Junior Legal Officer

The Junior Legal Officer is required to provide administrative and legal assistance to the CEO, Senior Legal Officer when responding to matters of law and procedure upon the request of the Council. The Junior Legal Officer also undertakes legal research and functions as a part of the Secretariat

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. To provide support to the CEO, Senior Legal Officer on matters of law and procedure at the request of the Council;
2. To assist the Senior Legal Officer with the preparation of draft litigation reports for review in which the LATT is a named party or an interested party;
3. To receive and dispatch physical and electronic correspondence and other documents immediately relevant to the CEO and the Senior Legal Officer and other stakeholders;
4. To conduct legal research and give advice accordingly;
5. To do file management, prepare legal e-files and hard copy filing as well as preparation of electronic bundles;
6. To report to the Senior Legal Officer daily on all litigation matters where required;
7. To assist the Convenors and members of assigned Committees of the LATT to ensure that delegated tasks relevant to each Committee are carried out, and deliverables are achieved within the targeted timeframe set by the Council. He or she shall also liaise with LATT-appointed representatives on external Committees and Statutory Boards and obtain reports from representatives for the benefit of the Council and the membership;
8. To prepare minutes templates, and prepare assigned Committee meeting minutes for which the Senior Legal Officer is a Secretariat Support member;
9. To receive and vet applications for Certificates of Fitness (CoFs) and Certificates of Good Standings (CoGS) for the Committee’s review and prepare and distribute CoFs and CoGS;
10. To draft letters, prepare briefing notes and reports, and legal briefs for the CEO, Senior Legal Officer and the Council where necessary;
11. To place calls and to draft follow-up letters to the Judiciary and other relevant entities on behalf of the CEO and Senior Legal Officer;
12. All other related tasks relevant to the effective operation and strategic running of the Secretariat activities.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE  

• An Attorney-at-Law admitted to practice in Trinidad and Tobago.
• A practitioner Member in good standing with the Law Association.
• Experience in the practice of law would be preferred.

KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS

• Working knowledge of the Civil Proceedings Rules 1998 as amended, Courtroom protocol and at least one year's experience in litigation and/or at least one year in law research.
• General knowledge of electronic and manual legal research methods.
• General proficiency in using the Microsoft Office Suite software and web-based legal resources.
• Case Management skills and the ability to organise documentation in an efficient filing system.
• General ability to conduct legal research and to prepare notes, amended legislation, correspondence and drafts of originating and interlocutory proceedings in litigation matters.
• General ability to work outside of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. when required by impending deadlines and Council and Committee Meetings.

COMPETENCIES

• Oral and Written Communication - the ability to confidently express oneself in a clear, concise and logical manner; production and compilation of accurate information; speaking clearly and concisely to inform and persuade; and writing grammatically succinctly and clearly. Seeks to improve writing style and effectiveness. Possess presentation skills. 
• Interpersonal Skills - ability to establish productive and cooperative relationships. Understands and responds to others' needs and priorities.
• Legal Research - the ability to work under the guidance of the Senior Legal Officer to collate relevant facts and documents.
• Organized/Aware - implements practical time management skills and prioritises tasks based on instruction, guidance and personal experience.
• Proactive - seeks new tasks and development opportunities. Identifies and develops new ideas and areas for improvement and is prepared to logically and robustly defend them.
• Influence - develops leadership and influencing capabilities and provides mentoring.  Seeks opportunities internally to influence or initiate courses of action or change relevant to the business or job role.
• General conduct - professional behaviour and appearance, resourceful, and client-oriented. Adheres to and complies with HR policies, e.g., Dress code and Health and Safety.
• Exercising professional judgment - applies knowledge to the benefit of colleagues and others; performs duties competently, diligently, honestly and with due regard to legislation, minimum quality standards and in compliance with fundamental principles of ethical behaviour.
• Acts ethically - applies relevant codes of conduct, regulations and legislation; sets high standards of accuracy and attention to detail in records and reports to the highest standard of professionalism.
• Problem solver - solves work-related problems, demonstrating innovative, critical thinking and the ability to plan and undertake projects. Analyses complex data from both internal and external sources, showing a clear understanding of the needs of clients and the business.
• Credible - develops personal credibility based on expanding knowledge and skills and gaining a positive reputation with peers and colleagues.
• Deadline-oriented – applies strategies to prioritise deliverables and multitasks to meet deadlines.
• Team Player - works co-operatively with other individuals and makes valued contributions to the outputs of others to assist own team or project to achieve the required results.

          WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

• Chief Executive Officer
• Staff of the Secretariat
• Executive Members of the Council
• Counsel and Attorneys-at-Law