Junior Legal Officer

Citra - Live Different; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 450 000; Full time

Job summary

A progressive property development firm in Cape Town is seeking a Junior Legal Officer & In-House Legal Counsel. The ideal candidate will manage contracts, assist in corporate governance, and support legal research. Candidates should possess a law degree and have 2-3 years of relevant experience. This role offers a chance to grow within a dynamic team focused on property development and construction.

Qualifications

• 2-3 years of relevant legal experience in a corporate environment or law firm.
• Keen interest in corporate governance, compliance, and contract law.
• Proficiency in conducting legal research and drafting legal documents.

Responsibilities

• Manage contracts and resolution registers for the group.
• Draft and negotiate commercial contracts with supervision.
• Prepare documentation for board and shareholder meetings.
• Conduct legal research and prepare opinions for the Head of Legal.
• Engage with external legal counsel and manage communication.

Skills

Meticulous Attention to Detail

Strong Organizational & Time Management Skills

Excellent Research & Writing Abilities

Analytical Mindset

Effective Communication

Problem-Solving

Collaboration

Strategic

Education

Degree in Law (LLB, BA LLB or BCom LLB)

Admission as an attorney

Tools

Google Workspace

Lexis+

Job description

Citra is a rapidly growing, vertically integrated, innovative company of talented architects, engineers, contractors and developers, based in Century City, Cape Town. Our vision is to create a living environment that provides a better everyday life and makes our clients proud of where they live.

We thrive on using cutting‑edge technology to build beautiful homes of outstanding quality and value. At Citra, you will experience a dynamic and inspiring environment in an international creative team.

Our value chain entails the entire cycle from raw land, urban design, the design of residential and non‑residential buildings, as well as the construction of residential and non‑residential projects with our internal construction team.

Citra makes extensive use of new technologies.

This applies to tools for architectural work, general working with cloud documents, all the way to our own building technology that we continuously further develop and optimise.

Job Summary

Citra seeks a highly motivated and detail‑oriented Junior Legal Officer & In‑House Legal Counsel to become a foundational member of our new in‑house legal team. This role is ideal for a law graduate with a keen interest in corporate governance, compliance, company secretarial duties, and contract law, who is ready to grow and adapt within our newly established legal team. Reporting directly to the Head of Legal, you will be a key partner to the business, supporting our diverse international operations.

This role is a unique chance to develop a broad commercial and legal skill set, with significant exposure to property development, real estate, and construction, underpinned by a solid foundation in corporate law, compliance and governance.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

• Contract and Risk Management: Take full ownership of and meticulously manage the group’s contract and resolution registers.
• Draft, review, and assist in negotiating a variety of commercial contracts under the supervision of the Head of Legal.
• Draft resolutions and additional authorising documentation.
• Proactively monitor key contractual obligations and deadlines to ensure compliance and mitigate legal risk.
• Corporate Governance and Company Secretarial: Perform board meeting and shareholder meeting functions for group companies, including preparing agendas, compiling board / shareholder packs, attending meetings, drafting accurate minutes and resolutions and ensuring attendance to post‑meeting action items.
• Maintain all statutory records and registers, ensuring compliance with the Companies Act.
• Assist in developing and implementing corporate governance policies and procedures.
• Remain up‑to‑date with amendments to legislation and legal developments which impact the group companies to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Legal and Administrative Support: Conduct comprehensive legal research on various matters using tools like Lexis+ and AI‑powered resources.
• Prepare opinions and / or memorandums of advice as required by Head of Legal.
• Draft a range of legal documents for review by the Head of Legal.
• Attend to addressing internal legal questions raised by employees within the group when requested by the Head of Legal and, ultimately, independently.
• Engage with external legal counsel when required and manage deliverables of external legal counsel.
• Provide strategic legal and administrative support to the Head of Legal to enhance the efficiency of the legal function.

Requirements and Skills

Education and Experience (Mandatory)

• A degree in Law (LLB, BA LLB or BCom LLB).
• Admission as an attorney is advantageous but not a prerequisite.
• A minimum of 2‑3 years of relevant experience, preferably from an in‑house corporate legal environment or a law firm focusing on corporate / commercial law.

Advantageous Qualifications (Non‑Essential but Highly Regarded)

• Industry Experience: Previous experience in Property Law, Conveyancing, or Construction Law.
• Formal Certification: A postgraduate qualification in Compliance Management or Corporate Governance.
• Systems Proficiency: Experience with a dedicated Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) system.

Core Competencies

• Meticulous Attention to Detail: A sharp eye for detail is essential for drafting and reviewing nuanced legal documents.
• Strong Organizational & Time Management Skills: Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines within a dynamic, fast‑paced environment.
• Excellent Research & Writing Abilities: The ability to conduct thorough research and draft clear, concise, and professional legal documents.
• Analytical Mindset: Strong analytical skills to interpret complex legal issues and provide practical insights.
• Effective Communication: Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships across all levels of the business.
• Problem‑Solving: The capacity to identify potential legal issues and propose practical, commercially aligned solutions.
• Collaboration: The ability to work effectively with various internal departments and external stakeholders.
• Strategic: As you will be integrated into the business of Citra, there will be a focus on providing strategic, practical legal advice that directly supports Citra’s goals and long‑term strategy.
• Personal Attributes: A positive outlook toward learning, change, and working within a fluid team structure; self‑motivated, results‑oriented, and able to work with a high degree of autonomy; a proactive and collaborative team player.

Systems

• Proficiency in Google Workspace.
• Experience with legal research platforms such as Lexis+ is required.

Application

Please email your CV and cover letter. We will contact you if your profile matches our recruitment needs. Otherwise, we will keep your CV for 6 months should any further opportunities arise.

Protection of Personal Information Act: By submitting your application, you consent to Citra collecting, using, and processing your personal information for the purpose of assessing your suitability for the position you have applied for and for other potential roles within the Citra group of companies. This includes, but is not limited to, the information provided in your cover letter, CV, and any other supporting documents.

Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from you.