Junior Legal Officer & In-House Legal Counsel

Citra; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic construction and property firm in Cape Town is seeking a Junior Legal Officer & In-House Legal Counsel. This role is ideal for a law graduate eager to work in corporate governance and contract law. You will manage contracts, support the legal team, and engage in comprehensive legal research. Ideal candidates have at least 2-3 years of experience in corporate law and a degree in law. The position offers a unique opportunity to grow within a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2-3 years of relevant experience in corporate law or law firm.
• Previous experience in Property Law or Construction Law is advantageous.
• Experience with Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) system preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage the contract and resolution registers for the group.
• Draft and review various commercial contracts.
• Perform company secretarial functions including board meetings.
• Conduct legal research and prepare legal documents.
• Engage with external legal counsel when necessary.

Skills

Meticulous Attention to Detail

Strong Organizational & Time Management Skills

Excellent Research & Writing Abilities

Analytical Mindset

Effective Communication

Problem-Solving

Collaboration

Strategic Thinking

Education

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

Admission as an attorney

Postgraduate qualification in Compliance Management or Corporate Governance

Tools

Google Workspace

Legal research platforms (e.g., 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 optimize.

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.
  • Remaining up‑to‑date with amendments to legislation and legal developments which impact the group companies to ensure that the group companies remain compliant 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 to do so 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 Citras 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.

The duties listed in this job description are not exhaustive and Citra would be entitled to instruct the employee at any time to carry out additional duties or responsibilities which fall reasonably within the ambit of the job description or in accordance with operational requirements.

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.