Job Description
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">The incumbent is required to perform professional legal work in a Ministry/Department. Duties include appearing in court, providing legal advice and opinions, and drafting legal documents on matters involving the Ministry/Department. Depending on assignment, the incumbent may be required to perform some or the full range of the duties of the position.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
Key and Critical Responsibilities
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="" arial",sans-serif"=""><b><u>Duties and Responsibilities:</u></b></span></p><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Represents the Ministry/Department in court and before tribunals. </span><o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Advises on legal issues relating to the administration, interpretation and enforcement of laws relative to the Ministry's/Department's operations. </span><o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Drafts complex legal documents including contracts, leases and agreements.&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Provides legal opinions and briefs in respect of complex legal issues. </span><o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Prepares instructions for submission to state central legal agencies on legal matters involving the state. </span><o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Performs court cases preparation work such as interviewing witnesses, taking depositions and preparing pre-trials briefs and draft pleadings for filing.&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="" arial",sans-serif"="">Assists in planning, directing, coordinating and formulating legal policies and programmes of the Ministry/Department.&nbsp;</span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="" arial",sans-serif"="">Conducts research and analysis, and reports on legal matters pertinent to the Ministry's/Department's operations.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">&nbsp;</span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Conducts or participates in negotiations/consultations with external/internal parties.&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="" arial",sans-serif"="">Participates in or conducts the review of existing legislation, rules and regulations related to the Ministry/Department and recommends/drafts appropriate amendments.&nbsp;</span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Represents the Ministry/Department on committees and meetings and other fora. </span><o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Prepares Cabinet/Ministerial Notes, memoranda, letters and other documents on legal matters.&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Performs other duties as required.</span><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
Key Competencies
<p><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"=""><b><u>Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:</u></b></span></p><ul><li><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Considerable knowledge of the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago.</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Knowledge of legal principles and practices.</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Knowledge of the laws and regulations pertinent to the Ministry's/Department's operations.</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Knowledge of legal drafting principles and practices.</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Knowledge of legal research skills and techniques.</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Knowledge of the court procedures and practices and of rules of evidence.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite.</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Skill in the use of personal computers.</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Skill in drafting legal documents/instruments.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Skill in negotiation and mediation.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Ability to use e-Government technology platforms.</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Ability to use the internet for research purposes.</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Ability to analyse and interpret laws and legal issues.</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Ability to present and explain statements of fact and the law, and to argue clearly and logically, orally and in writing.</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Ability to maintain confidentiality.</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees and members of the public.</span><span style="font-size:11.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"=""> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; text-align:justify;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;text-autospace:ideograph-numeric ideograph-other"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"=""><b style=""><u>Minimum Experience and Training:</u></b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"=""> </span><ul><li><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Minimum of four (4) years' experience as a practicing Attorney at law. </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Bachelor of Law Degree from a recognised institution. </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Legal Education Certificate or equivalent from a recognised institution. </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Admission to practice law in Trinidad and Tobago.</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>