The National Legal Aid Service (NLAS) is a state agency established under the Legal Aid Act 2016 with the mandate to offer legal aid services to the vulnerable, marginalized, and indigent persons. The Senior Legal Aid Officer will play a crucial role in providing affordable, accessible, sustainable, credible, and accountable legal services. This role involves drafting pleadings, representing clients in magistrate and Kadhi courts, conducting legal research, and offering counsel to both clients and internal staff.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Pleadings & Legal Drafting: Preparation of court pleadings in the relevant court/tribunals, as well as preparing and filing precise and timely court pleadings in arbitration proceedings. Preparing contracts for both external and internal use.
- Client Representation: Represent clients in Magistrate Courts, Senior Resident Magistrate Courts, Kadhis Courts, and other legal forums.
- Research & Advisory: Collecting, researching, and collating data on legal issues to prepare legal opinions. Provide legal advice and referrals to clients and offer guidance to NLAS staff for informed decision-making.
- Litigation & Dispute Resolution: Providing legal services in relation to litigation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Attending court for prosecution or defending cases involving NLAS.
- Bill Verification: Vetting and verifying external lawyers’ bills and process servers' bills submitted for payment.
Requirements and Qualifications
- Experience: At least six (6) years of cumulative work experience, with at least three (3) years at the grade of Legal Aid Officer 1 or a comparable position in either the public service or private sector.
- Education: Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.
- Professional Credentials: Admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with a valid practicing certificate or a clearance from the Law Society of Kenya.
- Performance: Shown merit and ability as reflected in work performance and results.
- Constitutional Compliance: Successful candidates must satisfy the leadership and integrity requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution of Kenya.
Remuneration
- Salary Scale: Ksh. 90,468 x 7,388 – 97,856 x 7,391 – 105,247 x 7,391 – 112,638 x 7,391 – 120,029 x 7,391 – 127,420 x 7,391 – 134,811 x 7,391 – 142,202 p.m.
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