Senior Legal Administration Officer (MR-6)

Overview

Senior Legal Administration Officer managing litigation matters, requiring LLB qualification and eight years' post-qualification legal experience.

Requirements

• An LLB degree or equivalent 4 (four) year legal qualification at NQF level 7 (seven) as recognized by SAQA. 8 (Eight) years’ relevant post-qualification legal experience, of which at least 4 (four) to 5 (five) years should have been in a Civil Litigation environment.
• Admission as an Attorney or Advocate is required.
• Knowledge of Court Processes and Procedures.
• Knowledge of all legislation (primary and secondary legislation) administered by the Department.
• Knowledge of the Public Service Act, 1994 and Regulations.
• Knowledge of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 and Treasury Regulations.
• Knowledge of the South African Legal System and legal practices.
• Understanding of Human Resources legislation and prescripts.
• Knowledge of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.
• Knowledge of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000 and Regulations.
• Willingness to travel and work extended hours.
• A valid Driver's License.
• Required skills and competencies: Strategic capability and leadership.
• Service delivery innovation.
• Client orientation and customer focus.
• People management and empowerment.
• Financial management.
• Honesty and integrity.
• Program and project management.
• Change management. Communication.
• Knowledge management. Decision-making.
• Presentation skills.
• Problem solving and analysis.
• Business report writing.
• Influencing and networking.
• Planning and organizing.
• Interpersonal skills.
• Technical skills: Litigation processes and procedures, preparation/scrutiny of affidavits, preparation of legal opinions pertaining to litigation matters.
• Commercial skills.
• Computer literacy.
• Negotiation skills.

Duties

• The successful candidate will be responsible for, amongst others, the following specific tasks: Conduct daily operations on litigation matters.
• Conduct research to provide information and case law relevant to the legal matter at hand.
• Provide strategic guidance in an attempt to reduce litigation and costs.
• Provide proposals on how a case should be approached to obtain the most suitable outcome given the specifics of the case.
• Draft legal documents that provide clear motivation for a particular position pertaining to the case.
• Propose an approach to be followed to ensure success in resolving the case.
• Conduct an interview with the relevant line function in order to determine the line function’s goals and objectives.
• Document in writing such interviews and all advice given during consultation.
• Render legal advice on litigation matters.
• Assist in searching and finding all relevant documents for instituting and conducting action or application proceedings.
• Consult with line function, witnesses, colleagues, advocates, experts and any other relevant person.
• Study court records, file records, contracts, witness statements and other documents.
• Conduct analyses of and interpret research done that will provide evidence and case law relevant to the legal matter at hand and advise/mentor juniors on same.
• Protect, advise and mentor juniors on motivation/proposals on how specific cases should be approached to obtain the most suitable outcome/result in the circumstances.
• Sending instructions to the relevant State Attorney and ensuring that the Department and/or Minister is represented in civil litigation brought against or by the Department and/or the Minister.
• Develop and submit reports to the Minister and Director-General.
• Development and implementation of policies, procedures, directives, Acts and Regulations.
• Advise on policies and procedures of the Department taking into consideration the outcome of civil litigation.
• Ensure optimal utilization of resources.
• Ensure training needs are met.
• Ensure the Performance Management Development System is implemented.
• Provide inputs on the Strategic Plan and Annual Budget of the Department.
• Assist in developing an Operational Plan and Work Plan for the Directorate to ensure its achievement of the targets and goals.
• Manage external consultants/service providers in an effective and efficient manner.
• Ensure compliance with all audit requirements, quality and risk management frameworks, standards and procedures.
• Ability to instill appropriate processes and systems, as well as enabling technology, to support the Department in efficiently and effectively managing the required work.
• Support digital transformation.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online at https://erecruitment.dha.gov.za sent to the correct address specified at the bottom of the posts, on or before the closing date.

Enquiries: Head Office: Mr B Mathatho Tel No: (012) 406 4250

Notes

accompanied by a fully completed Application for Employment Form (New Z83, effective from 1 January 2021), obtainable at www.dpsa.gov.za, citing the correct post number and job title, and a comprehensive CV (citing the start and end date dd/mm/yy), job title, duties performed and exit reason for each employment period to be considered, as well as the details of at least two contactable employment references (as recent as possible), regardless of online or manual submission. Where a valid Driver's License and a Professional Driving Permit (PDP) is a requirement, this must be indicated on the CV. All shortlisted candidates, including SMS, shall undertake two pre-entry assessments. One will be a practical exercise to determine a candidate’s suitability based on the post’s technical and generic requirements and the other must be an integrity (ethical conduct) assessment. Shortlisted candidates will also be required to submit a copy of their ID document, a valid driver’s license (if specified as a job requirement), relevant educational qualifications / RPL certificates / Academic Transcripts of completed qualifications, and Acting letters as directed. Furthermore, applicants who possess (a) foreign qualification(s), are required to submit the evaluated results of such qualifications, as received from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA); will be subjected to an interview, various relevant tests and assessments, and employment suitability checks (credit, criminal, citizenship, qualifications, and employment references including verification of exit reasons, and conducting business with State). Once appointed, serving of a prescribed probation period, and obtaining of a security clearance appropriate to the post, will be required. Correspondence between the Department and candidates will be limited to shortlisted candidates, only. The DHA complies with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (Act No. 4 of 2013). Applicants’ personal information will be used for recruitment purposes, retained where required for audit, and safeguarded against unauthorised disclosure, except where legally required. Submission of an application constitutes consent to such processing. OTHER POSTS