Paralegal

Boardroom Appointments; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Boardroom Appointments seeks a qualified Paralegal/Legal Secretary to support the Legal Department in Johannesburg. You will assist in preparing first drafts and reviewing standard documents, and coordinate with internal and external contacts to ensure efficient delivery of legal services.

The role includes managing litigation matters, maintaining trackers (iManage), and preparing bundles for trial. Strong attention to detail, independence, and confidentiality are essential.

Qualifications

• Recognized professional paralegal or legal secretary qualification.
• Advanced computer literacy and MS Office skills.
• Familiarity with legal terminology and court proceedings.
• Experience in a legal practice or corporate environment.

Responsibilities

• Ensure litigation process adherence while maintaining relationships with customers and third parties.
• Scrutinize and action legal documents promptly.
• Assist with projects to improve compliance and efficiencies.
• Manage progress of litigious matters using team tracker and iManage.
• Handle correspondence and documentation efficiently.
• Conduct legal research and update knowledge through training.
• Keep abreast of legislation and industry changes.
• Prepare monthly reports and bundles for trial.
• General administration of litigation matters.

Skills

Legal terminology

Court process

Legal experience

Attention to detail

Time management

Relationship building

Independence

Confidentiality

Problem solving

Stress management

Education

Paralegal/legal secretary qualification

Tools

MS Office

MS Excel

Job description

To ensure efficient and effective support to the Legal Department for maximum output in the delivery of legal services and to act as an intermediary between the Legal Team and Internal / External contacts. To undertake legal work including preparation of first drafts and first legal review of standard legal documents/processes for Legal Advisors and Legal Head.

POSITION DESCRIPTION: OUTPUT

MAIN OUTPUTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THIS POSITION

• Ensuring that the litigation process is adhered to while maintaining a good relationship with bank customers and third parties.
• Scrutinizing and actioning legal documents/processes meticulously and timeously.
• Assist in implementing projects e.g. innovations that will contribute towards ensuring business compliance with legislation, enhance business efficiencies, systems and policies.
• Manage the progress of litigious matters against team tracker and iManage.
• Deal promptly and efficiently with correspondence and documentation.
• Undertake legal research and maintain legal knowledge through training.
• Keep abreast of legislation and other industry changes that impacts the role.
• Tracking against Key Performance Indicators with the coordination of task completion.
• Management of Legal Platform tasks.
• Index and paginating office files and court files/legal documentation.
• Arranging meetings and coordinating diaries for Legal Advisors/Legal Head.
• Dealing with urgent matters promptly and efficiently and ensuring that all urgent tasks are completed timeously.
• Providing general legal support to Legal Advisors and Legal Head on various litigation matters.
• Assist with the drafting legal opinions.
• Preparing accurate monthly reports.
• Preparing bundles for trial and/or arbitration/legal engagements and meetings.
• Ensuring delivery and receipt of documents, briefs and files.
• General administration of litigation matters.

JOB EVALUATION CRITERIA: INPUT

QUALIFICATIONS

• Recognized professional paralegal qualification and/or legal secretarial qualification.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Advanced computer literacy.
• Advanced MS Office knowledge (Excel, Word, Outlook etc.).
• Familiarity with legal terminology is an advantage.
• Familiarity with court process and legal pleadings is an advantage.
• Relevant experience in a legal practice or corporate environment is essential.
• Methodical implementation skills.
• Ability to build effective working relationships.
• Able to work independently without supervision but knows when to escalat high risk matters to Legal Advisors or Legal Head.
• A meticulous, responsible person with a sense of urgency, who is able to prioritise duties.
• Positive, diligent and hard worker.
• Time management.
• Ability to prioritize and co-ordinate work.
• Customer focus / service orientated and outcome based.
• Quality orientation.
• Stress tolerance and conflict resolution.
• Problem solving, attention to detail and analytical skills.
• High level of integrity, ethical values and confidentiality.