Ministry of Land and Legal Affairs
Port of Spain
Job Description
The incumbent is required to perform more complex professional legal work in the area of Civil Law. Duties include supervising lower level legal professionals engaged in Civil Law work, representing the State in more complex Civil Law matters, instructing advocate Attorneys-at-law, providing advice and opinions to Ministries/Departments and other Government Agencies, drafting, vetting and certifying complex Civil/Commercial documents such as agreements, contracts, deeds and leases and representing a Ministry/Department and/or State at Court, seminars, workshops and other for a. Dependent on assignment, the incumbent may be required to perform some or the full range of the duties of the positions.
Key and Critical Responsibilities
- Supervises lower-level legal professionals engaged in Civil Law duties. <div>- Represents the State in the more complex civil proceedings as Advocate Attorney or as Junior Counsel to Senior State Counsel. This involves: - </div><div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;~Researching and reviewing laws, evidence and judgements; </div><div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;~Determining whether matter should be settled or whether should be an appeal; </div><div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;~Appearing on behalf of the State in Civil matters and in interlocutory proceedings at the High Court and &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Court of Appeal; and </div><div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;~Preparing and presenting oral and written submissions in Court. </div><div>- Prepares cases for trial by interviewing and taking statements from defendants and witnesses and other relevant persons by conducting research into the Law and advising on pre-trial matters. </div><div>- Prepares letters, simple draft pleadings, summonses, affidavits, statements of claim and other legal documents for filing in Court. </div><div>- Prepares briefs for and instructs advocate Attorneys-at-Law in the High Court, Appeal Court, Tax Appeal Board and other Courts and tribunals/. </div><div>- Attends Court on Chamber applications such as vesting orders, paternity applications and mental health applications as well as interlocutory applications relating to cases for trial. </div><div>- Prepares and represents the State in Bills of Costs and reviews. </div><div>- Prepares, vets and certifies, more complex deeds of lease, bills of sale, licences, reclamation licences, lease rental agreements, contracts, agreements, service contracts and supervises execution of the same. </div><div>- Drafts and vets the more complex commercial documents, agreements and contracts by researching and examining precedents related to the specific nature of the document. </div><div>- Researches and examines precedents relating to various types of legal documents. </div><div>- Conducts research analysis on a range of legal issues relating to the operations of a Ministry/Department and assists in the preparation of opinions, working papers and other legal documents. </div><div>- Prepares advice to Cabinet, Ministries/Departments/Statutory Bodies and other governmental agencies on a range of the more complex Civil Law matters/issues by researching the law and writing legal opinions. </div><div>- Interprets laws, ordinances and regulations in respect of issues relating to contract, succession, Public Trustee, land, commercial and conveyancing matters. </div><div>- Attends meetings and sits on Committees with officers from client Ministries/Departments to plan documentation for projects and negotiations with consultants. </div><div>- Represents the Ministry/Department/State at local, regional and/or international meetings, conferences, workshops and other for a and prepares reports of meetings. </div><div>- Negotiates agreements/treaties on behalf of Trinidad and Tobago. </div><div>- Performs other duties as may be required.</div>
Key Competencies
<b><u>KNOWLEDGE </u></b><div>- Considerable knowledge of the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago. </div><div>- Considerable knowledge of legal principles, practices and procedures. </div><div>- Considerable knowledge of legal research methods and techniques. </div><div>- Considerable knowledge of the Court procedures and practices of Trinidad and Tobago and the Rules of Evidence. </div><div>- Considerable knowledge of the methods and techniques of title research and property conveyancing. </div><div>- Considerable knowledge of the statutes governing the functioning of the Chief State Solicitor and/or Solicitor General Departments. </div><div>- Considerable knowledge of the principles and techniques of trial advocacy. </div><div>- Knowledge of legal drafting principles and procedures.</div><div><br></div><div> </div><div><b><u>SKILLS AND ABILITIES </u></b></div><div>- Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite and the internet for research purposes. </div><div>- Skill in drafting legal documents/instruments. </div><div>- Skill in advocacy, negotiation and mediation. </div><div>- Ability to conduct title research and to prepare and vet legal documents such as summonses, affidavits, statements of claim, deeds, leases and Bills of sale. </div><div>- Ability to prepare briefs and defences, and to provide instructions for advocate Attorneys-at-laws regarding litigation matters. </div><div>- Ability to interpret and analyse the law and legal issues. </div><div>- Ability to think analytically. </div><div>- Ability to present and explain statements of fact and the law, and to argue clearly and logically, both orally and in writing. </div><div>- Ability to maintain confidentiality. </div><div>- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees, members of the public and stakeholders. </div><div><br></div><div> </div><div><b><u>MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING </u></b></div><div>- Minimum of six (6) years experience as a practicing Attorney-at-law in the area of Civil and Commercial Law and conveyancing. </div><div>Bachelor of laws Degree from a recognized institution. </div><div>- Legal Education Certificate or equivalent from a recognized institution. </div><div>- Admission to practice Law in Trinidad and Tobago.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div>