Ministry of Land and Legal Affairs
Port of Spain
Job Description
The incumbent is required to perform entry level legal work in the area of Civil Law under the direct supervision of a higher level legal professional. Duties include appearing in Court, undertaking pre-trial work, drafting legislation and legal documents, providing legal advice and preparing briefs and opinions. Dependent on assignment on assignment, the incumbent may be required to perform duties in one of more of the assigned areas listed.
Key and Critical Responsibilities
- Prepares less complex draft pleadings, summonses, affidavits and other legal documents for filing in court. <div>- Prepares briefs and instructs Advocate Attorneys-at-law in the High Court, Appeal Court and other Courts and Tribunals. </div><div>- Attends Court on in Paternity applications, mental health applications and Vesting Order Applications and other interlocutory applications. </div><div>- Prepares, vets and certifies deeds of lease, bills of sale, consultancy contracts such as building and engineering contracts and service contracts and supervises execution of same. </div><div>- Receives and peruses less complex applications for waiver of State Rights and prepares and certifies the necessary documents for administering bona vacantia estates. </div><div>- Prepares and represents the State on Bills of Costs and reviews. </div><div>- Receives and peruses less complex applications for waiver of State rights, interviews and obtains all relevant information from petitioners and other interested persons. </div><div>- Prepares and certifies all necessary court documents for administering the estates of persons who die without lawful next of kin. </div><div>- Represents the State in less complex constitutional and other civil legal proceedings by: </div><div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;~Researching and reviewing laws, evidence and judgements </div><div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;~Determining whether matters should be settled or whether there should be an appeal </div><div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;~Appearing on behalf of the State on constitutional and other civil matters and in interlocutory proceedings at the High Court and Court of &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Appeal. </div><div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;~Presenting oral and written legal submissions to the Courts. </div><div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;~Preparing written submissions. </div><div>- Prepares advice for Cabinet, Ministries/Departments and other Government Organizations in less complex civil matters. </div><div>- Drafts and vets less complex commercial documents, agreements and contracts by researching, and examining precedents relating to the specific nature of the document. </div><div>- Assists in the preparation of Cabinet Notes. </div><div>- Represents the Ministry at Court, Parliament, meetings, committees and/or other fora. </div><div>- Provides information to the public on legal matters in assigned area though lectures, presentations and reading material. </div><div>- Copies and collates relevant documents. </div><div>- Performs other duties as may be required.</div>
Key Competencies
<b><u>KNOWLEDGE </u></b><div>- Knowledge of the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago. </div><div>- Some knowledge of legal principles, practices and procedures. </div><div>- Some knowledge of legal research methods and techniques. </div><div>- Some knowledge of the Court procedures and practices of Trinidad and Tobago and the Rules of Evidence. </div><div>- Some knowledge of the statutes governing the functioning of the following Departments: Chief Parliamentary Counsel and/or Solicitor Generals and/or Chief State Solicitors and/or Director of Public Prosecution. </div><div>- Some knowledge of the methods and techniques of title research and property conveyancing. </div><div>- Some knowledge of legal drafting principles and procedures. </div><div>- Some knowledge of the methods of initiating proceedings in the petty, Civil and Magistrate Court and litigation in the Supreme Court. </div><div>- Some knowledge of the principles and techniques of trial advocacy. </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 the use of personal computers. </div><div>- Ability to use e-Government technology platforms. </div><div>- Ability to conduct legal research and the use the internet for research purposes. </div><div>- Ability to interpret and analyse the law and legal issues. </div><div>- Ability to prepare briefs and opinions, and to provide instructions for advocate Attorneys-at-laws with respect to matters of legislation. </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>- No experience required. </div><div>- Bachelor of Law 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>