Ministry of Land and Legal Affairs
Port of Spain
Job Description
The incumbent is required to provide paralegal support to Legal Officers in a Ministry/Department. Duties include researching laws; investigating facts; preparing pleadings, opinions and briefs; maintaining case files and assisting in the preparation of legal documents.
Key and Critical Responsibilities
- Conducts research and drafts or prepares briefs on legal matters as directed. <div>- Investigates the facts and law of cases and researches relevant sources to prepare cases. </div><div>- Reviews legal/court documents for completeness and accuracy. </div><div>- Assists in the monitoring and reviewing of government regulations to ensure that the Ministry and its agencies are aware of new requirements. </div><div>- Establishes and maintains case files and makes available and easily accessible to legal officers. </div><div>- Assists in interviewing parties involved in court proceedings to gather information for case preparation or completion of legal documents. </div><div>- Assists in the preparation of legal documents such as contracts, opinions and agreements; drafts correspondence on routine legal issues. </div><div>- Assists in the development and maintenance of an up-to-date repository of laws, judgments, contract precedents and other relative material in areas affecting the Ministrys Day to day operations. </div><div>- Copies and collates relevant documents. </div><div>- Takes notes at court, tribunals, legal proceedings and meetings and generates documents as required. </div><div>- Performs other related work as assigned.</div>
Key Competencies
<b><u>KNOWLEDGE </u></b><div>- Knowledge of the methods and techniques of legal research. </div><div>- Some knowledge of the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago. </div><div>- Some knowledge of the court procedures and practices and rules of evidence. </div><div>- Some knowledge of legal drafting principles and practices. </div><div>- Some knowledge of the laws and regulations pertinent to the operations of the Ministry/Department.</div><div><br></div><div> </div><div><b><u>SKILLS AND ABILITIES </u></b></div><div>- Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite. </div><div>- Skill in the use of personal computers. </div><div>- Ability to use e-Government technology platforms. </div><div>- Ability to use the internet for research purposes. </div><div>- Ability to conduct legal research. </div><div>- Ability to maintain confidentiality. </div><div>- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. </div><div>- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees and members of the public. </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 two (2) CAPE/GCE A Level passes, one of which must be Law OR an Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies. </div><div>- Minimum of two (2) years experience performing paralegal functions for an Attorney at Law.</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>