Junior Legal Counsel - Emiratization

NES Fircroft; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

NES Fircroft is seeking a Junior Legal Counsel – Employment to support our regional employment practice in the Middle East. The role focuses on providing practical, commercially sound employment advice and ensuring compliance with local labour laws across jurisdictions.

You will draft and review employment contracts, manage routine legal tasks, and work closely with internal clients and external counsel. A proactive, detail-oriented lawyer with strong English communication is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Law (LLB) or equivalent qualification.
• 2–3 years of relevant legal experience in employment or labour law.
• Experience in multinational, corporate, or professional services preferred.

Responsibilities

• Review, draft, and advise on local employment contracts and documentation.
• Provide practical employment law advice to stakeholders across the business.
• Support termination, grievances, disciplinary cases, and investigations.
• Draft employment agreements, official correspondence, and court submissions.
• Liaise with external counsel and regulatory bodies.
• Monitor Middle East employment legislation and advise on updates.

Skills

Employment law

Legal drafting

Written English

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Multitasking

Team player

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Law (LLB)

Job description

Junior Legal Counsel – Employment

Are you a qualified legal professional with a passion for employment law and worker relations We are looking for a Junior Legal Counsel – Employment to join our growing legal team. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated lawyer to gain broad exposure to employment matters across the Middle East while partnering closely with business stakeholders and supporting key legal initiatives.

As part of our Employment Legal team, you will play a critical role in providing practical, commercially focused legal advice, ensuring compliance with regional labour laws, and supporting employment-related matters throughout the employee lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

Employment Law & Advisory

• Review, draft, and advise on local employment contracts and associated documentation, ensuring compliance with local legislation and contractual obligations.
• Provide accurate, professional, and commercially sound employment law advice to stakeholders across the business.
• Support employment-related matters including:
• Terminations and resignations
• Grievances and disciplinary cases
• Performance management issues
• Workplace investigations
• Prepare case summaries, recommendations, and legal assessments in line with applicable labour laws and business requirements.
• Serve as a key point of contact for worker relations matters and employment law queries.

Documentation & Legal Support

• Draft employment agreements, official correspondence, reports, court submissions, and other legal documentation.
• Support employment litigation matters, including attendance at mediations and court hearings where required.
• Liaise with external counsel, government authorities, and regulatory bodies.
• Maintain accurate records of employment matters, legal advice provided, and case documentation.

Compliance & Legal Projects

• Monitor developments in Middle East employment legislation and provide regular updates and recommendations to the Employment Team Lead.
• Support regional legal teams with day-to-day employment and worker-related legal matters.
• Contribute to key legal projects and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Assist with ad hoc legal and business support activities as required.

What We're Looking For

Skills & Competencies

• Strong knowledge of employment and labour laws within the Middle East region.
• Excellent legal drafting and communication skills with a high standard of written English.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with exceptional attention to detail.
• Commercially minded with an ability to understand business risks and priorities.
• Able to manage multiple priorities and work effectively under tight deadlines.
• Comfortable interacting with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrates professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment when handling sensitive information.
• Collaborative team player with a proactive and flexible approach.
• Committed to continuous learning and professional development.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Law (LLB) or equivalent legal qualification.
• 2-3 years of relevant legal experience, ideally within employment law, labour law, or worker relations.
• Experience within a multinational, corporate, legal practice, or professional services environment is advantageous.

Why Join Us

• Opportunity to work on complex employment law matters across multiple jurisdictions in the Middle East.
• Exposure to a fast-paced, international business environment.
• Collaborative legal team with strong opportunities for learning and career development.
• Meaningful role with direct business impact and stakeholder engagement.

If you are an ambitious legal professional looking to build your career in employment law, we'd love to hear from you.