Legal Administration Officer (MR-5)

Requirements

• An LLB degree or equivalent qualification. At least eight (8) years' appropriate post-qualification legal experience. Knowledge of policy development and implementation.
• Knowledge of government legal processes, legislation and contracts. Knowledge of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (PAIA), the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000 (PAJA), the Constitution and all relevant legislation, including the Treasury Regulations.
• Knowledge of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). Ability to negotiate and draft contracts and international instruments. Ability to interpret specific environmental legislation and issues affecting the environment, as well as general environmental law. Legal research and interpretation. Analytical and report-writing skills.
• Programme and project management. Computer literacy. Good planning and decision-making skills. Language proficiency. Confidentiality. Excellent communication skills (written and verbal). Strategic capability and leadership skills. Accountability and ethical conduct.

Duties

• The incumbent will be responsible for providing legal advisory services to LOCMA and its functionaries. Conduct, analyse, interpret, advise and mentor juniors on research that will provide information and case law relevant to the legal matter at hand, including providing legal support to ensure compliance with relevant legislation, collecting and analysing data and information for planning, decision-making and management reporting, analysing current policies and strategic objectives, developing standard operating procedures, and compiling research memoranda.
• Draft legal documents and advise and mentor juniors on legal drafting, including drafting legal documents, memoranda, reports and submissions, drafting, vetting and reviewing contracts on behalf of LOCMA, drafting legal opinions and documents to support criminal prosecutions for contraventions of the National Water Act, negotiating and drafting multilateral and bilateral agreements, ensuring compliance with the Constitution and domestic and international legal obligations, rendering legal support in all litigation matters, and obtaining outstanding information and initiating the recovery process, including issuing letters of demand.
• Present on and advise and mentor juniors on proposals on how specific cases should be approached, including receiving, recording and assessing new matters, advising clients on possible courses of action during consultation, and drafting legal opinions on behalf of LOCMA.
• Conduct interviews to determine clients' goals and objectives, including handling litigation matters and appeals, including National Water Tribunal appeals, on behalf of LOCMA, monitoring court cases from inception to final stage, liaising with the Office of the State Attorney on litigation matters, and keeping the litigation register updated. Document interviews and all legal advice given during legal consultation in writing, including monitoring the implementation of PAIA and PAJA, ensuring compliance and handling PAIA and PAJA matters on behalf of LOCMA, and submitting recommendations, queries and comments to clients.
• Provide advice and guidance to lower-level production employees on advanced interview techniques to address sensitive or complicated issues, and guide employees on the advice to be rendered to clients, including monitoring performance and service delivery targets, measuring and improving work methods, procedures and systems, and researching new methodologies and best practices.