Summary: Situated in the Office of the President, the Legal Adviser would provide strategic policy and technical oversight for the President’s on legal and constitutional affairs.
Job description
Specific Activities
Provide legal advice to and create capacity within President’s Office Department of Legal and Constitutional Affairs on matters related to its portfolio. This general responsibility shall include the following specific duties and responsibilities:
Conducting legal research and analyses on legal matters related to the mandate of the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, including matters related to public international law;
Drafting legal reports, observations, memoranda, internal legal opinions and other appropriate briefing documents;
Participating in the preparation and drafting of acts to be issued by the President pursuant to his powers and mandate;
Participating in the preparation of elements of President legal submissions before national and international judicial bodies that touch upon matters falling within his/her portfolio.
Provide legal support to the decisions of the President whenever requested.
Follow-up all matters of legal and constitutional relevance and keep the President apprised.
Follow-up debates in the National Parliament and report on a periodical basis for the President.
Review and analyse laws and regulations to keep the President apprised.
Prepare the President’s diplomas, namely nomination and exoneration decrees of the Prime-Minister, members of Government, diplomatic representatives of Timor-Leste and of other bodies on which the President has constitutional competence.
Analyse and formulate opinions on the diplomas sent to the President for promulgation.
Analyse and formulate opinions on processes of pardon sent by the Government and support the President in that procedure.
Assure the analysis of Proposals of Laws and of Decree-Laws for the President’s information and promulgation.
Analyse legal questions posed by the functioning of the Office of the President, or specifically asked for by the President or Chief of Staff.
Prepare reports and documentation, briefings and talking points for the President.
Cooperate with Political Support Services of the President, on legal and constitutional matters of political relevance.
Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the President’s Chief of Staff and by the Head of Department.
The Legal Advisor will be based in the Office of the President. S/He will report directly to the President’s Chief of Staff.
Location
Dili, Timor-Leste.
The intended commencement date is May, 15th 2011 and the period of implementation of the contract will be 12 months from this date. A possibility of an extension to the contract is foreseen and will depend on the performance during the contract.
University degree and at least 10 years of relevant experience in Public Law.
Masters in Public Law is an asset
Experience in providing legal expertise or as legal advisor is essential
Experience in managing a team and/or supervising staff
Experience in capacity building and/or teaching at university level
Experience in research of legal matters and information gathering to produce reports and internal information, and/or experience in legal drafting.
Experience in Timor-Leste is an advantage.
Proficient in Windows and Microsoft (Word, Excel, etc).
Perfect dominion of Portuguese
Good working knowledge in English.
Knowledge of Tetum and/or Bahasa Indonesia is an advantage.
Uphold the image of the Office of the President by demonstrating discipline, use of appropriate language and equal treatment of everyone, without any form of discrimination.
Obey all applicable rules according to the current legislation, namely the Public Service Law, the Code of Conduct, the Organic Law and the Internal Rules of the Office of the President, as well as all other norms approved and that apply to the post.
Capacity to work in teams and to easily relate with colleagues.
Excellent organizational skills and to manage work independently.
Excellent analytical skills.
Maturity and sense of responsibility.
Adaptability and capacity to manage stressful situations.
Good initiative.
Good communication skills.
Proven ability to work under stress and considerable pressure.
Proven ability to work and to operate as part of a team.
Submission of candidacy and other information.
The candidacy should contain a letter explaining the motivations to postulate to this position. Also it should include an updated and detailed Curriculum Vitæ of the postulant with at least three professional references.
The envelope containing the candidacy should be sent the following address with the mention “Legal Adviser to the President of the Republic of Timor-Leste” in the envelop:
Serviços do Ordenador Nacional (NAO)
Ministério das Finanças
Dili
República Democratica de Timor-Leste
Alternatively, the candidacy can be sent electronically at the following e-mail address: with the mention “Legal Adviser to the President of the Republic of Timor-Leste” in the subject of the message.
The deadline for the submission, either in hard or soft copy, is 24 hours Dili time (GMT +9) of April 27th 2011.
The details of the economic and financial compensation will be given by the Evaluation Committee for the seven candidates that will be short-listed.
