Legal Advisor (iOCO0179)

iOCO; Gauteng; Remote; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

iOCO in Johannesburg, South Africa, is seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to lead investigations and manage high-value life and funeral claims. The role focuses on policy interpretation, repudiations and handling Ombudsman matters, with opportunities to leverage AI and automation to improve outcomes.

You will mentor a small team, drive client relations, and contribute to pitches and proposals while travelling to client and XTND head offices as required.

Qualifications

• LLB or recognised legal qualification.
• 5–8 years in insurance law, funeral or life claims, policy interpretation or repudiations.
• Strong legal writing skills with complaints or Ombudsman experience.
• Experience leading specialist staff and supporting complex investigations.
• Commercially confident with client-facing work and willingness to market services and secure work.

Responsibilities

• Draft legally sound funeral-claim repudiation reports with clear recommendations to insurers.
• Complete legal reports within strict client service levels.
• Handle complaints, insurer escalations and Ombudsman matters.
• Train and guide investigators on policy wording, exclusions and evidence requirements.
• Lead one Junior Legal Counsel and two Senior Underwritten Life Investigators.
• Support complex, high-value underwritten life investigations.
• Manage team workload, productivity, quality, turnaround times and investigator expenses.
• Build client relationships, market XTND’s CASHUB services, win new clients and grow work from existing clients.
• Contribute to pitches, proposals, quotations and presentations.
• Build, develop, test, implement and use AI and automation to improve quality, capacity and turnaround times with human review.

Skills

Insurance law

Legal drafting

Team leadership

Business development

AI / automation interest

Policy interpretation

Education

LLB or recognised legal qualification

Job description

What you'll do:

• Draft legally sound funeral-claim repudiation reports and give clear recommendations to insurers.
• Complete legal reports within the strict service levels agreed with clients.
• Handle complaints, insurer escalations and Ombudsman matters.
• Train and guide investigators on policy wording, exclusions and evidence requirements.
• Lead one Junior Legal Counsel and two Senior Underwritten Life Investigators.
• Support complex, high-value underwritten life investigations.
• Manage team workload, productivity, quality, turnaround times and investigator expenses.
• Build client relationships, market XTND’s CASHUB services, win new clients and grow work from existing clients.
• Contribute to pitches, proposals, quotations and presentations.
• Build, develop, test, implement and use AI and automation to improve quality, capacity and turnaround times while keeping proper human legal review.
• Set up and run new legal, claims, fraud, intermediary or investigation projects secured by the business.

Your expertise:

• 5-8 years relevant experience in insurance law, funeral or life claims, policy interpretation and repudiations.
• Strong legal writing skills and experience with complaints, formal submissions or Ombudsman matters.
• Experience leading specialist staff and supporting complex investigations.
• Commercial confidence, strong client skills and a willingness to market services and secure work.
• An interest in AI, automation and smarter ways of working.
• Admission as an attorney or advocate, and exposure to fraud, underwritten life investigations, project management or business development, would be an advantage.

Qualifications:

• An LLB or another recognised legal qualification.

Other information applicable to the opportunity:

• Permanent position (Remote)
• Location: Johannesburg
• Travel:You must be willing to travel to XTND or client head offices in Midrand, Johannesburg, Cape Town or other locations from time to time
• Valid South African Drivers licence and own reliable vehicle

Why work for us?

Want to work for an organization that solves complex real-world problems with innovative software solutions? At iOCO, we believe anything is possible with modern technology, software, and development expertise. We are continuously pushing the boundaries of innovative solutions across multiple industries using an array of technologies.

You will be part of a consultancy, working with some of the most knowledgeable minds in the industry on interesting solutions across different business domains.

Our culture of continuous learning will ensure that you will have all the opportunities, tools, and support to hone and grow your craft.

By joining IOCO you will have an open invitation to developer inspiring forums. A place where you will be able to connect and learn from and with your peers by sharing ideas, experiences, practices, and solutions.

iOCO is an equal opportunity employer with an obligation to achieve its own unique EE objectives in the context of Employment Equity targets. Therefore, our employment strategy gives primary preference to previously disadvantaged individuals or groups.