Senior Legal Officer
Closing Date: 31 January 2025
Purpose of the Job
To manage and ensure the provision of an effective legal service within the Provincial Office, including complaints handling, investigations and litigation on human rights violations.
Roles and Responsibilities
Ensure the effective handling of complaints and investigations regarding human rights violations under the guidance of the Provincial Manager:
- Ensure the effective handling of complaints of human rights violations, from inception through to finalisation in accordance with the Commission’s complaints handling procedures
- Providing advice to the Provincial Office, with regard to the interpretation of statutes, exercise of power and on any other legal and or human rights issues.
- Conduct, monitor and ensure that investigations are effectively conducted and finalized in accordance with the Commission’s investigations processes and procedures. (This will include providing guidance, advice and support with regards to investigation matters)
- Initiate investigations in consultations with the PM (This may include visiting relevant local communities)
Manage, monitor and ensure that all complaints are accurately captured in the flow centric database:
- Ensure that all case data (information and statistics) is captured into the flow centric database.
- Manage the collation of statistical and narrative reports on complaints caseload and progress.
- Manage the process of analyzing and verifying data and information.
- Assist and provide necessary support to the PM for the proper and effective management of analyzing and verifying data; statistics and information
Provide litigation services with regards to human rights violations:
- Support the Provincial Office in litigation matters relating to human rights violations (this may include representing the Provincial Office).
- Ensure effective litigation and litigation coordination.
- Consult with complainants, respondents, attorneys, government departments and other stakeholders.
- Provide opinions and advice on legal research and litigation matters
- Liaise with legal practitioners, both internal and external, in respect of litigation.
- Draft legal documents, subpoenas and opinions.
Establish and maintain key stakeholder relationship:
- Must establish and maintain strategic partnership with key stakeholders in order to strengthen the work of LSP.
- Represent the LSP in stakeholders meetings.
- Work with other programmes in the Commission in order to enhance inter-programme collaboration in promoting the work of the Commission.
General legal services support:
- To ensure that legal support staff are adequately trained and fully understand the complaints handling processes and procedures (Mentor and train as may be appropriate).
- Provide continuous guidance and support to the LSS.
- To manage the outreach activities of the legal services unit within the provinces so that it reaches a larger spectrum of people who may have experienced human rights violations.
- In consultation with the PM and Advocacy Officer, attend to and manage the setting up of “Legal Day-Clinics”/ “help-desks” as part of the Legal outreach work.
Qualifications and Requirements
Key competencies:
- Problem solving and analysis
- Stakeholder engagement and management
- People management
- Project management
- Attention to detail
- Knowledge management
- Communication
- Honesty and integrity
- Conflict resolution and facilitation skills
- Negotiation skills
- Planning and organising
- Sound judgment
- Litigation
- Strong writing skills
- Legal Research ability
- Case managementInterpretation of Statutes
- Computer literacy
Knowledge and education:
- An LLB degree
- An admitted Attorney or Advocate (must have completed
- pupilage and admission to the Bar)
- Legal knowledge
- Knowledge and understanding of all relevant (national and international) human rights legislation/laws
- Knowledge of human rights theory and practices
- Understanding of litigation practices, processes and
- procedures.
- Understanding of complaints handling processes and procedures
- Understanding of investigation processes and procedures
- Knowledge of all relevant legislation, policies and procedures
- Knowledge and understanding of communications and stakeholder management requirements and processes
- Must have a valid driver’s licence
Experience:
- At least 3 years practical experience, post admission
- At least 1 to 2 years management experience.
- Experience in a human rights environment will be an added advantage
APPLY NOW
Other Opportunities:
Leave a Reply