Bloemfontein Local Office – Land Rights Management Unit / Legal Secretary at Legal Aid South Africa

Applications are invited from persons interested to fill the above-mentioned position. The incumbent will be appointed on a permanent basis. The position is based in Bloemfontein.

KEY OUTPUTS

• To provide administrative and secretarial support to the civil unit in accordance with Legal Aid SA policies, procedures and standards.
• Carry out the civil units’ administrative function effectively.
• Provide efficient secretarial support to the civil unit.
• Obtain, source, type, proofread, make copies and distribute according to instructions received.
• Co-ordinate and monitor all civil units’ administrative matters.
• Participate and provide support to implement an effective filing and diary system to ensure that the civil unit addresses matters on behalf of clients and the availability of the practitioner.
• Assist legal practitioners with all ancillary matters to the preparation and presentation of cases.
• Develop and maintain a system to ensure that receipt of documents emanating from other units and/or offices is acknowledged.
• Develop a system to ensure that documents received from opponent attorneys are received and distributed to the relevant practitioner, timeously.
• Develop a system to record sensitive documents and to ensure same-day distribution of these documents.
• Gather the required information and arrange for consultative interviews.
• Assist with the completion of routine forms for legal practitioners and ensure that they are submitted for approval.
• Maintain and update meeting schedules.
• Maintain record keeping and filing system.
• Ensure that reports and documentation are timeously sent/delivered to the relevant people.
• Ensure that physical assets are reconciled to each individual office list at the office on a monthly basis.
• Maintenance and issuing of stationery in accordance with relevant Legal Aid SA procedures.
• Maintain attendance registers in accordance with the Legal Aid SA Human Resources Policy.
• Maintain a register of mail items and court documents sent by Docex and track their delivery.
• Maintain a register of documents sent to the High Court Unit, Strategic Litigation Unit and Senior Litigator.
• Maintain a list with regular fax numbers and double-check with customers to determine full instructions for handling of faxes with full adherence to customer instructions.
• Always attach successful transmission reports to sent faxes.
• Attend to photocopying and binding of documents as required.
• Attend to the proper allocation of duplication/stationery costs as per Legal Aid SA policies/procedures.
• Assist with the accurate completion of practitioner Matter Activity Reports (MARs) and updating of any web pages designed to capture information for the civil unit.
• Keep handy the complete list of all relevant contact numbers for office personnel and major customers/role players at all times.
• Adhere to proper telephone etiquette and accurate taking and conveying of messages at all times.

COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ATTRIBUTES) REQUIRED

• National Senior/Matric certificate.
• Minimum one (1) year of relevant admin and secretarial experience within a legal environment.
• Understanding and application of basic computer software packages.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Attention to detail.