Introduction

The Legal Services Department is one of the Departments in the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly. The Department was established to render legal services to Management of the National Assembly of Zambia, Members of Parliament and departments under the Office of the Clerk.  The Department is headed by the Director (Legal Services) and Director (Legislative Matters) who are assisted by the Deputy-Director (Legal Services) and Deputy-Director (Legislative Matters), Senior Legal Officers, Legal Officers and Legal Assistants.

 Mission Statement

The mission statement of the Legal Services Department is “to render sound legal services to Management of the National Assembly of Zambia, Members of Parliament and departments under the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly.” The mission statement is based on the Constitutional mandate of the National Assembly and the specific roles of the Department in achieving the mandate and goals of the National Assembly as set out in the Strategic Plan of the Institution. 

Functions of the Legal Services Department

To realise its mandate, the Department performs the following functions:

i. provides sound legal advice to the National Assembly management, and Members of Parliament on all legal aspects concerning the operations of the National Assembly and its mandate as given in the Constitution and other laws;

ii. renders legal opinions to the National Assembly Management on parliamentary and administrative matters;

iii. examines and closely follows proceedings on Bills in the National Assembly and ensures that Bills passed by the House go through all the stages and are assented to and published as Acts of Parliament;

iv. drafts Private Members’ Bills and amendments to Bills;

v. provides analyses for all Bills and international agreements presented to the National Assembly in order to assist the relevant committees considering the Bills or international agreements;

vi. drafts rulings and announcements for the Honourable Speaker and other presiding officers;

vii. scrutinises contracts and memoranda of understanding entered into by the National Assembly with other entities to ensure that the interests of the National Assembly are protected;

viii. conducts research on procedural matters and participates in the revision of the National Assembly Standing Orders and Members’ Handbook, as and when need arises, subject to approval by the Standing Orders Committee;

ix. conducts research on laws relating to the National Assembly and recommends their revision where necessary, and drafts the relevant Bills for onward transmission to the Ministry responsible for justice and legal affairs;

xi. provides the secretariat for the Committee on Privileges, Absences and Support Services as well as select committees appointed from time to time;

xii. prepares weekly updates on matters connected with the business of the House whenever the National Assembly is in session;

xiii. attends to litigation in conjunction with the Attorney-General’s Chambers; and

xiv. attends to any other assignments as may be given by the National Assembly Management, from time to time.