Background
The Legal Service Directorate of Arba Minch University is one of the support offices under the Office of the President established with its own vision, mission and objectives. From the very beginning, the directorate aims at rendering the highest quality legal services in a responsible, thoughtful, and timely manner in order to promote the mission of the university. Accordingly, the directorate is responsible for providing legal advice and representing the university and all its colleges, schools, departments, and related entities, including the broad range of legal issues affecting the legal interest of Arba Minch University. This will be ensured because the directorate has a direct working relationship with the women and gender affairs directorate, student affairs directorate, liaison and anti-corruption directorate at university level.
Vision
Legal Services Directorate aspires to have an institution where equality and respect for the laws is exercised by rendering quality services so as to uplift the university to the leading higher education institution in Ethiopia.
Mission
Ensuring the rule of law in Arba Minch University.
Objectives
- Organize and support training programs for the university staff to raise awareness on legal issues related to policies, procedures and outcome in a friendly manner.
- Alert the public about different legal issues that have impact on our institution.
- Work for the adoption and enactment of laws that ensure the attainment of our objectives.
- Prevent illegal and corruptive practices following up on the day-to-day activities of the different departments of the university.
- Protect the institution from external damage and seek adequate and appropriate remedies whenever damage occurs to the interest of the university.
- Become a major resource center on legal and related issues by providing the staff access to advices and all kinds, laws and policies adopted in the country.
- Work in collaboration with other offices that are concerned with the legal services
- Advice and assist the staff to be the primary personalities of integrity by upholding the relevant provisions of the Constitution;
- Extend legal assistance to individuals or people who have been working with the university making sure that they get justice;
- Provide consultancy services to the top executive
Duties and Responsibilities
The directorate is responsible for providing legal advice and representing the University and all its colleges, schools, departments, centers, divisions, affiliates, and related entities, including the Arba Minch Specialized Hospital, on a broad range of legal issues affecting the University. In general, the duties and responsibilities for the directorate will be as follows:
- Provide oral and written legal advice to decision-makers and administrators on legal issues affecting the University;
- Represent the University in litigation before all courts and tribunals including in administrative and regulatory hearings;
- Arrange high quality reporting for the executive and Board on legal issues
- Oversee the University’s compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies;
- Coordinate the development of University policies and procedures;
- Negotiate, draft and review legal documents for the purpose of enhancing and protecting the University’s interests.
- Use alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to resolve or facilitate the resolution of disputes or potential disputes between the University and third parties.
- Identify and advise the University on matters relating to new or amended legislation which may impact University policies and practices;
- Provide training on relevant legal topics affecting the University
- Retain and oversee all external counsel on behalf of the University.
Address
The office is located on the Main Campus Administration Building, 1st floor Room - New Administration Building. It has a unit branch at the College of Medicine & Health Sciences where an attorney, who is functionally responsible to the Office, is assigned to handle legal matters arising from the day-to-day activities of the College and the Hospital.
Contact Legal Services Directorate
Director, Dereje Mammo
Tel: 251+0926350790
Email:
Office Address: AMU, - New Administration Building- Main Campus,