Legal Counsel (Bilingual – English & Arabic)

AlephYa Education; Dubai; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

AlephYa Education is seeking a Legal Counsel to manage all legal affairs across the UAE, Oman, and KSA. The role involves providing strategic legal support, ensuring compliance with local laws, and advising leadership on a range of corporate and regulatory matters. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in corporate, commercial, and employment law, along with fluency in Arabic and English.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8-10 years post-qualification experience required.
• Experience with UAE, Oman, KSA legal frameworks essential.
• Ability to work independently in a multi-jurisdictional business setting.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the principal legal advisor to senior leadership.
• Draft and manage a wide range of commercial contracts.
• Ensure compliance with local labour laws and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Corporate Law

Commercial Law

Employment Law

Regulatory Law

Legal Research

Contract Negotiation

Fluency in Arabic

Fluency in English

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Law

Master of Laws (LLM)

Tools

Contract Management Systems

Legal Research Databases

Microsoft Office

Job description

The AlephYa Group of Schools owns and operates institutions across the GCC, with a core focus on nurturing global citizens who maintain a strong connection to both their heritage and the world around them. AlephYa schools offer a high-quality education that is both affordable and accessible to every child. The name "AlephYa" is inspired by the first and last letters of the Arabic alphabet.

Scope and Functions of the Role

The Legal Counsel is responsible for managing all legal affairs of the organisation across the UAE, Oman and KSA, providing strategic and operational legal support on corporate, commercial, employment, and regulatory matters. Operating as a standalone legal function, the role advises senior leadership, ensures compliance with local laws, mitigates legal risks, and oversees external counsel engagement. The Legal Counsel plays a critical role in enabling business growth, maintaining governance standards, and protecting the organisation’s legal and reputational interests across multiple jurisdictions.

Key responsibilities

Strategic Legal Advisory

• Act as the principal legal advisor to the CEO and senior leadership on all legal matters, with a focus on commercial, corporate, employment, and regulatory frameworks across UAE, Oman and KSA.
• Support business growth and regional expansion by structuring legally compliant models, reviewing cross-border risks, and identifying regulatory considerations early in the decision-making process.
• Interpret complex legal developments and provide timely, solution-oriented guidance to internal stakeholders.

Corporate & Commercial Governance

• Draft, negotiate, and manage a wide range of commercial contracts including vendor and supplier agreements, real estate leases, consultancy arrangements, licensing, service-level agreements, NDAs, and MOUs.
• Oversee corporate documentation and governance for all legal entities, including company formations, renewals, shareholder resolutions, and board actions.
• Ensure full compliance with regulatory and licensing requirements in the UAE, KSA, and relevant free zone jurisdictions.

Employment Law & Internal Policy Compliance

• Serve as the legal advisor on employment-related matters including contracts, handbooks, disciplinary actions, restructures, and terminations.
• Ensure adherence to local labour laws (UAE, Oman, KSA Labour Law), advising HR on lawful, defensible employment practices.
• Review and develop internal policies and protocols to ensure alignment with legal obligations and risk management standards.

Regulatory Engagement & Risk Mitigation

• Proactively identify and mitigate legal and regulatory risks across jurisdictions, with robust documentation and issue tracking.
• Lead regulatory interactions with ministries, free zone authorities, and other government entities, maintaining strong institutional relationships.
• Respond to audits, inspections, and investigations by external authorities with accuracy, diligence, and preparedness.

Litigation, Disputes & External Counsel Management

• Manage all litigation and dispute resolution matters in conjunction with external counsel; represent the company’s position with clarity and integrity.
• Monitor legal spend, manage budgets related to legal engagements, and ensure value-based service delivery from external providers.

Additional Responsibilities

• Perform other duties as directed by the line manager.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Law from a recognised institution; Master of Laws (LLM) preferred.
• Fully qualified lawyer with a minimum of 8–10 years’ post-qualification experience, including demonstrable in-house legal exposure.
• Licensed or admitted in a recognised jurisdiction (UAE, Oman, KSA exposure essential).

Skills, Attributes and Experience

• Deep working knowledge of corporate, commercial, employment, and regulatory law across UAE, Oman and KSA.
• Proven track record of managing legal affairs independently within a dynamic, multi-jurisdictional business environment.
• Fluency in both Arabic and English (spoken and written) is a mandatory requirement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable advice for business stakeholders.
• Skilled in preparing legal opinions, briefings, and reports for internal decision-makers and external authorities.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across departments, including HR, Finance, Operations, and senior leadership, to support strategic and operational decisions.
• Confident in managing relationships with regulators, external counsel, and government bodies.
• Strong attention to detail and excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise workloads, meet deadlines, and manage legal documentation efficiently.
• Proficient in the use of legal research databases, contract management systems, and Microsoft Office tools to support workflow, reporting, and compliance tracking.
• Leadership : Strong management skills with a proven ability to motivate and develop teams.
• Communication : Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a strong customer service orientation.
• Organizational Skills : Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to prioritize tasks effectively.
• Technology Proficiency : Proficient in CRM systems and reporting tools for managing data and workflows.
• Collaboration : Ability to work effectively with school leadership and other departments to implement initiatives.
• Language Skills : Arabic language skills are highly desirable.

Professional Attributes

• Cultural Sensitivity : Culturally aware with the ability to influence and collaborate across diverse teams with empathy and respect.
• Results-Oriented : Driven by results, delivering high-quality outcomes within set timeframes.
• Approachable & Supportive : Approachable and trustworthy, offering support to staff at all levels.
• Adaptability : Adaptable and solution-focused in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

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