The Public Appointments Committee of the National Assembly is inviting applications for the Post of Deputy Director of Legal Aid Bureau (Grade D)

Responsibilities or duties

The Deputy Director shall assist the Director in performing the following functions:-

• Provide legal aid in accordance with the Legal Aid Act, 2010;
• Determine the persons or classes of persons in respect of whom legal aid may be granted and the matters or classes of matters in respect of which legal aid may be granted;
• Determine priorities in the provision of legal aid as between different persons or different classes of persons and different matters or different classes of matters;
• Specify the circumstances in which contributions towards legal aid shall be paid by legally aided persons and the way of calculating such contributions;
• Establish and manage offices of the Bureau;
• Liaise and cooperate with civil society organisations or any other person or bodies engaged or interested in the provision of legal aid;
• Compile and publish information in respect of the functions of the Bureau and in respect of other schemes of legal aid provided in Malawi;
• Undertake research into all aspects of legal aid including investigation and assessment of different methods of financing and providing legal aid;
• Prepare reports and make recommendations to the Minister on such matters relating to the functions of the Bureau as the Bureau considers appropriate or as the Minister may reasonably request;
• Perform such other functions and duties as shall be conferred on him/her by the Director from time to time.

Reporting

The Deputy Director shall report to the Director of the Legal Aid Bureau.

Qualifications or requirements 

The applicant should be a holder of a Bachelors Degree in Law and have been entitled to practice as legal practitioner under the Legal Education and Legal Practitioners Act and has been entitled so to practice for a period of not less than ten years.

Experience needed

Those with experience in the provision of legal aid will have an added advantage.

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

The Deputy Director shall work under Terms and Conditions of Service as determined by Parliament.

The Deputy Director shall initially be on a five-year contract and may be eligible for re-appointment for an additional term of five years.

• Provide legal aid in accordance with the Legal Aid Act, 2010;
• Determine the persons or classes of persons in respect of whom legal aid may be granted and the matters or classes of matters in respect of which legal aid may be granted;
• Determine priorities in the provision of legal aid as between different persons or different classes of persons and different matters or different classes of matters;
• Specify the circumstances in which contributions towards legal aid shall be paid by legally aided persons and the way of calculating such contributions;
• Establish and manage offices of the Bureau;
• Liaise and cooperate with civil society organisations or any other person or bodies engaged or interested in the provision of legal aid;
• Compile and publish information in respect of the functions of the Bureau and in respect of other schemes of legal aid provided in Malawi;
• Undertake research into all aspects of legal aid including investigation and assessment of different methods of financing and providing legal aid;
• Prepare reports and make recommendations to the Minister on such matters relating to the functions of the Bureau as the Bureau considers appropriate or as the Minister may reasonably request;
• Perform such other functions and duties as shall be conferred on him/her by the Director from time to time.

• Bachelors Degree in Law
• Entitled to practice as legal practitioner under the Legal Education and Legal Practitioners Act
• Entitled to practice for a period of not less than ten years
• Experience in the provision of legal aid (added advantage)