Assistant Director: Judicial Support x1
Job Details
- Job Title: Assistant Director: Judicial Support
- Reference Number: 2026/112/OCJ
- Post Number: POST 30/66
- Organisation: Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ)
- Court: Electoral Court
- Location: Bloemfontein, Free State
- Salary: R487,197 – R573,897 per annum
- Salary Level: Level 09
- Employment Type: Not specified
- Performance Agreement: The successful candidate will be required to sign a performance agreement.
- Technical Enquiries: Mr. V.Z.J Zwane – (051) 492 4623
- HR Enquiries: Ms. N de la Rey – (051) 492 4523
- Application Email: 2026/112/OCJ@judiciary.org.za
Job Description
The Office of the Chief Justice is seeking an Assistant Director: Judicial Support to provide comprehensive legal research, judicial administration, personal assistance and logistical support to the Chairperson of the Electoral Court.
The successful candidate will assist with complex legal research and documentation, electoral disputes, hearings and trials, judgments, speeches, reports and official correspondence. The role also involves coordinating meetings, travel arrangements, records management and communication with the IEC, political parties and electoral observers.
This is a senior support position requiring strong legal knowledge, research capabilities, analytical thinking and excellent organisational and communication skills.
Key Responsibilities
Judicial and Legal Support
- Provide administrative and personal assistance to the judiciary.
- Arrange and diarise meetings and appointments for the Chairperson.
- Attend to queries addressed to the Chairperson’s office.
- Draft complex legal memoranda, letters, reports and presentations.
- Prepare and draft speeches.
- Prepare and draft meeting minutes.
- Assist with official statements and clarifications for the public and media.
- Manage urgent electoral matters.
- Conduct legal research and provide research support for hearings and trials.
- Analyse complex legal principles and provide summaries to the Chairperson.
- Monitor electoral disputes from filing through to resolution.
- Ensure statutory timelines are complied with.
- Proofread judgments, articles, speeches and conference notes.
- Quality-assure references and footnotes in judgments and legal articles.
- Handle correspondence relating to reserved judgments and complaints arising from reserved judgments.
- Coordinate the reconstruction of delayed appeal records.
- Facilitate monthly reserved-judgment statistics and maintain the reserved judgments register.
- Compile reports on electoral dispute trends, outcomes and recommendations for judicial or legislative improvements.
Logistical and Secretariat Support
- Provide logistical support to the Chairperson.
- Coordinate local and international meetings and engagements.
- Prepare and submit required reports and presentations.
- Monitor implementation of resolutions arising from meetings.
- Follow up on actionable items.
- Provide secretariat support during meetings chaired by the Chairperson.
- Manage travel arrangements and documentation requiring approval.
- Facilitate maintenance of the Chairperson’s vehicle and logbook.
- Coordinate with the IEC, political parties and observers to ensure effective communication and compliance with court directives.
Records Management
- Manage the collection, distribution, retrieval and filing of official records.
- Maintain proper record-management systems.
- Travel with the Chairperson to meetings and conferences when required.
- Perform other duties as directed by the Chairperson.
Requirements
Qualification
- LLB Degree or equivalent legal qualification at NQF Level 8, recognised by SAQA.
Experience
- Minimum 3 years’ relevant experience in:
- The legal fraternity;
- Law research services; or
- Judicial support services.
- At least 1 year must be at supervisory level.
- A valid driver’s licence is required.
- Experience in the Electoral Court or a Superior Court will be an added advantage.
Knowledge Required
Applicants should have knowledge of:
- Relevant legislation, policies and prescripts.
- Electoral Court Rules and Practice Manual.
- Information resources and online information retrieval.
- South African law and the judicial system.
- Judicial administration and support processes.
- Electoral dispute processes.
Skills and Competencies
- Excellent verbal and written communication.
- Legal research and analysis.
- Problem-solving and decision-making.
- Report writing.
- Speech writing.
- Editing and proofreading.
- Financial management.
- Presentation skills.
- Planning and organising.
- Computer literacy, particularly MS Office.
- Excellent research capabilities.
- Strategic thinking.
- Analytical thinking.
- Strong administrative and organisational skills.
- Ability to work under pressure and manage urgent matters.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and accuracy.