Senior Attorney

Dante Personnel; Durban; On-site; ZAR 60 000 - 80 000; Full time

Job summary

A reputable law firm in Durban is seeking a skilled Labour and Employment Attorney to represent clients in legal disputes and provide advisory services on compliance with South African labour laws. The ideal candidate must have a law degree, significant experience in dispute resolution and litigation, and be adept at drafting and reviewing legal documents, including employment contracts. This role includes managing client files and mentoring junior staff in a professional environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in representing clients in CCMA, Bargaining Council, and Labour Court proceedings.
• Solid understanding of South African labour legislation.
• Ability to chair disciplinary hearings and advise on fairness.

Responsibilities

• Represent clients in various tribunal and court proceedings.
• Advise clients on compliance with labour laws.
• Draft and review employment contracts and workplace policies.
• Manage client files independently throughout the legal process.
• Supervise junior attorneys and support staff.

Skills

Dispute Resolution

Litigation

Advisory Compliance

Drafting Legal Documents

Chairing Hearings

Education

Law Degree

Job description

Minimum requirements

• Core Responsibilities Labour & Employment Law
  • Dispute Resolution & Litigation
    • Represent clients in:
      • CCMA proceedings (conciliation and arbitration)
      • Bargaining Council proceedings
      • Labour Court and Labour Appeal Court
    • Conduct arbitrations involving:
      • Misconduct
      • Poor work performance
      • Ill-health incapacity
      • Operational requirements (retrenchments)
      • Unfair labour practices
    • Draft and settle:
      • Referral forms (LRA 7.11 / 7.13)
      • Pre-arbitration minutes
      • Statements of case and responses
      • Review applications (section 145)
      • Opposing and replying affidavits
      • Heads of argument
      • Settlement agreements and consent orders
  • Advisory & Compliance (South African Framework)
    • Advise employers and employees on:
      • Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995
      • Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997
      • Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998
      • Occupational Health and Safety Act
      • Code of Good Practice: Dismissal
    • Draft and review:
      • Employment contracts (fixed-term, permanent, executive)
      • Disciplinary codes and procedures
      • Grievance procedures
      • Workplace policies (leave, misconduct, incapacity, retrenchment)
    • Provide guidance on:
      • Section 189 and 189A retrenchment processes
      • Transfers of business as a going concern (section 197)
      • Restraint of trade disputes
      • Automatically unfair dismissals
      • Protected and unprotected strikes
• Chairing & Internal Processes
  • Chair and/or prosecute:
    • Disciplinary hearings
    • Incapacity enquiries
    • Internal appeals
  • Advise on procedural and substantive fairness
  • Prepare chairpersons findings and outcome letters
• Secondary Responsibilities Other Areas of Law
  • General civil litigation in the Magistrates Court and High Court
  • Contractual disputes and commercial drafting
  • Estate-related litigation or advisory work (where required)
  • Any other legal work reasonably required to support the firms practice
• Practice Management & Professional Obligations
  • Independent management of allocated files from instruction to finalisation
  • Compliance with court rules, directives, and statutory time periods
  • Client consultations, strategy formulation, and ongoing client communication
  • Briefing and managing counsel where necessary
  • Supervision and mentoring of junior attorneys, candidate attorneys, and support staff
  • Ensuring compliance with:
    • Legal Practice Act
    • LPC rules and professional conduct standards
  • Contribution to firm strategy, precedent development, and training

Consultant

Tarren Roodt - Dante Personnel Johannesburg