Legal Advisor - 24 months Fixed Term Contract

About the position

Responsible for providing and facilitating legal advisory services in support of municipalities. The incumbent coordinates legal advisory services to ensure that company execute its legal support and advisory role to municipalities.


The incumbent co-ordinates and facilitates external legal work of the organization including liaison with external
legal practitioners, government departments, municipalities and other stakeholders.
JOB DESCRIPTION

Legal Advisory Services:

• Provide legal support to municipalities and oversee, co-ordinate and facilitate the sourcing of expert legal opinions and the outsourcing of legal support services.
• Draft legal opinions for approval by the Senior Manager: External Legal Services.
• Communicate with external parties (external counsel, service providers, etc.) in respect of drafting legal documentation.
• Collaborate with clusters to effectively assess and communicate the implications of legal and regulatory requirements on municipalities.
• Comment on the drafting of various pieces of legislation affecting local government as part of Parliamentary processes.
• Establish and maintain a relationship with member municipalities’ legal practitioners in dealing with legal matters affecting municipalities.
• Play an advocacy and lobbying role on behalf of municipalities.
• Provide advice and guidance on the development of effective, professional and sustainable legal approaches and conducting research on legal case studies and legal precedents to manage legal implications and risks on behalf of member municipalities.
• Liaise with municipalities in respect of application in terms of Access to Information Act and legal implications for disclosure including rights of third parties.
• Give timely feedback to municipalities on various legal matters.
• Interpret Statute and Legislation.
• Assist municipalities to ensure the correct decisions based on sound legal and policy principles

 
Draft and Manage Legal Documents:

• Oversee litigation from beginning to end in consultation with the Senior Manager. Draft legal opinions and provide legal support to municipalities.
• Draft legal documents.
• Provide draft comments on pieces of legislation affecting local government.
• Provide legal opinions and support to member municipalities.
• Drafting legal documents in respect of external legal.
• Assist member municipalities with vetting of legal documents as and when required.
• Keep abreast of legislative changes and National Government requirements with respect to access to information and formulating methodologies/ policies dictating procedural legal applications for consideration and approval

 
Legal Research:

• Comb and scrutinise through laws and legal articles to find facts and precedents that support legal opinions; Read through legal documents to ensure correctness; Summarise findings and court orders in writing; Use the Law Library and other platforms to undertake legal research and update case law for the benefit of municipalities.

 
 
Reporting:

• Draft reports or briefs on legal or legal policy.
• Research applicable legislation and principles relating to the legal document in question, achieving compliance.
• Draft various legal communications based on information provided, with proper consideration to legal implications of a response.
• Interpret situational and contextual issues and researching relevant topics to enable the preparation of legal documentation.
• Analyse the adequacy of current legal approaches, submits reports supporting specific provisions associated with External Legal Advisory Services interventions.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Degree (essential/minimum)
• Admission as an Attorney will be advantageous
• At least five years of experience in legal services, of which at least two(2) years should have been specifically in the local government sector
• A valid Code 08 drivers’ license and own vehicle
• Proven track-record in successful lobbying and advocacy of critical issues
• Previous experience in a multidisciplinary unit is essential
• Experience in drafting legal opinions.
• High court litigation experience.

Desired Skills:

• Strong communication skills
• Legal Advisory Services
• Report Writing