Job Description:
Rare and exciting opportunity for common-law qualified Solicitors with over 5 years of experience working in legislative drafting for an exclusive role to work with an award-winning In-House legal team at a government authority, based in Doha, Qatar. The role would report directly to the Chief Legal Officer – drafting laws, regulations, rules, guidance, and other legislative instruments within Qatar’s regulatory legal landscape, whilst liaising with Economic leaders and other government and regulatory authorities.
No arabic fluency or regional experience required!
About the legal department:
The Legal Department is responsible for ensuring that legislative and regulatory regime is developed to meet statutory regulatory objectives and conforms to best practice international standards of regulation. The Legislative Counsel works with various Government Departments and is tasked with putting policy proposals into law.
The Legislative Counsel is responsible for preparing legislations using best drafting practices and for maintaining the master set of legislation in electronic and hardcopy form. They are also responsible for the publication of legislations and the upkeep of the publicly available database of that legislation.
In drafting legislation, Legislative Counsel acts on instructions from the Legal Line Manager, but Legislative Counsel also provides input on policy outcomes and the best way to achieve those outcomes. Legislative Counsel likewise drafts and reviews (1) forms for other departments and (2) legislation in conjunction with other stakeholders.
About the position:
Legislative Counsel will be primarily responsible for the development of regulatory and legislative regime. In addition to drafting laws, regulations, rules, guidance, and other legislative instruments within the regulatory environments, the Legislative Counsel will be expected to review and assist with the legislative and policy drafting of other members of the Legal Office for editorial and substantive review.
The department seeks to remain at the forefront of industry developments by providing a world class regulatory and legislative framework. It is the Legislative Counsel’s responsibility to ensure that the drafting produced by the Office is appropriate to such an industry-leading framework.
The role requires not just well drafted texts that communicate clearly, effectively and with precision, but also oral communication and advocacy skills of a high order to positively influence the outcome of the legislative development process and ensure that policy outcomes are achieved.
Main Responsibilities:
- Draft clear and accurate legislations
- Review drafts prepared by other Legal team members for clarity, accuracy and effectiveness through a process of critical analysis of drafts, together with redrafting, guidance, training and other assistance
- Ensure that the legislation maintenance and publication function is carried out effectively and efficiently
- Provide assistance in the interpretation of legislation and help other departments comply with governing legislation
- Provide other legal advice on matters relating to legislation
- Anticipate areas for further legal clarification, and suggest changes
- Work as a team player in the legal team and contribute to the achievement of the team’s objectives
- Contribute, as appropriate, to the achievement of general objectives and its engagement with other stakeholders in Qatar and the region
- Contribute to the ongoing improvement of processes and systems, and of the quality of services provided, in relation to legislative drafting and publishing
- Coach and train members and contribute to the Authority’s nationalisation programme
Education, admission and experience:
- Academic qualification in Law, such as LLB, LLM or Juris Doctor
- Admission, or eligibility for admission, to practice law in a developed legal jurisdiction
- Experience in drafting acts, regulations, rules or comparable legal instruments in English
Knowledge, skills, abilities and commitments:
- Legal and legislative drafting and editorial skills, in English, of a high order
- Conceptual (analytical skills) of a very high order, including the ability to critically analyse and fully understand what is involved in a policy proposal both at the level of the ideas and the level of detail
- Legal research and advisory skills, in particular the provision of advice about the interpretation of legislation
- Experience in working, and decision-making, under pressure in a small team environment
- High degree of accuracy in all forms of communication
- Meticulous attention to detail, commitment to precision and thoroughness, persistence
- High level English langauge linguistic skills
- Experience in project management and proven ability to complete tasks to tight deadlines and under pressure
- Interpersonal skills to enable the jobholder to cultivate productive working relationships and to carry out the job in a highly collaborative way.
- Coaching and training skills
- Looking at drafts of legislation prepared by others and carrying out a detailed, critical analysis of drafts, together with redrafting, guidance, training and actively assisting in the legislative development.
Desirable:
- Experience in drafting commercial and financial services legislation or drafting in a regulatory environment
- High proficiency in MS Office applications
- Knowledge of legal research and legislative or legal publishing tools
Behavioural and Leadership Competencies:
- Commitment to excellence and improvement in practices and deliverables
- Teamwork and effective relationship building
- Alignment of personal and team objectives to strategic priorities Leadership through open and inclusive communication, coaching and development of others