a) Qualifications for Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel:
Practice in Criminal Law for at least 10 years.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Excellent understanding of criminal law.
Thorough understanding of ethical duties of a defense counsel.
Ability to work effectively and efficiently with others with capability to
lead.
Must have handled at least 30 criminal trials in Sessions Courts.
Knowledge of computer system, preferable.
b) Qualifications for Deputy Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel:
Practice in Criminal Law for at least 7 years.
Excellent understanding of Criminal Law.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Skill in legal research.
Thorough understanding of ethical duties of defense counsel.
Ability to work effectively and efficiently with others.
Must have handled at least 20 criminal trials in Sessions Courts.
IT Knowledge with proficiency in work.
c) Qualification for Assistant Legal Aid Defense Counsel:
Practice in criminal law from 1 to 3 years.
Good oral and written communication skills.
Thorough of ethical duties of defense counsel.
Ability to work effectively and efficiently with others.
Excellent writing and research skills.
IT Knowledge with proficiency in work.
d) Qualification for Office Assistant/Clerks:
Education Qualification: Graduation,
Basic word processing skills and the ability to operate computer,
Typing speed of 40 WPM.
Ability to take dictation and entering data,
File maintenance and processing knowledge.
e) Qualification for Receptionist-cum-Data Entry Operator:
Educational Qualification: Graduation,
Excellent verbal and written communication skills,
Word Processing abilities,
The ability to work telecommunication systems (telephones, fax
machines, switchboards etc.,)
Proficiency with good typing speed.
Qualifications may be reasonable relaxed in case of exceptional
candidates or circumstances with the approval of the Executive
Chairman TNSLSA.
Work Profile :
a) Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel
Conducting trials and appeals and bail matters in courts along with
deputy chief legal Aid Defense Counsel
Assigning duties of Deputy chief legal Aid Defense Counsel
Assigning duties of Assistant legal Aid Defence Counsel for
assisting him and Deputy Chief legal Aid Defense Counsel and for
legal research.
Ensure proper legal research, planning effective defence strategy and
thorough preparation in each and every legal aided case.
Ensure maintenance of complete files of legal aid seekers.
Ensure proper documentation with regard to legal aid assistance
provided, ensure maintaining of up to date record of legal aided
cases.
Will be overall in charge of administration the office of Legal Aid
Defense Counsel Office.
Ensure quality of legal aid.
Any work/duty assigned by Legal Services Authority.
b) Deputy Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel.
Conducting trials/ appeals/ Remand work / Bail applications as
assigned by Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel.
Filing and arguing appeals and bail applications in Courts.
Maintaining complete case files.
Doing legal research in legal aided cases and guiding assistant legal
Aid Defense Counsel and law students attached with the office in
legal research.
Proper client interviews at various stages for quality research work
and representation at remand, trial and appellate stage.
Any work/duty assigned by Legal Services Authority.
c) Assistant Legal Aid Defense Counsel.
Conducting legal research in legal aided cases.
Visits to Jail Clinics twice in a week.
Providing assistance at pre-arrest stage to suspects.
Assisting Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel and Deputy Legal Aid.
Defense Counsel in conduct of legal aided cases.
Assisting in developing a defense strategy after shifting through all
of the evidence collected by the prosecution and after hearing the
accused’s version of what happened during the alleged crime in
question.
Visiting location/area of alleged crime, having discussions with
family members etc., for effective and meaningful input for defense
strategy.
Handling queries of legal aid seekers.
Updating legal aid seekers about the progress of their cases.
Assisting in maintaining complete files of legal aided cases.
Handling legal queries relating to criminal matters on telephone.
Any other work related to legal aid assigned by Chief Legal Aid
Defense Counsel.
Any work/duty assigned by Legal Services Authority.
d) Office Assistant
Keeping updated record of legal aided cases.
Uploading the updated record/progress of the legal aided cases on
NALSA portal.
Maintaining complete files of legal aided cases and keeping files
with proper index in a systematic manner.
Typing bail applications, petitions, etc.,
Doing ministerial work related to cases such as filing applications for
copies of orders, judgement etc.
Any other task assigned by the Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel.
Any work/duty assigned by Legal Services Authority.
e) Receptionist-cum-Data Entry Operator:
Greeting clients and visitors and answering visitor inquiries.
Answering and routing incoming calls on a multi-line telephone
system.
Scheduling and routing legal aid seekers.
Maintaining the waiting area, lobby or other office areas.
Scanning, photocopying, faxing.
Collecting and routing mail and hand-delivered packages.
Answering face-to-face enquiries and providing information when required.
Uploading, at the initial point, legal aided cases on NALSA portal and updating the information from time to time.
Any work/duty assigned by Legal Services Authority.
f) Office peon (Munshi/Attendant)
Cleaning the office before the commencement of office hours.
Ensuring that all places in the office are kept clean.
Bringing and serving water, beverages to the visitors in the office.
Carrying dak etc.
Any other work assigned by Legal Services Authority.
Termination of Services:
Services of any human resource/staff including legal aid defense counsel engaged
in the office of Legal Aid Defense Counsel can be terminated at any time, without any
prior notice in the following cases:
i. He/she substantially breaches any duty or service required in the office.
ii. Seeks or accepts any pecuniary gains from the legal aid seekers or beneficiary
or his friend or relative.
iii. Charged or Convicted for any offence.
iv. Indulges in any type of political activities.
v. Found incapable of rendering professional services of the required standards.
vi. Failure to attend training programmes without any sufficient cause.
vii. Indulges in activities prejudicial to the working of legal aid defense counsel
office.
viii. Using his/her position in legal aid defense counsel office to secure
unwarranted privileges or advantages for him/herself or others.
ix. Acts in breach of code of ethics.
x. Remains absent without leave for more than two weeks.
A. Salaries:-
Monthly salary of a Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel Rs.60,000 to 1,00,000/-
Monthly salary of two Deputy Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel Rs.40,000 to 75,000/- each
Monthly salary of two Assistant Legal Aid Defense Counsel Rs.25,000 to 40,000/- each
Monthly salary of two Office Assistants Rs.12,000 to 20,000/- each
Monthly salary of Receptionist-cum-Data Entry Operator Rs.12,000 to 15,000/-
Monthly salary of Office peon Rs.10,000 to 15,000/-
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