Senior Deputy Solicitor General

The Public Service Commission is recruiting a Senior Deputy Solicitor General to provide senior legal leadership across directorates within the Office of the Attorney General. The role is suited to an experienced advocate with at least 15 years of cumulative service, including three years at the grade of Deputy Solicitor General, CSG 4, or in a comparable and relevant position in the public service.

Key Job Information

• Job Title: Senior Deputy Solicitor General
• Employer: Public Service Commission
• Experience Required: Yes
• Minimum Experience: 15 years cumulative service, including three years at Deputy Solicitor General, CSG 4 or comparable and relevant position

About the Role

An officer at this level may be deployed to different directorates within the Office of the Attorney General. Depending on deployment, the officer may head the Civil Litigation Directorate, Legislative Drafting Directorate or undertake senior responsibilities in Reiterative Services, Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Treaties, Agreements and Advisory, Public Trustee, or the Advocates Complaints Commission Secretariat.

Key Responsibilities

Civil Litigation

• Represent the National Government in high-profile, contentious, critical, complex, strategic and public interest cases in national, regional and international courts and tribunals, and other legal proceedings involving the National Government other than criminal proceedings.
• Oversee the development, implementation and review of policies, strategies, legislation, guidelines, frameworks, norms, regulations, plans, standards and programmes in the Directorate.
• Prosecute and defend high-profile, contentious, critical, complex, strategic and public interest cases on behalf of the Government in national and international courts, Alternative Dispute Resolution fora and tribunals.
• Provide legal expertise and protect public interest by appearing as amicus curiae in civil proceedings to which the Government is not a party.
• Oversee the drafting, filing and service of pleadings and correspondence to courts within prescribed statutory timelines.
• Defend public interest in proceedings involving administrative bodies where matters concern public interest or public property and involve the Legislature, Judiciary or independent government departments or agencies.
• Coordinate institution and prosecution of execution proceedings against judgment debtors where the Government is the decree holder.
• Represent the Attorney General and provide legal advice in meetings, multi-agency committees, workshops, task forces, tribunals, boards of state corporations and working groups.

Legislative Drafting

• Oversee delivery of legislative drafting services in the Directorate.
• Supervise the drafting of legislative proposals and subsidiary legislation.
• Supervise drafting of notices of appointment to offices in the public service, state corporations and constitutional offices.
• Oversee preparation of the Finance Bill.
• Coordinate legal advice to Government Ministries, Departments, Constitutional Commissions and State Corporations on legislative and other legal matters.
• Liaise with the Government Printer on publication of vellum copies of Bills and subsidiary legislation in the Kenya Gazette.
• Oversee legal advisories supporting the passage of Bills in Parliament.
• Oversee preparation of legislation and legal instruments for regional and international organizations to which Kenya is a party.
• Ensure representation of the Office of the Attorney General and provision of legal advice in relevant meetings, committees, task forces, tribunals, boards and working groups.
• Oversee development and implementation of innovations in legislative drafting and law revision.

Reiterative Services

• Spearhead review and oversee legal matters relating to registration of marriages, societies, books, newspapers, magazines and heraldries.
• Oversee development, implementation and review of laws, regulations, policies, rules, guidelines, strategies, standards, norms, principles, frameworks, plans, programmes and procedures in the Directorate.
• Oversee registration of marriages, societies, books and newspapers, adoptions and heraldic representations.
• Prosecute and defend disputes arising from registration services and produce documents in court.
• Undertake capacity building, public education and awareness on registration services.
• Oversee revenue collection in the Directorate and undertake Alternative Dispute Resolution in matters concerning registration services.
• Manage custodianship of the seal of the Registrar General and original documents relating to marriages, societies, books, newspapers, adoptions and the Coat of Arms.

