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 work involving the conduct of research related to the laws and legal issues pertinent to the operations of the Ministry/Department. Duties include preparing legal documents and developing and maintaining a repository of documents on legal matters. Dependent on assignment, the incumbent may be required to perform the full range or some of the duties listed.</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";"="">Conducts research on legal issues relating to the Ministry's/Department's operations and prepares written opinions, working papers and reports thereon.&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";"="">Undertakes extensive review of legal documents, instruments and other material identifies issues and proposes amendments.&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";"="">Prepares briefs and preliminary drafts of legislative legal material pertaining to the Ministry's/Department's portfolio.&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";"="">Develops and maintains an up to date repository of laws, judgments, contract precedents and other related material pertinent to the Ministry's/Department's operations.&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";"="">Contributes to the review and formulation of recommendations to amend legislation pertinent to the Ministry/Department. </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";"="">Assists in the drafting of Cabinet/Ministerial Notes on legal matters. </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";"="">Assists in the drafting of legal documents such as contracts, agreements, opinion and briefs; and prepares memoranda, letters and other documents. </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";"="">Represents the Ministry/Department on committees and at meetings, conferences and workshops.&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";"="">Liaises with other divisions and external agencies regarding the work of the Division.&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";"="">Copies and collates relevant documents. </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 assigned.</span><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
Key Competencies
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="" arial",sans-serif"=""><b><u>Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:</u></b></span></p><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"=""> </span><ul><li><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Considerable knowledge of legal research principles and techniques.</span><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Knowledge of the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago.</span><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Knowledge of the laws and regulations pertinent to the Ministry's/Department's operations.</span><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Knowledge of legal drafting principles and practices.</span><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Knowledge of the court procedures of Trinidad and Tobago.</span><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite.</span><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Skill in the use of personal computers.</span><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Ability to use e-Government technology platforms.</span><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Ability to use the internet for research purposes.</span><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Ability to conduct legal research work of varying complexity.</span><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Ability to analyse and interpret law and legal issues.</span><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Ability to present and explain statements of fact and the law orally and in writing.</span><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Ability to maintain confidentiality.</span><o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><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></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="" arial",sans-serif"=""><u>Minimum Experience and Training:</u></span></b></p><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"=""> </span><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";="" font-size:="" 12pt;="" letter-spacing:="" 0.4px;"="">Minimum of two (2) years' experience in legal research.</span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:" arial",sans-serif"=""><span style="font-family: " times="" new="" roman";"="">Bachelor of Law Degree from a recognized institution.</span><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>