Legal Counsel, South Africa Store

Amazon Commercial Services (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 700 000 - 1 200 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading e-commerce company in Cape Town is seeking an experienced lawyer to join their legal team. Key responsibilities include providing legal advice on a range of commercial matters, engaging with business teams daily, and managing outside counsel. Ideal candidates should have over 7 years of legal experience, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to navigate complex legal environments. This role offers a dynamic work environment within a globally recognized brand committed to diversity and innovation.

Benefits

Diversity and inclusion commitment

Opportunity for growth in a global company

Qualifications

• 7+ years of legal experience.
• Outstanding academic qualifications as a fully qualified lawyer.
• Excellent English language skills for contract drafting and negotiation.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on eCommerce, consumer protection, and compliance matters.
• Interact with business clients and tech teams daily.
• Manage outside counsel relationships.

Skills

Legal experience

Commercial transactions

Contract negotiation

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Education

Law degree

Job description

Amazon is a leader in worldwide e-commerce, creating innovative technologies and experiences that are changing the way people find, discover and buy products and services. Lawyers at Amazon are trusted members of the business. Our work is intellectually challenging, exciting and fast‑paced. Developing innovative solutions to novel legal questions is part of our daily business in a truly international setup. Like everyone at Amazon, we are passionate about our customers.

We are looking for a talented lawyer to support our growing South Africa Consumer Business as part of Amazon's Legal Department in South Africa. As Corporate Counsel, you will work closely with our business teams to create and launch innovative new features, programs and services for Amazon. This is an exciting part of our business where you will support your clients on a broad range of commercial legal matters and prepare and drive strategic decisions in a complex legal environment. You will work directly with the Consumer business teams, providing day‑to‑day advice, serving as lead counsel for South Africa on new innovative programs and business models, analyze new legislation, and manage contacts with authorities. You will be part of a broader team and work closely with our business lawyers across emerging countries/regions such as India, Middle East, Latin America and Asia Pacific.

This position requires great judgement and common sense, the ability to find pragmatic solutions in an ambiguous environment, as well as strong written and verbal communication skills.

We are looking for candidates who are innovative, progressive, extremely hands‑on, and customer‑obsessed professionals with a good commercial understanding.

Key job responsibilities

• Providing legal advice on a wide range of topics including general eCommerce, consumer protection, competition, compliance and regulatory matters.
• Day‑to‑day interaction with business clients, business lawyers and tech‑teams.
• Outside counsel management.

Basic qualifications

• 7+ years of legal experience
• Experience in commercial transactions
• Fully qualified lawyer with outstanding academic qualification
• Excellent English language skills including the ability to draft and negotiate contracts.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience of a mix of corporate law firm and in‑house work
• Can work proactively and independently, meet deadlines, and deliver on projects and tasks
• Experience prioritizing and handling multiple assignments at any given time while maintaining commitment to deadlines, or experience in a fast‑paced, high‑tech company
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to act as business partner to internal clients.
• Interest in technical innovation for customers.
• Familiarity with online services and the legal and regulatory environment in which they operate.
• Hands‑on experience in responding to authority requests and compliance related disputes.
• A team player and consensus builder with great people skills and a good sense of humor who can efficiently collaborate and build relationships with attorneys and business clients at all levels throughout the organization.
• Highest standards of ethics and professional integrity

Amazon is an equal opportunities employer, and we value your passion to discover, invent, simplify and build. We welcome applications from all members of society irrespective of age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief. Amazon is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from South African citizens who are members of designated groups who may contribute to Employment Equity within the workplace and the further diversification of ideas. In this regard, the relevant laws and principles associated with Employment Equity will be considered when appointing potential candidates. We are required by law to verify your ability to work lawfully in South Africa. Amazon requires that you submit a copy of either your identity document or your passport and any applicable work permit if you are a foreign national, along with an updated curriculum vitae.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers.

Legal Counsel • Cape Town, Western Cape, ZAF