TYPIST

This position offers an opportunity to work as a Typist within the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Johannesburg, under the Office of the Chief Justice. The role is central to the efficient functioning of the court, providing essential typing and administrative support to judges and registrars. The successful candidate will be responsible for producing accurate court orders, judgments, and a wide range of legal documents, ensuring they comply with prescribed formats and court rules. This is an entry-level post at salary level 04, and the appointee will be required to sign a performance agreement upon appointment.

Applicants must hold a Grade 12 certificate or an NQF level 4 qualification recognised by SAQA. While no prior experience is required, one year of relevant experience in a court or legal environment will be an added advantage. The role demands a solid understanding of legal terminology, court procedures, rules, and the broader court environment. Familiarity with counter services, filing systems, case-flow management, and legislation governing the Public Service, including Batho Pele principles and the Public Service Regulations, is essential. Candidates must be computer literate, particularly in Microsoft Office, and able to type at a speed of at least 35 words per minute. Proficiency in dictaphone typing, problem-solving, strong written and verbal communication, and effective time management are also required. Personal attributes such as the ability to work under pressure, client orientation, customer focus, resilience, honesty, integrity, flexibility, motivation, creative thinking, reliability, teamwork, and meticulous attention to detail are vital for success in this role.

The duties are varied and integral to the court’s operations. The typist will type court orders, judgments, appeals, reviews, memorandums, reports, minutes, circulars, notices of set down, witness statements, and taxing master reports. This includes typing Rule 6(12) orders and ensuring they are made available as required, as well as typing apostilles, authentications, and J349 forms for the public. The typist must ensure all orders are correctly formatted and submitted to the registrar for checking, make corrections as instructed, and report any incorrect documents to the supervisor. Another key responsibility is the compilation and maintenance of court rolls, including term rolls, week rolls, and opposed and unopposed motion rolls, with proper insertion of judges’ names and supplementary rolls. The typist will communicate these rolls to registrars, the Judge President’s Office, and other stakeholders via email, and maintain the associated registers. Administrative support includes sorting and distributing files, attending to requests from the legal fraternity and the public, scanning and saving draft orders, and recording work for monthly statistics. The role also involves forwarding divorce orders to Statistics SA and Home Affairs, sending advocates’ enrolment orders to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, and submitting judgments to the designated person for reporting on SAFLII.

This vacancy is advertised through the Public Service Vacancy Circular, and the organisation will give preference to candidates in line with its Employment Equity goals. This is an excellent opportunity for a detail-oriented individual seeking to build a career in the judicial environment.