Commercial Lawyer (1-3 PQE) - Project based

Cognia Law; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 450 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm in Cape Town is seeking a legal professional to review, draft, and negotiate commercial agreements. The role emphasizes contract analysis, compliance with legal standards, and collaboration with internal stakeholders. Candidates should hold a BA Law, LLB, LLM, or BCom Law degree from a South African institution and possess 1-3 years of experience in commercial law. Strong interest in legal technology is essential. Competitive compensation and growth opportunities offered.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of experience in commercial law required.
• Understanding of CLM processes and best practices.
• Strong interest in legal technology and innovation.

Responsibilities

• Review and negotiate commercial agreements.
• Conduct contract analysis for compliance.
• Identify legal risks and advise on strategies.
• Support contract lifecycle management.
• Leverage AI tools for contract review.
• Collaborate with in-house teams and stakeholders.
• Assist with large-scale compliance projects.
• Provide contract abstraction and summarization.

Skills

Legal drafting and negotiation

Contract analysis

Risk management

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

BA Law, LLB, LLM, or BCom Law degree

Tools

Legal tech tools

Job description

Company Profile

Cognia seamlessly extends corporates, banks and law firms’ legal capability to deliver sustainable outcomes. Our goal is to connect the legal sector, moving it from a siloed approach to integrated partnerships. We help in-house legal teams by bringing simplicity to complex matters and replacing broken procedures with efficient processes.

Cognia is a Chambers-ranked law company which integrates how legal services are provided so our team, partners, clients and communities thrive together with people at the heart of what we do. We encourage our people to bring their whole self to work and focus on enabling them to realise their full potential.

For more information, please visit www.cognialaw.com

Job Responsibilities

Key responsibilities could include, but is not limited to,

• Reviewing, drafting, and/or negotiating a wide range of commercial agreements such as NDAs, MSAs, SOWs, procurement and vendor contracts, service agreements, licensing arrangements etc
• Conducting contract analysis to ensure compliance with legal requirements, internal policies, industry best practices and data privacy regulations such as GDPR.
• Identifying legal and commercial risks, advising on mitigation strategies, and ensuring alignment with business goals.
• Supporting contract lifecycle management (CLM) processes, including template optimisation, workflow improvements, and document consistency.
• Leveraging AI and legal tech tools to enhance the speed and accuracy of contract review and analysis.
• Collaborating closely with in-house legal teams, procurement, and other stakeholders to ensure contracts meet operational and strategic needs.
• Assisting with large-scale contract remediation, repapering, or regulatory compliance projects as required.
• Providing clear and concise contract abstraction and summarisation, highlighting key obligations, risks, and opportunities.

Qualifications

• BA Law, LLB, LLM, or BCom Law degree from a South African tertiary institution
• 1-3 years of experience in commercial law.
• Strong interest in legal technology and innovation
• Understanding of contract lifecycle management (CLM) processes and best practices.
• Strong attention to detail, analytical skills, and ability to work in high-volume, fast-paced environments.
• Strong communication skills to liaise with team leads, project managers, and occasionally, clients.