Remote Junior Legal Counsel

Placements24; South Africa; Remote; ZAR 360,000 - 600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical aid

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Junior Legal Counsel to join a remote, agile legal team in South Africa. You will support commercial contracts, IP, and data privacy across the business, working with various departments in a fast-paced startup environment.

The role offers broad exposure to technology law, governance, and external counsel coordination, with growth opportunities in a remote-first setting across national operations.

Qualifications

• Admitted Attorney with SA High Court status.
• 0-3 years post-qualification experience, preferably in commercial contracts or technology law.
• Strong understanding of contract law principles.
• Excellent legal research, analytical and drafting skills.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts (SaaS, SLAs, partnerships).
• Assist in managing intellectual property portfolio (trademarks, copyrights).
• Support data privacy compliance (POPIA, GDPR).
• Conduct legal research to support business initiatives and mitigate risks.

Skills

Legal research

Contract drafting

Attention to detail

Remote work

Education

LLB degree

Admitted Attorney (SA)

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic and innovative technology startup with a global reach, is seeking a motivated and adaptable Junior Legal Counsel to join their expanding legal team. This is a fully remote position, allowing you to work from anywhere within South Africa. The role focuses on providing essential legal support across various business functions, including commercial contracts, intellectual property, data privacy, and corporate governance. The ideal candidate is a self-starter eager to learn and contribute in a fast-paced, digital-first environment. This is an exceptional opportunity for an early-career lawyer looking to gain broad experience in a cutting-edge industry, operating remotely with a focus on supporting operations that may originate from Polokwane or beyond.

Key Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of commercial contracts, including SaaS agreements, service level agreements (SLAs), and partnership agreements.


• Assist in managing the company's intellectual property portfolio, including trademarks and copyrights.


• Support compliance efforts related to data privacy regulations (e.g., POPIA, GDPR).


• Conduct legal research on diverse topics to support business initiatives and mitigate risks.


• Provide general legal support and advice to internal stakeholders across different departments.


• Assist with corporate governance matters and the preparation of board resolutions.


• Help manage external counsel relationships and track legal expenses.


• Contribute to the development and refinement of standard legal templates and processes.


• Stay current with legal developments relevant to the technology and startup sector.


• Assist in the review and compliance of marketing and advertising materials.

Requirements

• Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa.


• 0-3 years of post-qualification experience, preferably with exposure to commercial contracts or technology law.


• Strong understanding of contract law principles.


• Excellent legal research, analytical, and drafting skills.


• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently.


• Proactive, self-motivated, and capable of working independently with minimal supervision in a remote setting.


• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with non-legal professionals.


• Familiarity with data privacy laws is an advantage.


• A genuine interest in technology and the startup ecosystem.


• Ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities and new challenges.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, along with stock options in a high-growth startup. Benefits include comprehensive medical aid coverage and a generous allocation for professional development and continued legal education. As a fully remote position, this role offers unparalleled flexibility, allowing you to work from your preferred location. The company provides a dynamic and supportive virtual work environment, with regular team-building activities and opportunities for rapid career progression. This role supports national operations, with flexibility for those based near Limpopo.