Legal Officer – Independent Legal Consultant Affairs

Job description

Nationality: UAE Only

Job field: Legal

Introduction:

The Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department (the “Department”) is seeking to recruit ambitious professionals to work within the Lawyers and Legal Consultants Affairs Department, contributing to the implementation of the Department’s duties and responsibilities related to the registration, licensing, and regulation of independent legal consultants, in accordance with the applicable legislation, regulations, and approved procedures.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Receive and review registration and licensing applications submitted by independent legal consultants and their offices through the Legal Professions System, and verify their compliance with the approved requirements and conditions.

• Review registration and licensing applications, provide technical and legal opinions thereon, and follow up on their approval and completion of the relevant procedures in accordance with the applicable legislation and approved controls.

• Prepare registration lists for independent legal consultants and their offices and follow up on their approval; follow up on professional oath-taking sessions, document their minutes, and complete the procedures for issuing registration decisions by the Department.

• Implement procedures for data amendments, cancellation, deregistration, re-registration, and transfer of the registration of independent legal consultants and their offices between the practicing and non-practicing registers, in accordance with the applicable legislation and procedures.

• Follow up on updating the registration and licensing data of independent legal consultants and their offices in the Legal Professions System, databases, and relevant systems, and verify the accuracy and completeness of the recorded data and documents.

• Prepare drafts of letters, certificates, and correspondence related to registration and licensing using the approved technological systems, in accordance with the templates and procedures approved by the Department.

• Coordinate and follow up on the completion of the regulatory and legal requirements related to the qualification and training programs required for registration under the category of independent legal consultant. This includes preparing and reviewing the content and requirements of the programs, coordinating with relevant regulatory entities and organizational units regarding implementation dates and registration, attendance, and assessment mechanisms, following up on candidates’ fulfillment of the prescribed requirements, documenting the results, and completing the related registration procedures.

• Receive inquiries from customers and respond through approved communication channels, including telephone, email, and technological systems, and meet with customers at the Department’s premises when required, providing them with the necessary information and guidance to complete registration and licensing procedures, thereby facilitating procedures and enhancing customer satisfaction.

• Follow up on the collection of fees and amounts due in relation to registration and licensing applications and related services, and verify their payment in accordance with the approved financial and administrative procedures.

• Conduct scheduled or urgent field visits to licensed offices of independent legal consultants, as well as locations or entities suspected of carrying out the activity without a license, to verify the extent of compliance with the applicable legislation, regulations, decisions, and instructions.

• Identify professional or conduct-related violations and breaches discovered during inspections, collect and document relevant evidence and documents, and prepare visit, inspection, and violation reports in accordance with the approved procedures.

• Prepare and issue official notifications regarding violations to the violating office or individual, and follow up on the resulting procedures, including applicable fines, if any, and coordinate with the relevant regulatory unit regarding the collection of outstanding amounts.

• Document all actions taken in relation to violations in the records and systems approved by the Department, and follow up on the completion of the relevant legal and regulatory procedures in accordance with the applicable legislation and procedures.

• Monitor and measure service performance indicators related to the registration and licensing of independent legal consultants and their offices by collecting and analyzing data related to application volumes, processing times, completion and resubmission rates, and compliance with approved timelines and procedures, and prepare periodic reports on performance results.

• Review strategic and operational performance indicators relevant to the Department’s areas of responsibility, identify opportunities for improvement and development, and prepare and submit the necessary recommendations to enhance the efficiency and quality of services provided.

• Take the initiative to propose improvements and development initiatives related to registration and licensing procedures and associated services, and follow up on the implementation of applicable proposals in accordance with the procedures approved by the Department.

• Participate in relevant committees and working groups, and provide legal and technical support to the Licensing Applications Team whenever required, ensuring that work is completed accurately, efficiently, and within the specified deadlines.

• Perform any other duties related to the nature of the position and the Department’s responsibilities as assigned by the direct supervisor, Department Manager, or Director General.

Key Administrative Duties and Responsibilities:

• Comply with the information security policies approved by the Department.

• Comply with all circulars issued by the Department regarding attendance and working hours, ensuring that assigned tasks are completed within the required timeframes and to the required standards of quality and efficiency.

Academic Qualifications and Years of Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Law or equivalent, with more than one year and up to four years of practical experience; or

• Master’s degree in Law or equivalent, with less than one year and up to three years of practical experience.

Required Skills (Technical and Behavioral Competencies):

• Knowledge of the legislation, regulations, and decisions governing the registration and licensing of independent legal consultants and their offices, as well as the practice of the profession.

• Knowledge of using the Legal Professions System and relevant technological systems related to registration and licensing procedures.

• Ability to review and analyze registration and licensing applications and provide technical and legal opinions thereon.

• Ability to prepare legal memoranda, correspondence, inspection reports, and legal drafting relevant to the nature of the work.

• Ability to research, collect, and analyze information and data, and prepare reports, statistics, and performance indicators, with accuracy and attention to detail.

• Analytical and inferential thinking skills, with the ability to analyze problems and challenges and propose appropriate solutions and recommendations.

• Proficiency in using computer applications and relevant government technological systems.

• Effective communication and customer service skills.

• Ability to plan, organize, manage time, and work effectively as part of a team.

• Initiative, creativity, and innovation.