Legal Assistant – Contracts

Clarion Shipping; Ernakulam; On-site; INR 400,000 - 600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

International exposure

Career growth

Senior management exposure

Diverse projects

Cross-border operations

Job summary

Clarion Shipping Services is seeking a Legal Assistant – Contracts & Commercial to review, manage, and coordinate commercial contracts and legal documentation. The role reports to the Head of Legal & Compliance and requires LL.B.

and 1–3 years' relevant experience in contract review and commercial law, preferably in logistics or B2B sectors. Join a global logistics leader and work with cross-functional teams including Commercial, Sales, Operations, and Finance to mitigate risks and support

Qualifications

• LL.B. in law is mandatory.
• 1–3 years' experience in contract review or corporate legal environment.
• Strong understanding of commercial contracts and legal terminology.
• Experience in logistics/shipping or B2B sectors is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Review commercial contracts, service agreements, vendor agreements, customer agreements, NDAs, MOUs, and other legal documents.
• Identify key contractual risks, obligations, liabilities, and unfavorable terms.
• Review clauses relating to: liability & indemnity, limitation of liability, payment terms, termination, service levels & penalties, insurance, confidentiality, governing law & jurisdiction, data protection.
• Prepare clear summaries of contracts and highlight clauses requiring management attention.
• Compare contract drafts and identify changes between versions.
• Assist management and commercial teams with legal and contractual matters; provide comments and recommendations.
• Support contract negotiations by identifying risks and proposing alternative wording.
• Coordinate with external lawyers when specialist advice is required; assist in responding to contractual claims and disputes.
• Maintain an organized contract database; track expiries, renewals, notice periods, and obligations.
• Develop and maintain contract templates, review checklists, and standard processes.
• Conduct legal research; monitor changes in laws affecting Clarion’s operations.
• Prepare legal notes, summaries, and internal reports for management.

Skills

Contract review

Commercial law

Legal administration

Contract drafting

Risk identification

Research & analysis

Communication skills

MS Office

Education

LL.B. – Mandatory

Tools

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel)

Job description

Reporting to: Head of Legal & Compliance

Education: LL.B. – Mandatory

About Clarion Shipping Services:

Clarion Shipping Services is a global logistics and supply chain company providing freight forwarding, customs clearance, warehousing, e-commerce fulfillment, distribution, project logistics, and related supply chain solutions across multiple markets.

As Clarion continues to expand its operations, we are looking for a Legal Assistant – Contracts & Commercial to support the business in reviewing, managing, and coordinating commercial contracts and legal documentation.

Job Purpose:

The Legal Assistant will primarily be responsible for reviewing commercial contracts, identifying potential legal and commercial risks, and supporting the management team in contract negotiations and documentation.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in Law (LL.B.) and a strong understanding of commercial contracts. Experience in logistics, shipping, freight forwarding, supply chain, or other B2B industries will be an advantage.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Contract Review & Analysis

Review commercial contracts, service agreements, vendor agreements, customer agreements, NDAs, MOUs, and other legal documents.

Identify key contractual risks, obligations, liabilities, and unfavorable terms.

Review clauses relating to:

• Liability and indemnity
• Limitation of liability
• Payment terms
• Termination
• Service levels and penalties
• Insurance
• Confidentiality
• Governing law and jurisdiction
• Data protection and confidentiality
• Prepare clear summaries of contracts and highlight clauses requiring management attention.
• Compare contract drafts and identify changes between different versions.

2. Commercial & Legal Support

• Assist management and commercial teams with legal and contractual matters.
• Provide practical comments and recommendations on contractual provisions.
• Support contract negotiations by identifying areas of risk and proposing alternative wording where appropriate.
• Coordinate with external lawyers and legal advisors when specialist legal advice is required.
• Assist in responding to contractual claims, notices, and disputes.

3. Contract Management

• Maintain an organized database of contracts and legal documents.
• Track contract expiry dates, renewal dates, notice periods, and key contractual obligations.
• Ensure executed contracts are properly stored and accessible.
• Maintain contract templates and support periodic reviews and updates.
• Develop and maintain contract review checklists and standard processes.
• Conduct legal research on matters relevant to Clarion’s operations.
• Research applicable laws, regulations, and contractual principles when required.
• Assist in preparing legal notes, summaries, and internal reports for management.
• Monitor relevant changes in commercial and business laws that may impact the company.

5. Internal Coordination

• Work closely with the Commercial, Sales, Operations, Finance, HR, and Management teams to understand contractual requirements.
• Ensure commercial teams understand key contractual obligations and risks.
• Assist in developing standard contractual templates and clauses for recurring business requirements.
• Support the implementation of appropriate contract approval procedures.

Key Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Law (LL.B.) – Mandatory.
• 1–3 years of relevant experience in contract review, commercial law, legal administration, or a corporate legal environment.
• Strong understanding of commercial contracts and legal terminology.
• Good knowledge of contract drafting and interpretation.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to identify contractual risks.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong research and analytical abilities.
• Ability to understand business requirements and translate legal issues into practical recommendations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel.
• Strong organizational and document-management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in any of the following industries will be an advantage:

• Logistics and freight forwarding
• Shipping and maritime
• E-commerce and fulfillment
• Warehousing and distribution
• Supply chain
• International trade
• Transportation
• B2B services
• Knowledge of international commercial contracts, Incoterms, logistics contracts, and cross-border transactions will be an added advantage.
• Contractual and legal acumen
• Analytical thinking
• Negotiation support
• Confidentiality and professional integrity
• Time management
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to work with multiple departments and stakeholders

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work with a growing international logistics and supply chain company.
• Exposure to international commercial contracts and cross-border business operations.
• Opportunity to work closely with senior management and commercial teams.
• Career growth within Clarion’s expanding global operations.
• Exposure to a diverse range of logistics, e-commerce, freight forwarding, and supply chain projects.