents such as contracts, leases and agreements;<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="TableParagraph" style="margin-top:3.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: 0in;margin-left:60.45pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops:60.45pt 60.5pt"><span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">-&nbsp;</span>preparing draft pleadings for filing;<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="TableParagraph" style="margin-top:3.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: 0in;margin-left:60.45pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops:60.45pt 60.5pt">- reviewing legal/court documents for completeness and accuracy;<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="TableParagraph" style="margin-top:3.8pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: 0in;margin-left:60.45pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops:60.45pt 60.5pt">- preparing legal opinions; and<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="TableParagraph" style="margin-top:3.9pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: 0in;margin-left:60.45pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops:60.45pt 60.5pt">- researching and analysing legal matters/issues.<o:p></o:p></p> <ul></ul> <ul></ul> <ul></ul></p><ul><li style="margin: 4.6pt 5.45pt 0.0001pt 22.3pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;">Provides advice and interpretation to senior management and staff on very complex legal matters/issues.</span><br></li></ul><p style="margin: 3.25pt 0in 0.0001pt 22.3pt;"><o:p></o:p></p><ul><li style="margin: 3.25pt 0in 0.0001pt 22.3pt;">Drafts or leads the drafting of very complex legal documents/instruments.<o:p></o:p></li><li style="margin: 3.35pt 5.35pt 0.0001pt 22.3pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="line-height: 105%;">Directs and participates in the review of existing laws and regulations pertinent to the Ministry/Department and in the recommendation of or the formulation of appropriate amendments.</span></li><li style="margin: 3.35pt 5.35pt 0.0001pt 22.3pt; line-height: 105%;">Represents the Ministry/Department in court and before other tribunals in very complex legal matters.<br></li><li style="margin: 3.35pt 5.35pt 0.0001pt 22.3pt; line-height: 105%;">Plans,<span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;">directs</span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;">and</span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;">coordinates</span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;">the</span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;">review</span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;">of</span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;">systems</span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;">and</span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;">procedures,</span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;">and</span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;">the</span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;">development</span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;">of</span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;">strategies/mechanisms</span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;">to</span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;">improve</span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;">the</span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;">effectiveness</span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;">of</span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;">legal</span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;">services</span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -16.95pt;">delivery.</span></li><li style="margin: 3.35pt 5.35pt 0.0001pt 22.3pt; line-height: 105%;">Drafts budgetary estimates of the Legal Services Unit/Division.</li><li style="margin: 3.35pt 5.35pt 0.0001pt 22.3pt; line-height: 105%;">Identifies and makes recommendations for staff training and development. </li><li style="margin: 3.35pt 5.35pt 0.0001pt 22.3pt; line-height: 105%;">Serves as a resource in the training and development of legal staff. </li><li style="margin: 3.35pt 5.35pt 0.0001pt 22.3pt; line-height: 105%;">Leads or participates in consultations and negotiations with external parties. </li><li style="margin: 3.35pt 5.35pt 0.0001pt 22.3pt; line-height: 105%;">Prepares Cabinet/Ministerial Notes, memoranda, letters and other documents. </li><li style="margin: 3.35pt 5.35pt 0.0001pt 22.3pt; line-height: 105%;">Represents the Ministry/Department on committees, meetings and other fora.</li><li style="margin: 3.35pt 5.35pt 0.0001pt 22.3pt; line-height: 105%;"> Performs other related work as necessary.<br></li></ul>
Key Competency
<p><b><u>Knowledge</u></b></p><ul><li style="margin-top: 1.65pt;"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:="" "times="" roman";mso-font-width:134%"=""><span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">&nbsp;</span></span>Extensive knowledge of the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago.<o:p></o:p></li><li style="margin-top: 0.55pt;">Extensive knowledge of legal principles and practices.</li><li style="margin-top: 0.55pt;">Extensive knowledge of the laws and regulations pertinent to the operations of the Ministry/Department.</li><li style="margin-top: 0.55pt;">Extensive knowledge of court procedures and practices and of rules of evidence.</li><li>Considerable knowledge of legal drafting principles and practices, legal research skills and techniques.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><b><u>Skills and Abilities</u></b></p><ul><li style="margin-top: 1.65pt;">Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite.<o:p></o:p></li><li style="margin-top: 0.55pt;">Skill in the use of personal computers.<o:p></o:p></li><li style="margin-top: 0.5pt;">Ability to use eGovernment technology platforms.<o:p></o:p></li><li style="margin-top: 0.45pt;">Ability to use the internet for research purposes.<o:p></o:p></li><li style="margin-top: 0.5pt;">Skill in drafting legal documents/instruments.<o:p></o:p></li><li style="margin-top: 0.55pt;">Skill in negotiation, mediation and arbitration.</li><li style="margin-top: 0.55pt;">Ability to plan, organize, direct and coordinate the activities of a division providing legal services.</li><li style="margin-top: 0.1pt;">Ability to analyse and interpret laws and regulations.</li><li style="margin-top: 0.1pt;">Ability to present and explain statements of fact and the law logically, orally and in writing.</li><li style="line-height: 10.85pt;">Ability to maintain confidentiality.<o:p></o:p></li><li> Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees, colleagues and members of the public.</li></ul><p><b><u><br></u></b></p><p><b><u>Minimum Experience and Training</u></b></p><ul><li><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;">Minimum of ten (10) years experience as a practicing Attorney at Law.</span></li><li>Bachelor of Law Degree from a recognised institution.</li><li>Legal Education Certificate or equivalent from a recognised institution.</li></ul><p class="TableParagraph" style="margin-top:2.25pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom: 0in;margin-left:41.5pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:41.5pt 41.55pt"><o:p></o:p></p><ul><li> Admission to practice Law in Trinidad and Tobago.<b><u><br></u></b></li></ul>