Justice and Constitutional Affairs

• Oversee development, implementation and review of policies, legislation, regulations, guidelines, strategies, frameworks, norms, plans, standards and programmes relating to human rights, fundamental freedoms, rule of law, criminal justice, ethics, integrity, anti-corruption, economic crimes, constitutional implementation, democratic governance, access to justice and legal education.
• Advise the Government on matters relating to these areas.
• Oversee preparation of legal opinions, legal briefs, Cabinet memoranda and statutory instruments.
• Approve legal advisories to the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee to facilitate passage of Bills in the National Assembly and Senate.
• Collaborate with development partners and relevant stakeholders under GJLOS to promote the mandate of the Office of the Attorney General.
• Ensure inter-agency collaboration and coordination within GJLOS.
• Oversee development, implementation and review of GJLOS reform plans, programmes and projects.
• Oversee monitoring, evaluation and implementation of relevant policies, legislation, strategies, frameworks and programmes.

Treaties, Agreements and Advisory

• Spearhead development, implementation and review of policies, strategies, legislation, guidelines, frameworks, norms, regulations, plans, standards and programmes in the Directorate.
• Oversee negotiation of commercial contracts, financing agreements and procurement contracts.
• Coordinate negotiation and interpretation of local, regional and international documents, agreements and treaties for and on behalf of MDAs.
• Oversee negotiation of Host Country Agreements, Trade Related Agreements, Bilateral Investment Treaties and Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreements in collaboration with the National Treasury and Economic Planning and other relevant MDAs.
• Oversee collaboration with MDAs to maintain custody of international documents, agreements and treaties signed for or on behalf of the Government of Kenya.
• Coordinate negotiation, drafting, vetting and review of international criminal justice and judicial cooperation agreements, including Mutual Legal Assistance, Extradition and Transfer of Sentenced Persons agreements.

Public Trustee

• Oversee administration of estates of deceased persons and trusts for minors and persons living with mental disability.
• Ensure prudent management of Public Trustee beneficiary funds.
• Sign and seal transfer documents relating to movable and immovable assets of estates and trusts.
• Preside over Alternative Dispute Resolution in succession and trust matters.
• Coordinate passing of accounts in court upon completion of estate administration.
• Oversee administration of work injury benefits and accident compensation funds relating to deceased persons.
• Ensure prudent management of enemy property.
• Manage custodianship of the seal of the Public Trustee and original documents relating to estates and trusts.
• Oversee management of income-generating and other immovable properties registered in the names of deceased persons and trusts.

Advocates Complaints Commission Secretariat

• Spearhead development, implementation and review of policies, strategies, legislation, guidelines, frameworks, norms, regulations, plans, standards and programmes at the Secretariat.
• Advise the Attorney General on advocates’ discipline and the practice of the legal profession.
• Ensure Commission papers are accurately prepared, relevant and provided to Commissioners in good time.
• Coordinate receipt, review and investigation of complaints against advocates, firms of advocates or their members and employees.
• Oversee resolution of complaints that are not aggravated through Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms.
• Ensure effective prosecution of aggravated professional misconduct cases before the Disciplinary Tribunal.
• Oversee implementation of Disciplinary Tribunal orders.
• Coordinate vetting of advocates seeking government appointments or offering services to government and other institutions.
• Oversee legal research on discipline and practice in the legal profession.

Required Qualifications

• A cumulative service period of 15 years, including at least three years at the grade of Deputy Solicitor General, CSG 4, or in a comparable and relevant position in the public service.
• A Bachelor of Laws degree from a university recognized in Kenya.
• A Master of Laws degree from a university recognized in Kenya.
• A Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.
• Admission as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
• Registration as a member of the Law Society of Kenya and good standing.
• A certificate in a leadership course lasting at least four weeks from a recognized institution.
• Demonstrated managerial, administrative and professional competence as reflected in work performance and results.
• A thorough understanding of national goals, policies and objectives and the ability to relate them to the mandate of the Office of the Attorney General.

How to Apply

The supplied vacancy does not provide the advert number, application deadline, specific application procedure or application link. Candidates should refer to the Public Service Commission’s official recruitment information for the applicable application instructions.