Ministry of Land and Legal Affairs
Port of Spain
Job Description
The incumbent is required to assist in managing the day-to-day operations of the Department and to perform advanced professional legal work in the area of Civil Law. Duties include representing the State in advanced Civil Law matters, instructing advocate Attorneys-at-law, providing advice and opinions to Ministries/Departments and/or other Government Agencies, drafting, vetting and certifying the more complex Civil/CommerciaI documents such as agreements, contracts, deeds and leases, and representing the Ministry/Department and/or State at meetings, conferences and Other fora. The incumbent is also required to supervise lower level legal professionals. Dependent on assignment, the incumbent may be required to perform some or the full range of the duties of the position.
Key and Critical Responsibilities
- Supervises, guides and counsels lower-level professional legal staff engaged in performing Civil Law work.<div>- Assists in managing the day-to-day operations of the Department.</div><div>- Represents the State in advanced civil legal 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 matters should be settled or whether there 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&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; High Court and Court of Appeal; and&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Preparing and presenting oral and written submissions in court.</div><div>- Briefs and instructs advocate Attorneys-at -law before the Magistrate's Court, High Court, Appeal Court, Tax Appeal Board and Industrial Court in the more complex matters of litigation and arbitration.</div><div>- Drafts and vets more complex commercial documents, agreements, contracts and opinions by researching and examining precedents related to the specific nature of the document.</div><div>- Prepares, vets and certifies the more complex deeds of lease, bills of sale, licences, reclamation licences, lease rental agreements, contracts, agreements, service contracts and other relevant legal documents and supervises execution of same.</div><div>- Receives and pursues more complex applications for waiver of State rights and prepares and certifies the necessary legal documents for administering the estates of persons who die intestate Without lawful next-of-kin.</div><div>- Provides legal advice to the Ministries/Departments/ Statutory Bodies and other governmental agencies by interpreting and advising on constitutional and Other Civil matters including commercial matters, municipal and international law, legislative matters before Cabinet and Parliament, as well as provides advice on matters of Civil Law reform.</div><div>- Represents the Ministry/Department/State at local, regional and/or international meetings, conferences, workshops and other fora and prepares reports of these meetings.</div><div>- Represents the Ministry/Government on Cabinet-appointed standing committees, boards and authorities.</div><div>- Negotiates agreements/treaties on behalf of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.</div><div>- Administers Trust Funds and Assets by negotiating and conducting sale of Trust properties.</div><div>- Performs other duties as may be required.&nbsp;</div>
Key Competencies
<b><u>KNOWLEDGE</u></b><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>- Extensive knowledge of the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago.</div><div>- Extensive knowledge of legal principles, practices and procedures.</div><div>- Extensive knowledge of legal research methods and techniques.</div><div>- Extensive knowledge of the Court procedures and practices of Trinidad and Tobago and the Rules of Evidence.</div><div>- Extensive knowledge of the methods and techniques of title research and property conveyancing.</div><div>- Extensive knowledge of the statutes governing the functioning of the Chief State Solicitor's and/or Solicitor General's Departments.</div><div>- Extensive knowledge of the principles and techniques of advocacy.</div><div><b><u><br></u></b></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 interpret and analyse the law and legal issues.</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, defences and to provide instructions to advocate Attorneys-at-law regarding litigation matters.</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 and members of the public and stakeholders.</div><div>- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees and members of the public and stakeholders.</div><div>- Considerable advocacy and negotiation skills.&nbsp;</div><div>- Considerable analytical and reasoning skills.</div><div>- Considerable management and supervisory skills.</div><div><br></div><div><b><u>MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING</u></b></div><div>- Minimum of eight (8) years' experience as a practicing Attorney-at-Law in the area of Civil and Commercial Law and conveyancing, including four (4) years experience in managing and supervising legal professionals.&nbsp;</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>