MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
EXTERNAL CIRCULAR NOTICE NO. 3 OF 2025
Reference: FIN/HR/ADVERTS/03
Applications are invited from suitably qualified local candidates for the following position:
DEPARTMENT: SUPPORT SERVICES
JOB TITLE: Principal Legal Officer
GRADE: H
RESPONSIBLE TO: Chief Legal Officer
NO. OF POSITIONS: Two (2)
MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB
To provide legal advice to Heads of Departments on matters pertaining to financial issues, development planning, and issues bearing juristic nature requiring legal opinion.
MAIN DUTIES
1.0 Analyses Legal Advice Requests from Management and the Ministry’s Departments
- 1.1 Receives legal requests from management and the departments
- 1.2 Analyses the requests by case and then provides legal opinion
- 1.3 Conducts research on identified legal issues
- 1.4 Implements, upon necessity, management decisions as per legal advice
- 1.5 Provides legal advice on human resource-related issues
2.0 Analyses National and International Instruments with the Aim of Providing Legal Advice
- 2.1 Reads and analyses national and international instruments, documents or agreements
- 2.2 Identifies legal issues on national and international instruments, documents or agreements, and advises accordingly
- 2.3 Conducts research where necessary
- 2.4 Provides legal advice or opinion to the concerned department
3.0 Facilitates the Drafting of the Finance and Development Planning Legislation
- 3.1 Consults relevant ministerial departments on the legal issues that form the legislation to be drafted
- 3.2 Submits drafting instructions to the Law Office
4.0 Drafts Contracts and Agreements Between the Ministry and Other Parties
- 4.1 Takes part in contract/agreement discussion fora
- 4.2 Drafts contracts/agreements in consultation with the relevant department
- 4.3 Adds comments from other parties on the contracts/agreements where necessary
5.0 Represents the Ministry in Litigation
- 5.1 Analyses the nature of the case
- 5.2 Liaises with the investigator where the case is handled by another office, in most instances being the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
- 5.3 Interviews witnesses to determine whether such a witness would be needed or not
- 5.4 Drafts the charge against the accused party based on the evidence in hand and the fact that there is a case against the party
- 5.5 Prosecutes the case by leading evidence and examining the witness
- 5.6 Cross-examines defence witnesses to test their credibility
6.0 Participates in Both Loan and Projects Agreement Negotiations at Local and International Levels
- 6.1 Participates in meetings for the discussion of projects and loan agreements
- 6.2 Provides legal advice thereupon
7.0 Monitors the Performance of the Legal Officer
- 7.1 Draws the annual work plans
- 7.2 Conducts quarterly appraisals
- 7.3 Compiles progress reports from the Legal Officers
- 7.4 Produces quarterly reports and submits to the Chief Legal Officer
JOB SPECIFICATION
Education and Training
- LLM with a minimum of two (2) years working experience as a legal practitioner
OR - LLB with a minimum of five (5) years working experience as a legal practitioner
Other Relevant Knowledge and Skills
- Knowledge of Public Service Regulations, Acts, Code of Conducts
- Knowledge of Lesotho Laws
- Special training in trade finance or international covenants
- Competency in court proceedings
- Ability to communicate
Application Instructions
Submit applications at: Government Complex, Finance House, SSD – Human Resources Office, 3rd Floor, Room 3022
Applications on relevant forms:
- G.P 104 for serving officers
- G.P 103 for job seekers
Applications must be accompanied by:
- Certified copies of educational certificates, transcripts, ID, CVs
- Council on Higher Education (CHE) certificate of verification
Submission Address:
Human Resources Office
Ministry of Finance and Development Planning
Government Complex, Finance 3rd Floor, Room 3063
P.O. Box 395, Maseru
Closing Date: Monday, 22nd September 2025
Note: Candidates are advised to write their email addresses and two (2) contact numbers at the top of their application forms.