Legal Officer

Provide legal services to the National Insurance Board of Trinidad and Tobago.

EDUCATIONAL AND EXPERIENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Required: Bachelor of Laws Degree from a reputable and accredited University; Legal Education Certificate or equivalent; and current Practicing Certificate issued by the Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago.
• Desired: LLM (Corporate and Commercial)
• A minimum of three (3) years’ experience as a practicing Attorney at Law within any commonwealth jurisdiction (experience in civil litigation will be an asset).
• A minimum one (1) year experience in a corporate environment.
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

The incumbent will be required to:

Legal Services Provision

• advise and provide opinions to the NIBTT on legal matters, including liability, rights and obligations thereof.
• prepare, draft or review legal documents, including but not limited to contracts, leases, conveyances, bonds, securities, bills of sale, mortgages, deeds of variation, deeds of release and other instruments.
• recover contributions, penalty and interest and mortgage arrears from defaulting employers and mortgagors.
• represent the NIBTT: at the National Insurance Appeals Tribunal and/or any other Tribunal; as instructing and advocate attorney (if required) at the Industrial Court, Magistrates’ Court, High Court and Court of Appeal.
• review and advise the NIBTT on pursuing criminal proceedings against and/or on behalf of the National Insurance Board.
• liaise with external Attorneys with respect to the NIBTT’s legal portfolio including the preparation of briefs to external counsel.
• research National Insurance legislation, Constitution, statutes, decisions, regulations, ordinances of quasi-judicial bodies and related topics required to inform advice and write opinions to ensure the optimum functioning of the NIBTT.

People Management

• manage the performance of immediate subordinates, providing advice on technical and administrative matters and providing training as required.
• ensure that Training Needs Reports are informed and submitted for approval in order to equip staff with the necessary Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Attributes required to achieve approved objectives;
• promote compliance with the NIBTT's Corporate Policies, Procedures & Instructions related to: Human Resource Management, including Industrial Agreements; and, Health, Safety, Security and the Environment, including relevant elements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
• assist with managing the equipment, operating systems and supplies, information and physical amenities necessary for the efficient and effective conduct of the Department's business and the maintenance of a healthy and safe work environment.

Audit, Compliance & Risk

• assist with the assessment of recommendations arising out of the conduct of audits and system reviews, and the implementation of approved action items where necessary;
• implement, monitor & evaluate relevant risk mitigation strategies contained in the Business Unit’s Operational Plan identified by the Executive Management Team; and
• co-operate with and provide assistance to Internal and External Auditors, and internal Compliance and Risk Managers with regard to access to, or provision of information, records and responses required for preparation of financial statements as well as audit and risk reports.  

Strategic Support

• assist with the provision of training on the National Insurance Act and legal subject areas.
• assist with the development of recommendations for amendments to the National Insurance Act and drafting required legislation.
• assist with the review of decisions of the National Insurance Appeals Tribunal to determine validity for Judicial Review.
• assist with developing and reviewing policies, procedures and other mandates as required and when requested.
• assist with the preparation and review of departmental reports, annual budgets and departmental strategic business plans.
• participate in the management decision-making process as a member of the NIBTT’s Senior Management Team.
• represent the Legal Services Unit on Internal and External Committees as directed by the Manager Legal Services, Executive Manager Legal Services or Chief Operating Officer Corporate Services, and co-ordinate the Unit’s efforts in meeting the approved objectives of the designated committee.
• perform other related duties as requested.

AREAS OF SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of Law - Knowledge of law as a whole.
• Legal Method - Understanding, analysing and applying legal rules and principles.
• Business Administration - Knowledge of how to manage all or part of an organization by developing strategies, planning, allocating resources (human, financial, material, intellectual or intangible), controlling procedures and evaluating outcomes.

SKILLS

• Internet and Email - Extent to which one is comfortable navigating the internet and is familiar with various email programs.
• Planning - Extent to which one is able to take into account organizational goals in order to develop a step-by-step plan for how to proceed.
• Interviewing - Skills related to asking pointed and structured questions that are intended to help gather important information.
• Word Processing - The extent to which one is able to use a word processing software to create electronic documents.
• Public Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

ABILITIES

• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions when appropriate, and avoiding interruptions at inappropriate times.
• Analysing - Capacity to examine an issue methodically by separating it into parts and studying their interrelations.
• Technical Writing - Extent to which one is able to communicate, in writing, specialized technical information.
• Multi-tasking - Ability to perform several tasks at once or to shift from one activity to another quickly and efficiently.
• Complex Problem-solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options, and implement solutions.
• Researching - Extent to which one is able to locate needed information from appropriate sources as well as comprehend these materials.
• Strategizing - Planning how best to proceed given a number of different scenarios.
• Time Management - Extent to which one is able to develop a plan of action, accurately estimate the amount of time the task/project will require, as well as prioritize and execute the plan in the allocated time frame.