Job Description
<p><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">The incumbent is required to supervise junior legal officers performing legal work in the Legal Services Unit of the Elections and Boundaries Commission ("the Department"). Duties include appearing in court, providing legal advice and opinions and drafting legal documents on the more complex legal matters involving the Department. The incumbent also assists in planning, organising and preparing the work programme of the Unit.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">The sucessful candidate will be required to perform the duties of the Secretary to the Department's Board of Commissioners.</span></p><p><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"></span></p><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="0" style="border: none;"> <tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-irow:0;mso-yfti-firstrow:yes;height:13.6pt"> <td width="638" colspan="2" valign="top" style="width: 478.8pt; border: 1pt solid black; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; padding: 1.45pt 5.75pt; height: 13.6pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">REMUNERATION &amp; ALLOWANCES</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-language: EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:1;height:17.3pt"> <td width="319" valign="top" style="width: 239.4pt; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-image: initial; border-top: none; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; padding: 1.45pt 5.75pt; height: 17.3pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><b>With <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">8 yrs to 10 yrs</span> experience as a practicing Attorney-at-Law</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> </td> <td width="319" valign="top" style="width: 239.4pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-right: 1pt solid black; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; height: 17.3pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">$ 1<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">9,100.00&nbsp;</span></span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">(Monthly salary)</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-language: EN-US">$ 2</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: 0.4px;">,500.00 (Monthly Transport Allowance)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-language: EN-US">$ 2,500.00 (Monthly Special Allowance) <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow:2;mso-yfti-lastrow:yes;height:17.3pt"> <td width="319" valign="top" style="width: 239.4pt; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-image: initial; border-top: none; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; padding: 1.45pt 5.75pt; height: 17.3pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-US"><b>With <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">more than 10 yrs </span> experience as a practicing Attorney-at-Law</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> </td> <td width="319" valign="top" style="width: 239.4pt; border-top: none; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-right: 1pt solid black; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; height: 17.3pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-US">$</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-language: EN-US">&nbsp;<b>1</b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><b>9,600.00</b>&nbsp; (Monthly salary)</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: 0.4px;">$ 2,500.00 (Monthly Transport Allowance)</span><br></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm; margin-left:9.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-language: EN-US">$ 2,500.00 (Monthly Special Allowance)<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table><p><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br></span></p>
Key and Critical Responsibilities
<ul><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 27pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Supervises junior legal officers and other staff providing legal support work.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 27pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Assigns and reviews the work of junior legal officers while providing training, advice, guidance and direction on legal matters.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 27pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Plans, organises and prepares the work programme of the Legal Services Unit.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 27pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Represents the Department in court and before other tribunals on the more complex legal matters.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 27pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Drafts the more complex legal documents including contracts, leases, and agreements.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 27pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Reviews systems, policies and procedures and makes appropriate recommendations to improve productivity and quality service. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 27pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Confers with relevant official of Ministries/Departments and attends meetings to give professional legal advice.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 27pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Prepares and /or reviews legal opinions.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 27pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Reviews legal/court documents for completeness and accuracy. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 27pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Advises on the more complex legal issues related to the administration, interpretation and enforcement of laws pertaining to the operations of the Department.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 27pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Participates in or supervises the preparation of instructions for submission to state central legal agencies on legal matters involving the state.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 27pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Participates in or supervises court case preparation work such as interviewing witnesses, taking depositions and preparing pre-trial briefs and preparing draft pleadings for filing.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 27pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Supervises the conduct of research and analysis on legal matters pertinent to the Departments operations.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 27pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Participates in and/or supervises the review of existing legislation, rules, and regulations pertaining to the Department and recommends/formulates appropriate amendments.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 27pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Reviews systems and procedures and recommends or devises strategies/ mechanisms to improve the effectiveness of legal services delivery.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 27pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Leads or participates in negotiations/consultations with external/internal parties.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 27pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Prepares Cabinet/Ministerial Notes, memoranda, letters, and other documents on legal matters.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 27pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Represents the Department on committees and in meetings and other fora.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Performs other related duties as required</span>
Key Competency
<ul><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 21.25pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Considerable knowledge of the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 21.25pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Considerable knowledge of legal principles and practices.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 21.25pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Considerable knowledge of the laws and regulations pertinent to the operations of the Department.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 21.25pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Considerable knowledge of legal drafting principles and practices.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 21.25pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Considerable knowledge of legal research skills and techniques.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p> <span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">Considerable knowledge of court procedures and practices and of rules of evidence.&nbsp;</span><br></p><ul><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 21.25pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Proficiency in</span><span lang="EN-GB" style=""> the use of Microsoft Office Suite.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style=""><o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 21.25pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Skill in the use of personal computers.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style=""><o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 21.25pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Skill in drafting&nbsp; legal documents/instruments.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 21.25pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Skill in negotiation, mediation and arbitration.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 21.25pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Ability to use e-Government technology platforms.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style=""><o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 21.25pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Ability to use the internet for research purposes.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 21.25pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Ability to supervise legal officers performing professional legal work.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 21.25pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Ability to analyse and interpret laws and regulations.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 21.25pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Ability to present and explain statements of facts and the law, and to argue clearly and logically, orally and in writing.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 21.25pt; line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="">Ability to maintain confidentiality.</span></li><li style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 21.25pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;">Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees and members of the public.</span><br></li></ul><p><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:" calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;="" mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;="" mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"times="" roman";="" mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:en-gb;mso-fareast-language:="" en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"=""><br></span></p>