Junior Legal & Risk Counsel

Hlabahlosile; KwaZulu-Natal; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Hlabahlosile in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, seeks an LLB-qualified legal professional to review, draft and negotiate commercial and operational contracts, including SLAs, MSAs, NDAs and leases.

You will identify legal and commercial risks, assist with disputes, support insurance programmes, conduct legal research and ensure compliance with regulatory frameworks such as POPIA and competition law.

Qualifications

• LLB degree is essential.
• Articles or equivalent corporate/commercial legal, risk or compliance experience.
• Strong contract drafting and interpretation skills.
• Strong legal research, analytical and communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Commercial awareness and sound judgement.

Responsibilities

• Review, draft and assist with negotiating commercial and operational contracts, including SLAs, MSAs, NDAs, leases and related agreements.
• Identify and advise on legal, commercial, contractual and insurance risks.
• Assist with disputes, litigation matters and liaison with external legal advisors.
• Support insurance programmes, claims, renewals and contractual risk assessments.
• Conduct legal research and prepare draft legal memoranda and advice.
• Monitor regulatory and legislative requirements, including transport, maritime, environmental, labour, POPIA, competition and company law.
• Assist with policies, compliance, governance, risk registers and committee reporting.
• Support legal due diligence for projects, acquisitions and business development initiatives.
• Maintain relevant legal, contract, ethics and compliance registers.

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Review, draft and assist with negotiating commercial and operational contracts, including SLAs, MSAs, NDAs, leases and related agreements.
• Identify and advise on legal, commercial, contractual and insurance risks.
• Assist with disputes, litigation matters and liaison with external legal advisors.
• Support insurance programmes, claims, renewals and contractual risk assessments.
• Conduct legal research and prepare draft legal memoranda and advice.
• Monitor regulatory and legislative requirements, including transport, maritime, environmental, labour, POPIA, competition and company law.
• Assist with policies, compliance, governance, risk registers and committee reporting.
• Support legal due diligence for projects, acquisitions and business development initiatives.
• Maintain relevant legal, contract, ethics and compliance registers.

Minimum Requirements

• LLB Degree essential
• Completed articles or equivalent corporate/commercial legal, risk or compliance experience.
• Strong contract drafting and interpretation skills.
• Good legal research, analytical and communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Commercial awareness and sound judgement.

Advantageous

• Commercial law or contract drafting experience.
• Exposure to logistics, freight, supply chain or maritime industries.
• Understanding of international legal frameworks.