Legal Counsel

Human Resources Department of Ras Al Khaimah Government; Ras Al Khaimah; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental department in Ras Al Khaimah seeks a Legal Advisor to manage legal risk and provide legal advisement across various departments. Responsibilities include drafting contracts, ensuring compliance with laws, and maintaining corporate governance best practices. Ideal candidates will have a bachelor’s degree in law, active legal membership, and a minimum of 3 years’ experience in a credible law firm, with fluency in both Arabic and English. Middle East experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience at a credible law firm.
• Experience in general corporate and commercial law.
• Middle East legal experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice across various disciplines for DOF and DOF Group.
• Draft and review contracts and legal documents.
• Manage legal risk and ensure compliance with laws.

Skills

Fluency in Arabic

Fluency in English

Proactive work style

Ability to work independently

Education

Bachelor’s degree in law

Active membership in legal association

Job description

To manage legal risk across the Ras Al Khaimah Department of Finance ("DOF") (all functions and the Board) and the various Ras Al Khaimah Government Departments which are supported by DOF (together the "DOF Group"). To act as legal adviser to DOF in respect of civil law corporate and commercial matters. The role involves providing legal advice across a wide range of legal disciplines and ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations across the DOF Group.

Legal Framework

• Support DOF in developing and maintaining a legal framework for the DOF and the DOF Group to ensure the provision of high-quality legal support to the DOF and the DOF Group.
• Assist DOF in understanding its legal risk appetite and support in the development and implementation of legal policies and procedures across DOF and the DOF Group that enable them to deliver on their commercial and customer priorities whilst ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations and related policies and procedures.

Corporate Governance

• Support DOF in maintaining corporate governance best practice across the DOF Group.
• Maintain DOF’s corporate register and copies of the corporate registers of the DOF Group.

Legal Services

• Provide legal advice including drafting and/or reviewing all contracts related to day to day business, procurement of goods, services and assets, employment etc. for DOF and the DOF Group to ensure adherence to the legal framework and regulatory guidelines.
• Ensure adherence to applicable laws and regulations, international best practice standards, policies and procedures to safeguard DOF and the DOF Group from material legal risk.
• Oversee the provision of legal and regulatory advice in order to minimise financial, legal and reputational risks.
• Assist DOF by keeping abreast of new legislation and regulatory developments that may impact DOF and the DOF Group and advise DOF and the DOF Group on how to comply with such new legislation and regulations.

Legal Standard Documents and Original Contract Register

• Establish and maintain template standard documents for frequently used documentation.
• Ensure original documentation entered into by the DOF and DOF Departments is maintained in safe custody to comply with applicable internal policies and procedures.

Risk Management

• Work collaboratively with the members of DOF who are focused on non-Legal Risk to provide support from a legal and regulatory perspective.

Continuous Improvement

• Stay abreast of new laws and regulations through continuous legal training.
• Identify opportunities to contribute to organisational and departmental change initiatives, programmes and projects taking into account best practice and standards in the business
• environment

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, & SKILLS:

Educational Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in law from a recognised institute

Professional Qualifications

• Active and current membership from a recognised legal association or regulatory body from a civil law jurisdiction

Years of Experience

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience gained at a credible law firm.

Other requirements

• Areas of law: general corporate and commercial
• Fluent in both Arabic and English (written and spoken)
• Middle East experience
• Managing external legal resources and/or professional advisors
• Handling high value transactions
• Proactive and able to work independently