Legal Administrative Officer MR-5

Department of Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 465 000; Full time

Job summary

A government department is seeking a Legal Administrative Officer on a one-year contract in Johannesburg. The role requires a Matric plus NQF7 in Law and a minimum of 5 years of legal experience. Responsibilities include providing legal advice, drafting documents, and conducting research on local government law. The position offers an annual salary of R464,634. Applications must be submitted online and should include a comprehensive CV and certified copies of qualifications. Preference will be given to candidates with disabilities.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years appropriate legal experience.
• Ability to ensure all instructions to the State Attorney are met.
• Experience in drafting legal documents clearly.

Responsibilities

• Examine instructions from clients to address legal questions.
• Conduct necessary research regarding legal issues.
• Draft opinions and legal documents as required.
• Provide legal clarity and assist clients in their matters.

Skills

Knowledge of local government law and related legislation

Ability to provide legal advice

Ability to draft legal documents

Research and analysis skills

Consultation abilities

Education

Matric plus NQF7 in Law

Job description

Overview

Department of Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Legal Administrative Officer (MR-5) (one year contract)

• Reference Number : refs/035258
• Directorate : Legal Services
• Number of Posts : 1
• Package : R464 634.00 per annum (all-inclusive package)
• Enquiries : Caiphus/ Andy, cell: 071 474 7078/51

Requirements

• Matric plus NQF7 in Law or as otherwise determined by the Minister for Justice. Coupled with a minimum of 5 years appropriate legal experience. Knowledge of local government law and related legislation; Ability to provide legal advice and opinions local government law and related legislation; Ability to draft properly composed legal documents; Ability to ensure 100% instructions to the State Attorney on matters affecting the MEC, the HoD and the Department; Ability to provide a legal brief once a quarter on matters of local government law and related issues; Ability to update the Department's Human Resource Delegations under the Public Service Act and the update of the Department's policies as and when required by client directorates; Manage litigation on behalf of the MEC, the HoD and the Department; Conduct, analyse, interpret, advise on research that will provide information and case law relevant to a legal matter at hand; Present and advise on motivation/ proposals on how the specific case should be approached to obtain a desirable/ justifiable outcome / result; Draft legal documents and advise on the drafting of legal documents that provide clear motivation / justification for a particular position pertaining to the case, also proposing the approach to be followed to ensure success in this regard; Successfully conduct a consultation in order to determine a client Unit’s goals and objectives; Advise a client Unit on possible courses of action during the consultation process, in relation to legal entitlements and client’s instructions; Document consultation and all advice given during legal consultation in writing; Provide advice and guidance to lower level production employees on advanced consultation techniques to address more sensitive or complicated issues as well as guide employees on the advice that should be rendered to the client.

Duties

• Examine the instruction received from client to determine the legal question(s) to be addressed; Consult with client to obtain further clarity, if necessary; Source necessary legal tools; Conduct the necessary research regarding the legal issue(s) to be addressed; Draft the Opinion; If necessary, consult the client; Finalise and submit the opinion to Supervisor for vetting; Obtain instructions from client as to the nature of the document to be drafted; Consult with client to obtain further information, if necessary; Conduct research and source the relevant resource tools and information; Draft the legal document and submit to client; If necessary, further consultations with client and other parties; Receive the document for legal review from client, along with instructions; Scrutinize the document, in order to ensure that it complies with all relevant legal requirements; If necessary, consult with client and other parties to provide legal clarity and assist in finalizing the document which has been reviewed; Prepare comments regarding the document and submit to Supervisor for vetting; Receive summons or notice of motion from the State Attorney’s Office; Scrutinize the court papers received; Consult with State Attorney’s Office, if necessary; Consult with relevant client unit to which the matter relates; Prepare brief for the HOD/ MEC on necessary course of action to be undertaken; Submit brief to Supervisor for vetting; Brief the State Attorney on course of action to take, either to oppose or not to oppose; Receive instructions from relevant client unit to determine the merits of the contemplated action; Consult with the client unit and obtain other relevant information to prepare opinion regarding whether there are reasonable prospects of success; Provide advice to the HOD/MEC on the contemplated action and submit to Supervisor for vetting; If there are reasonable prospects of success, then the HOD/MEC will provide instructions to institute the action; Continue with similar steps as outlined above in respect of litigation against the Department, with appropriate modifications for the context; Conduct research on topical issue; Prepare briefing and submit to Supervisor for vetting; Circulate the legal briefing to colleagues in the Department; Provide legal library services in the event where the Law Librarian is absent or not available.

Notes

• It is our intention to promote representivity (race, gender, and disability) in the Public Service through the filling of these posts. Preference will be given to people with disabilities. Applications should be submitted strictly online at https://jobs.gauteng.gov.za/Public/Jobs.aspx or http://jobs.gauteng.gov.za/Public/Jobs.aspx and it should be accompanied by a most recent Z83 form and comprehensive Curriculum Vitae (CV), certified copies of qualifications and Identity will be submitted upon request (no postal or hand delivery applications will be accepted). It is the applicant’s responsibility to have foreign qualifications evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). Correspondence will only be limited to shortlisted candidates. If you have not been contacted within 3 months of the closing date of this advertisement, please accept that your application was unsuccessful.

Employer

Employer : Department of Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Location : Johannesburg

Closing Date : 23-02-2026

Criteria Questions

• Do you have a Matric plus NQF7 in Law or as otherwise determined by the Minister for Justice?
• Do you have a minimum of 5 years appropriate legal experience
• Do you possess the following competencies; knowledge of local government law and related legislation; Ability to provide legal advice and opinions local government law and related legislation; Ability to draft properly composed legal documents; Ability to ensure 100% instructions to the State Attorney on matters affecting the MEC, the HoD and the Department; Ability to provide a legal brief once a quarter on matters of local government law and related issues; Ability to update the Department's H

Notes

• Due to the large number of applications we envisage receiving, applications will not be acknowledged. If youdo not receive any response within 3 months, please accept that your application was not successful.