LEGAL AND RISK COUNSEL (JUNIOR)

Jobs 4 All; Durban; On-site; ZAR 350,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobs 4 All is seeking a legal professional to support the Head of Legal & Risk with drafting and negotiating commercial, operational and corporate documents, including SLAs, MSAs, MOUs and leases.

You will identify risks, liaise with external advisers, and assist with regulatory compliance, policy development and risk management in a logistics-focused environment.

Qualifications

• LLB degree required (essential).
• Completed articles or equivalent experience in a corporate, commercial legal, risk or compliance environment.
• Strong legal drafting and contract interpretation skills.
• Understanding of international legal frameworks relevant to logistics, transport or maritime sectors advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Assist Head of Legal & Risk with review, negotiation, amendment and drafting of commercial, operational and corporate documentation (SLAs, MSAs, MOUs, JV agreements, acquisition and sale agreements, leases, finance and security agreements, loan agreements, guarantees and suretyships, pledges and cessions, NDAs, IP/trademark, data protection, internal policies and trading terms).
• Review third-party/customer contract templates, identify risks, and participate in negotiations.

Skills

Legal drafting

Contract interpretation

Attention to detail

Deadline management

Regulatory awareness

Stakeholder liaison

Education

LLB degree

Articles/traineeship

Corporate/commercial law exposure

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Minimum Requirements

• LLB Degree (essential).
• Completed articles or equivalent experience in a corporate, commercial legal, risk or compliance environment.
• Good legal drafting and contract interpretation skills.
• Understanding of international legal frameworks relevant to the logistics, transport or maritime sectors will be advantageous.
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to prioritise and meet deadlines in a high-volume environment.

Advantageous Experience

• Exposure to commercial law and contract drafting.
• Experience within the logistics, supply chain, transport or maritime sectors.
• Exposure to legal risk, compliance and insurance-related matters.
• Experience working with commercial agreements and contractual negotiations.

Key Responsibilities

Contract & Legal Document Support

Assist the Head of Legal & Risk with the review, negotiation, amendment and, where required, drafting of commercial, operational and corporate documentation, including:

• Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
• Master Service Agreements (MSAs).
• Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs).
• Joint venture agreements.
• Acquisition and sale agreements.
• Lease agreements.
• Finance and security agreements.
• Loan agreements.
• Guarantees and suretyships.
• Pledges and cessions.
• Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs).
• Intellectual property and trademark-related documentation.
• Data protection and privacy documentation.
• Internal policies and procedures.
• Trading terms and conditions.
• Other legal and compliance-related documentation.

Review third-party and customer contract templates, identify legal, commercial, contractual and insurance risks, recommend appropriate amendments and participate in contractual negotiations where required.

Legal Risk Management

Support the Head of Legal & Risk with:

• Collating information and documentation relating to disputes and litigation.
• Liaising with external legal advisers, attorneys and relevant stakeholders.
• Identifying and assessing contractual and legal risks.
• Supporting the day-to-day contract approval process across business units.
• Assessing contractual liabilities and escalating material risks where appropriate.
• Liaising with relevant insurance stakeholders and business units regarding contractual risk requirements.

Regulatory Compliance & Legal Advisory

Provide legal research and draft legal memoranda for review by the Head of Legal & Risk relating to applicable legislation and regulatory requirements, including:

• Ports and transport-related legislation.
• International maritime conventions and regulations.
• Environmental legislation.
• Labour legislation.
• Occupational health and safety legislation.
• Data protection and privacy legislation.
• Sanctions and anti-corruption legislation.
• Companies legislation.
• Competition legislation.
• Tax-related legislation.
• Other legislation relevant to the organisation's operations.

Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and assess their potential impact on business operations.

Support the development, implementation and ongoing review of internal policies and procedures relating to legal, regulatory, compliance and risk management requirements.

Legal Research & Training Support

• Conduct legal research on relevant legislation, regulations, case law and industry requirements.
• Prepare draft legal opinions and memoranda for review by the Head of Legal & Risk.
• Assist with providing legal and compliance guidance to management and business units.
• Support legal, compliance and risk-related training initiatives where required.

Insurance, Risk Management & Transaction Support

Assist with the management and administration of relevant insurance and risk management programmes, including:

• Contractual risk assessments.
• Interpretation of insurance requirements and policy provisions.
• Communication of insurance requirements to relevant business units.
• Coordination with insurance brokers and external stakeholders.
• Supporting insurance renewals and claims processes.
• Administration and monitoring of risk-related matters.

Support major projects, transactions, acquisitions and business development initiatives through legal due diligence and risk assessment.

Participate in risk-related meetings and support the implementation and monitoring of operational risk management programmes, including:

• Maintaining risk registers.
• Monitoring risk mitigation actions.
• Identifying emerging legal and operational risks.
• Liaising with relevant internal and external stakeholders.