Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MHUD)
Port of Spain
Job Description
<h3 class="mt-0 mb-20" style="margin-bottom: 25px; margin-top: 60px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 36px; letter-spacing: 0.4px;"><span style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: 0.4px; font-size: 15px; font-weight: 400;">The incumbent is required to supervise junior legal officers performing legal work in the Legal Services Unit of the Ministry.&nbsp; Duties include appearing in court, providing legal advice and opinions and drafting legal documents on the more complex legal matters involving the Ministry.&nbsp; The incumbent also assists in planning, organizing and preparing the work programme of the Unit.</span></h3>
Key and Critical Responsibilities
<p style="margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: 0.4px;"><span style="font-weight: bolder;"><u>DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES</u></span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 40px; list-style-image: inherit; list-style-type: inherit; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: 0.4px;"><li>Supervises junior legal officers and other staff providing legal support work.</li><li>Assigns and reviews the work of junior legal officers while providing training, advice, guidance and direction on legal matters.</li><li>Plans, organizes and prepares the work programme of the Legal Services Unit.</li><li>Represents the Ministry in court and before other tribunals on the more complex legal matters.&nbsp;</li><li>Drafts the more complex legal documents including contracts, leases and agreements.</li><li>Reviews systems, policies and procedures and makes appropriate recommendations to improve productivity and quality service.</li><li>Confers with relevant official of Ministries/Departments and attends meetings to give professional legal advice.</li><li>Prepares and/or reviews legal opinions.</li><li>Reviews legal/court documents for completeness and accuracy.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Advises on the more complex legal issues related to the administration, interpretation and enforcement of laws pertaining to the operations of the Ministry/Department.</li><li>Participates in or supervises the preparation of instructions for submission to state central legal agencies on legal matters involving the state.</li><li>Participates in or supervises court case preparation work such as interviewing witnesses, taking depositions and preparing pre-trial briefs and preparing draft pleadings for filing.</li><li>Supervises the conduct of research and analysis on legal matters pertinent to the Ministry's/Department's operations.</li><li>Participates in and/or supervises the review of existing legislation, rules and regulations pertaining to the Ministry/Department and recommends/formulates appropriate amendments.</li><li>Reviews systems and procedures and recommends or devises strategies/mechanisms to improve the effectiveness of legal services delivery.</li><li>Leads or participates in negotiations/consultations with external/internal parties.</li><li>Prepares Cabinet/Ministerial Notes, memoranda, letters and other documents on legal matters.</li><li>Represents the Ministry/Department on committees and in meetings and other fora.</li><li>Performs other related duties as required.</li></ul>
Key Competency
<p style="margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: 0.4px;"><span style="font-weight: bolder;"><u>KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES</u></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: 0.4px;"><span style="font-weight: bolder;">KNOWLEDGE</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 40px; list-style-image: inherit; list-style-type: inherit; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: 0.4px;"><li>Considerable knowledge of the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago.</li><li>Considerable knowledge of legal principles and practices.</li><li>Considerable knowledge of the laws and regulations pertinent to the operations of the Ministry/Department.</li><li>Considerable knowledge of legal drafting principles and practices.&nbsp;</li><li>Considerable knowledge of legal research skills and techniques.</li><li>Considerable knowledge of court procedures and practices and of rules of evidence.</li></ul><p style="margin-bottom: 20px; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: 0.4px;"><u style="font-weight: bolder; letter-spacing: 0.4px;">SKILLS AND ABILITIES</u></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 40px; list-style-image: inherit; list-style-type: inherit; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: 0.4px;"><li>Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite.</li><li>Skill in drafting legal documents/instruments.</li><li>Skill in negotiation, mediation and arbitration.</li><li>Ability to use e-Government technology platforms.&nbsp;</li><li><span style="transition-property: all; letter-spacing: 0.4px;">Ability to use the internet for research purposes.&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="transition-property: all; letter-spacing: 0.4px;">Ability to supervise legal officers performing professional legal work.</span></li><li><span style="transition-property: all; letter-spacing: 0.4px;">Ability to analyze and interpret laws and regulations.</span></li><li><span style="transition-property: all; letter-spacing: 0.4px;">Ability to present and explain statements of facts and the law, and to argue clearly and logically, orally and in writing.</span></li><li><span style="transition-property: all; letter-spacing: 0.4px;">Ability to maintain confidentiality.</span></li><li><span style="transition-property: all; letter-spacing: 0.4px;"><span style="transition-property: all; letter-spacing: 0.4px;">Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees and members of the public.</span></span></li></ul><p style="margin-bottom: 20px; letter-spacing: 0.4px; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);"><u style="font-weight: bolder; letter-spacing: 0.4px;">MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING</u></p><p><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;"></span></span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 40px; list-style-image: inherit; list-style-type: inherit; padding-left: 0px; letter-spacing: 0.4px; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);"><li>Minimum of eight (8) years' experience as a practicing Attorney-at-Law.</li><li>Bachelor of Laws Degree from a recognized institution.</li><li>Legal Education Certificate or equivalent from a recognized institution.</li><li>Admission to practice law in Trinidad and Tobago.</li></ul>