Current Vacancies at Legal Aid South Africa

KEY OUTPUTS

• Provide legal representation to farm occupiers, labour tenants and restitution claimants at High Court level.
• Handling of complex land-related matters.
• Training and supervision of Candidate Attorneys.
• Perform office administration.
• Represent women, children and landless people in land-related matters.

COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ATTRIBUTES) REQUIRED

• LLB degree.
• Admitted attorney or advocate (the latter must have completed pupillage successfully at any recognised institution).
• Legal representation at High Court level.
• Minimum of at least seven (7) years of post-qualification experience of which five (5) years must be post-admission experience.
• A minimum of four (4) years of High Court experience, or a minimum of six (6) years of Regional Court experience and experience in land matters.
• Proven track record in civil matters at High Court level.
• Valid driver’s licence.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Analytical thinking.
• Team player.
• Self-development orientation.

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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.

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KEY OUTPUTS

• Train, supervise and guide Candidate Attorneys.
• Co-ordinate legal training at the office.
• Provide individual mentoring and coaching for Legal Practitioners and Candidate Attorneys.
• Assess the quality of the files and work performed by Candidate Attorneys and Legal Practitioners daily.
• Assist the Head of Office with quality assessments.
• Monitor case flow management of Legal Practitioners, Candidate Attorneys and Judicare practitioners at court.
• Assess the quality of Judicare work.
• Monitor and assess the quality of work performed by Co-operation Partners.
• Legal representation in civil matters.
• Ensure that the law library at the office is up-to-date and adequate.

COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ATTRIBUTES) REQUIRED

• B Proc or LLB.
• Admitted Attorney.
• At least seven (7) years of post-admission legal experience.
• Experience as a Senior Legal Practitioner or equivalent is preferable.
• Legal Quality Assurance score of not less than 90%.
• Must be able to mentor and supervise.
• Legal representation and litigation skills.
• Human rights orientation.
• A commitment to professionalism and service excellence.
• A valid code 08 driver’s licence compulsory.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Strong research capabilities.
• Good administrative skills.
• Strong training and development skills.

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KEY OUTPUTS

• To ensure immediate response to client telephone call enquiries, complaints and/or concerns and provide advice, guidance and assistance on how to resolve the issue and/or assist client to resolve their legal problem.
• Receive telephone calls for immediate response and record them on the logging system.
• Obtain adequate information from clients on support required from the Call Centre.
• Guide client/representative to gain insight into the problem and advise the client on alternative ways to deal with the problem in line with legal best practice and principles.
• Refer the client for appropriate legal assistance based on the information obtained during the interview (internally or externally) or proficiently act on behalf of the person to solve general non-litigation/advice matters such as dealing with delayed pension payouts, non-delivery of ID documents, et cetera.
• Maintain accurate notes on the outcome of matters at all times as per the stipulated Call Centre format.
• Ensure proper diarising of files and keep concise file notes for matters requiring follow-up and ensure timely follow-up of these matters.
• Call clients for feedback on the quality of legal services and advice provided by legal practitioners and Call Centre agents.

COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ATTRIBUTES) REQUIRED

• National Senior/Matric certificate plus a Diploma in Paralegal and/or Legal Assistant one (1) year qualification.
• Computer literacy.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to relate at all levels.
• Proficient in South African Sign Language and have the ability to translate.
• Proficient verbal and written communication in English, Afrikaans and other South African languages.
• A valid unendorsed code 8 driver’s licence is an advantage.