DEPARTMENT : ADMINISTRATION
JOB TITLE : CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER
GRADE : I
NO. OF POSITIONS : ONE (1)
RESPONSIBLE TO : PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
JOB SUMMARY
Under the general supervision of the Principal Secretary, the Chief Legal Officer is responsible for the provision of legal advice on a wide range of issues related to the Ministry’s development such as matters pertaining to review and drafting of legislation and advising the entire Ministry on issues bearing juristic nature and requiring legal opinion. The incumbent also advises and guides the Ministry with proper legal procedures to be utilized in handling disciplinary cases; liaises with the office of the Attorney General on legal issues; supervises the staff in the Legal Section in the performance of their duties as well as recommending their training and development.
MAIN DUTIES
1.0 Provision of Legal Advice
1.1. Provides legal advice on general issues pertaining to the administration of the Ministry as a whole.
1.2. Attends matters that have legal implications and makes opinion on own motion and as instructed by the Principal Secretary with relevant legal advice when considering the pronouncements.
1.3. Gives advice to the Ministry on applicable laws and rules and also to other operational staff as may be required in order to assist the entire Ministry to perform its functions.
1.4. Represents the Ministry against all civil suits when need arises.
1.5. Continuously studies pieces of legislation administered by the Ministry as well as Public Service laws and advices on suitable amendments thereto.
1.6. Interprets and implements the Public Service Rules and Regulations, and acts for clarity, seeing to that everybody’s actions are within the framework of the law.
2.0 Review and Drafting of Legislation
2.1 Prepares Cabinet memorandum and information papers to seek policy clearance for the review and or enactment of the Ministry of Police and Public Safety laws and other laws relevant to the functions of the ministry.
2.2 Prepares and submits drafting instructions to the Parliamentary Counsel for the drafting of legislation to effect implementation of the ministry’s policies.
2.3 Drafts and reviews agreements and contracts between the Ministry and other parties when need arises.
2.4 Initiates preliminary drafts of technical legislation pertaining to the police service functions.
3.0 Handling of Disciplinary Cases
3.1 Draws disciplinary charge sheets for officers who have been found to have violated the law.
3.2 Analyses evidence tendered in a formal hearing and identifies legal questions to be determined in order to assist the Principal Secretary arrive at pertinent factual and legal conclusions at the end of the hearing.
3.3 Appears on behalf of the Ministry at the Public Service Tribunal, on disciplinary cases involving members of staff who have been officially charged for breach of discipline.
4.0 Liaison with the Office of the Attorney General
4.1 Liaises with the office of the Attorney General in relation to legal matters that may need his attention or input.
4.2 Makes regular visits to the Law Office to keep abreast with the latest developments in legal issues that maybe of paramount importance to this Ministry.
5.0 Supervision and Training of Staff
5.1 Holds regular meetings with sectional staff to facilitate reporting of Activities.
5.2 Intervenes and resolves complex conflicts between and amongst the departmental staff to ensure harmonious and productive working relations.
5.3 Plans, directs and coordinates the general administration of the legal functions to ensure smooth running of the section.
5.4 Guides Legal staff on daily basis to assess their performance and to provide assistance where necessary.
5.5 Conducts the annual performance appraisal on the individual supervisees to assess their performance so as to identify their success, failures and training and development needs in order to provide the necessary support.
5.6 Identifies the training needs of the individuals under his/her supervision and established the strategies to guide their training and development so as to promote their capacity, competence, efficiency and effectiveness.
5.7 Monitors and evaluates the post training and development performance of the supervisees in order to establish the extend and impact of the undertaken training and development programs and determine the necessary action to maintain good skills and upgrade as necessary.
6.0 Management of Departmental Budget
6.1 Interprets and enforces the budgetary guidelines on an annual basis to ensure that they are well understood at sectional level.
6.2 Checks and verifies the sectional budget to ensure that it is in line with the provided guidelines and annual sectional plans.
6.3 Negotiates and justifies budget at the departmental level in order to secure funds to finance legal activities.
6.4 Consolidates the annual sectional budget for inclusion in the Ministerial annual budget.
6.5 Compiles progress reports from the legal unit staff.
JOB SPECIFICATION
Education and Training
LLM plus three (3) years’ working experience at least as Senior Legal Officer in a corporate or public service environment or equivalent position with professional record and integrity, and admission as an advocate.
OR
LLB Degree plus a minimum work experience of six (6) years at least as a Senior Legal Officer in a corporate or public service environment or equivalent, with professional record and integrity, and admission as an advocate.
Core competencies
• Ability to interpret the laws correctly from the decided case and status.
• Computer literacy.
• Excellent managerial and leadership skills.
• Dynamic, self-motivated individual who is willing to go extra mile in the discharge of his/her duties.
• An individual leading by deed rather than a word of mouth.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills.
• Good conflict management and negotiation skills.
ONLY SHORTLISTED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED.
Applications on relevant forms of G.P 104 for serving officers and GP 103 for job seekers duly accompanied by completed appraisal forms coupled with certified copies of educational certificates and transcripts, should be sent to:
The Principal Secretary
Ministry of Police and Public Safety
P.O. Box 866
Maseru 100
OR
They can be hand delivered to Human Resource Office, Ministry of Police and Public Safety, Avani Maseru – Office Block, Room 721 or 730 not later than 16th OCTOBER, 2020.