Senior Officer: External Litigation at Road Accident Fund

Job description

Purpose of the Job: To attend to litigated matters by investigating, assessing and settling defended claims with the view to reduce the number of matters that proceed to trial.

Key Performance Areas

• Ensure that the unit conducts preliminary assessment of litigated files
• Supervise and ensure that the unit instruct panel attorney on appointment of relevant experts
• Actively manage and control the litigation process in the unit to ensure early settlement
• Report on trial outcomes and out of court settlements in the unit
• Verify and approve manual and system offers
• Monitor and arrange block settlements
• High court duty (attending to new and revised instructions)
• Prepare and analyse reports to be submitted to the team lead
• Monitor compliance and non-compliance with RAF policies, procedures and processes.
• Plan, monitor and review performance
• Establish and maintain internal stakeholder relations
• Establish and maintain positive external stakeholder relations
• Investigate and assess legal liability of the RAF on claims lodged
• Analyse and interpret outcome of claims investigations
• Liaise internally on litigated and non litigated claims with panel and plaintiff
• Monitor and report on Panel attorneys’ compliance or noncompliance in terms of the SLA
• Manage and supervise team of Litigation officers and assistants with regard to:
• Quality and quantity of output in line with assigned targets
• Leave
• Adherence to court and internal time lines
• Authorise appointment of actuaries and assessors utilising VRS system
• Give legal guidance to team of Litigation Officers and other internal stake holders
• Deputise for litigation manager

Qualifications and Experience

• B Degree in Law with Admission as attorney or advocate of the High Court.
• Relevant 5 years minimum experience in a claims/ litigation environment

Key Competencies:

• Dispute resolution and negotiation skills.
• Third party compensation law
• Understanding of the RAF Business Processes.
• Computer Literate.
• Sound knowledge of the Amendment Act and Regulations
• Sound knowledge of Magistrate Court Rules and Magistrate Court Act and High court Rules and Act
• Knowledge of relevant case law and Legislation

Closing date: 29 August 2017