Job Description

Job purpose:
The Legal Advisor will ensure legal compliance as well as manage the external resources and the draft and review of client agreements and contracts and other relevant legal matters. Review/checking of the conditions precedent to ensure compliance and sign off of same.
Key Performance Areas
Business Support and General Legal Advice

• Custodian of legal agreements as applicable and responsible for developing and reviewing them from time to time to ensure legal compliance
• Drafting of Legal Agreements and SLA's
• Assessment of impact of any new legislation and providing training to Legal and affected Business Units from time to time
• Providing legal advice and opinions to Divisions and within the regionalisation model
• Legal research and legal reviews and due diligence investigations
• Advising and providing a tailor made business solutions to problems
• Generally ensure best possible legal solution to legal problems

Monitoring and Compliance with CompanyAct and other applicable legislation

• Monitor legislation that may affect the Bank and recommend solutions
• Proactive awareness of new legislation and advising the Bank accordingly
• Assessment of impact of any new legislation and making recommendations in this regard

Resource Management

• Management of assigned attorneys in terms of giving them instructions and subsequent communication as applicable
• Manage delivery of outsourced work and monitor performance

Review and Development of Policies and Procedures

• Identify loopholes and make recommendations on policies and processes for improved service delivery
• Monitoring and compliance to the policies and procedures and making recommendations in case of non-compliance.
• Assist in Delegation of Powers (DOP) development and review
• Drafting agreements and general legal assistance to the Bank as a whole including ensuring product compliance and alignment with the Bank's policies

Manage Stakeholder relationship

• Proactive building of internal relationships with all business units
• Understanding operational business needs
• Providing business solutions in area of expertise
• Understanding internal client's areas of operation
• Proactively building relationships with attorneys/advocates/Bank clients
• Good working relationship with team

Drafting

• Receive requests for the drafting of Contracts
• Assess and discuss requirements with the client and draft initial contracts
• Review inputs and amend according to comments received
• Prepare execution versions of the contract, together with control sheets, acquire internal signatories and submit for external signatures
• Retain electronic copies of contracts and control sheets

Qualifications and Requirements

• 4 year LLB Degree or equivalent.
• Admitted Attorney having served articles of clerkship or Admitted Advocate, having served pupillage.
• 3 - 5 years Post admission experience.

Critical Competencies

• Legislation
• Legal opinions
• Report writing
• Compilation of policies and procedures
• Legal reviews and due diligence
• Research
• Drafting

Additional Requirements

• In depth knowledge of the Companies Act, National Credit Act, Consumer Protection Act, CompanyAct, and other legislation related to financial institutions and employee relations.

Skills Required