Road Accident Fund
The Road Accident Fund (RAF) is a state-backed insurer established under South African law to provide insurance coverage for all drivers involved in motor vehicle collisions. The RAF covers liability for damages or injuries caused by road accidents, but it excludes liability for property damage, such as harm to vehicles, buildings, or personal property. Operating under strict guidelines, the RAF plays a vital role in supporting road users with compensation following accidents, ensuring that victims receive financial support for injuries and losses sustained.
One of the key positions within the RAF, particularly in the Western Cape’s Cape Town branch, is that of a Legal Secretary for the Magistrate Court. This full-time role is crucial for the effective administration of legal processes and requires both legal expertise and strong organizational skills. Below, we explore the various responsibilities, required qualifications, and competencies necessary for success in this role.
Key Responsibilities and Duties of a Legal Secretary
A Legal Secretary in the Magistrate Court at RAF handles a range of duties that directly support the legal operations of the organization. The responsibilities can be broken down into several core areas:
1. Legal Secretarial Administration
- Document Preparation: Assist attorneys by preparing necessary court documents, including court statements and forms. The legal secretary will also transcribe and proofread legal documents and dictation from attorneys’ audio files and written notes.
- Document Management: Index and update pleadings, discovery binders, and assist in collecting and delivering legal documents.
- Legal Research Support: Provide support in gathering research for cases, ensuring coordination with vendors, experts, opposing counsel, and other involved parties.
2. Adherence to Standard Procedures and Internal Processes
- Strategic Framework: Ensure all administrative tasks are aligned with RAF’s internal control standards and organizational goals.
- Policy Adherence: Support the strategy and reporting office by ensuring that RAF’s policies and procedures are consistently applied.
3. Quality Assurance and Compliance
- Document Compliance: Ensure that all written policies and documentation relating to RAF’s business activities are updated and compliant with internal standards.
- Confidentiality: Maintain confidentiality of sensitive legal documents and ensure that information reaches intended recipients securely.
4. Office and Diary Management
- General Administration: Handle daily office tasks, including correspondence, filing, managing phone queries, and providing general administrative support.
- Follow-up on Legal Matters: Act as a liaison for outstanding legal matters on behalf of the Legal Services Department, ensuring tasks are completed within set timelines.
- Stationery and Office Supplies: Ensure the availability of office supplies within the department.
- Meeting Coordination: Arrange and schedule meetings for the legal department, including internal and external stakeholders. Also, manage team diaries, take minutes during meetings, and distribute them according to governance standards.
5. Document Control and Retrieval
- Filing System: Ensure that the filing system is always up-to-date and fully functional for quick retrieval of documents.
- Confidential Document Management: Manage the flow of sensitive documents while maintaining confidentiality and ensuring accurate tracking.
Qualifications and Experience Required
To succeed as a Legal Secretary at the RAF, candidates must have a strong educational background and relevant experience in both business administration and the legal field. The key qualifications and experiences required include:
- National Diploma in Business Administration or a Law-related qualification.
- Minimum 2 years of experience in a business or law administration environment.
Key Competencies
In addition to qualifications and experience, the role of a Legal Secretary demands a unique set of technical and behavioral skills, including:
- Technical Competencies:
- Proficiency in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
- A solid understanding of the RAF’s systems and procedures.
- Fluency in English and at least one other official South African language.
- Behavioral Competencies:
- Excellent Planning and Organizational Skills: Ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently.
- Dependability and Trustworthiness: Maintain a high level of integrity, especially when handling confidential information.
- Interpersonal Relations: Strong communication skills and the ability to work well with team members and external stakeholders.
- Research and Writing Skills: Ability to conduct legal research and document findings clearly and concisely.
- Emotional Intelligence and Decision-Making: Demonstrate emotional maturity, sound judgment, and ethical values.
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