Legal Counsel

Award Global; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A financial services company is seeking a Legal Counsel to provide comprehensive legal advice and support across its various operations in Melbourne. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in financial services or real estate, be fluent in English with Mandarin proficiency preferred, and hold a valid practicing certificate. Responsibilities include managing contracts, legal risks, and compliance with legislation, along with supporting various business teams. The role offers opportunities for strategic input and professional growth.

Qualifications

• Significant experience as an in-house Legal Counsel in financial services or real estate.
• Admission to legal practice in NSW or VIC.
• Current practicing certificate.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice for business operations.
• Negotiate contracts and manage disputes.
• Develop legal processes and mitigate risks.

Skills

Fluent in English

Mandarin proficiency

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Microsoft Office

Education

Tertiary qualification in Law

Job description

The Legal Counsel is responsible for providing legal advice and support to the Award Global business and will utilise their expertise in supporting commercial decision making in respect to all of its business operations (including but not limited to the Award Mortgage, Global Realty, Metro Award, Wholesale Funding Group and Award Capital) and will help ensure that all operations of the business are compliant with relevant legislation.

The Legal Counsel is also responsible for assisting in the development of legal intellectual capital of the business and developing processes and procedures for the efficient provision of legal services and the mitigation of risks.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for major legal aspects of all business and corporate activities. This Includes contract reviews and the negotiation of contracts with all parties.
• Provide legal advice in all engagement with external parties.
• Responsible for implementation and maintenance of legal systems
• Negotiate and draft changes to standard form contracts used by the business.
• Draft new forms of contracts for the business.
• Negotiate major commercial transactions.
• Responsible for managing any contract dispute resolution, claims against the business, and litigation, with access to external legal resources as required.
• Monitor changes and developments in the legal and regulatory environment applicable to the business and accommodate them as required.
• Provide advice, and manage advice provided by external lawyers, on legal and regulatory issues to the business as required.
• Develop policies, procedures and training programs for staff on relevant legal issues as required.
• Identify and manage legal risks in contracts, operations, and claims.
• Ensure that all legislation affecting the business is researched, and that advice and recommendations concerning same are passed on to management for consideration and attention
• Ensure senior managers are informed about new legislation which may affect the business's activities.
• Ensure that the business is effectively represented in any legal action in which it is involved.
• Support the Finance team and business on all major financing transactions.
• Support the Human Resources team with all employment relations matters as required

Requirements:

• Fluent in English; Mandarin proficiency highly desirable.
• Significant previous experience in a similar role as an in-house Legal/General Counsel for a business within the financial service, real estate or property industries
• Admission to legal practice in NSW or VIC and/or Federal courts.
• Current practicing certificate.
• Tertiary qualification in Law or a related discipline.
• Highly developed strategic and analytical skills, creative thinking and problem solving to support the delivery of complex projects.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills; including an exceptional capacity to manage relationships with tact and diplomacy.
• A high degree of flexibility, adaptability and willingness to learn and grow.
• Outstanding organisational skills; including the ability to work accurately, with a high attention to detail.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint.