Job Description

At Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, our ambition is to help you achieve your goals.

Exceptional client service and the pursuit of excellence are at our core. We invest in and care about our client relationships, which is why many are incredibly longstanding. And we enjoy breaking new ground, as we have for over 100 years.



We are where you need us to be. We are in the world's largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs. Our international footprint is extensive and committed.




We are at our best tackling complexity and navigating change. We work alongside you on demanding contentious matters, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private market transactions. We are recognised as leading in these areas.




We are immersed in the sectors and challenges that impact you. We are recognised as standing apart in energy, ESG, infrastructure and resources. And we're focused on areas of growth that affect every business across the world, including technology and digitalisation.



All of this is achieved by supporting the growth of our people, who help us deliver on our ambition - which is to help you achieve yours.



Your goals. Our ambition.

The Opportunity

Digital Legal Delivery

Digital adaption is presenting businesses with efficiencies and opportunities at pace - Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is no different. Continuing to support our clients with this rapid change, we have created a team of the best analytical legal minds with investments in cutting-edge technology and technologists in our Digital Legal Delivery (Digital) practice.


Bringing together legal, project management, process design and technology expertise, our Digital group supports businesses who need invention from their legal advisors. Leveraging experience to map the intersections where people and tech deliver results, this team supports businesses undergoing their own digitisation projects and those who seek disentanglement from the manual and inefficient processes in the delivery of legal services. Experienced at delivering large and complex legal services, we are experts in the delivery of data-intensive mandates.


Imagining possibilities, HSF Kramer's Digital Legal Delivery practice is implementing the best technology solutions today, while horizon scanning and experimenting with emerging technologies to understand their practical applications.

Legal

In Legal, we help shape how the firm delivers legal matters to clients. We have longstanding experience in thinking differently about law, and we are at the forefront of making legal services more efficient - particularly at scale.


We have a deep knowledge across a broad range of sectors, and a wealth of experience in delivering large and complex mandates. We are specialists in contract management, document review, volume claims and remediation, and due diligence.


Working collaboratively with colleagues from across the firm, we use our expertise in law, process design and technology to deliver solutions for our clients. Underpinned by our legal project management capability, we organise our collective effort as efficiently and seamlessly as possible.


This ensures consistent delivery throughout and enables our clients to achieve efficiencies across their operations.

Legal Technology

In Legal Technology, we deploy the firm's established technology efficiently and reliably across a range of client matters and projects.


We combine our expertise in document automation, custom development, eDiscovery and data analytics and client reporting - to work collaboratively across the firm on disputes, transactions and projects.

Digital Change

In Digital Change, we innovate, invest and push our firm's boundaries when it comes to new uses of legal technology.


We experiment with technology and pilot tools to understand them deeply: their potential challenges and benefits, and how they can be used in our day-to-day work to provide better solutions for clients.


And we ensure we have the right internal governance when it comes to making decisions, so we can minimise risk, maximise our opportunities and provide consistency for our stakeholders.

Advisory

In Advisory, we bring deep expertise in legal operations and emerging technologies, working across any sector, alongside our teams or directly with clients.


We are trusted advisers to our clients on new ways of working as we scan the horizon, together.

Primary Objectives

The ILDP is an 18-month programme that will offer legal graduates the opportunity to gain employment and work experience through a structured learning and development programme.


Taking part in the ILDP will offer you the opportunity to develop your legal skills through working on large scale projects including document review. You will also have the opportunity to enhance your commercial awareness, and build your personal leadership qualities, all whilst gaining valuable experience as a Legal Analyst in an innovative environment. The role will give you the chance to grow your skills and profile for future candidate attorney positions.


You will also have the opportunity to work with the firm's disputes, corporate and finance practices, alongside Partners and Associates across the firm's international network, giving you exposure to global clients.

Primary Responsibilities

Legal Analysts are part of our Digital Legal Delivery team, working closely with Managers, Senior Lawyers, Lawyers and Trainees across our international network.


Key responsibilities:

Conducting document review, due diligence and other fee-earning work as required Providing general support to the Digital Legal Delivery Management team in the Johannesburg office Maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of relevant areas of law to the Digital Legal Delivery practice Ensuring compliance with financial disciplines on matters

As participants of the ILDP, Legal Analysts will also be expected to:

Attend, participate in and complete all learning and development modules Apply the learning in their day-to-day roles Complete and keep up to date their personal learning log Support the performance and effectiveness of colleagues joining the programme as part of further cohorts by transferring knowledge and skills

Qualifications, skills & experience

Essential:

Law graduate - (LLB or equivalent) and/or a post-graduate (LLM or equivalent) qualification. Applications are welcome from undergraduates who expect to obtain this in advance of the programme Ability to review, analyse and organise documentary and factual evidence Excellent attention to detail; aims to get it right first time Good verbal and written communication skills Aptitude for learning (and becoming proficient in) the use of software and IT applications, and using software tools intelligently to navigate large databases/document management systems

Eligibility:

All applicants must be eligible to work in South Africa at the time of application and for the duration of the programme. Due to the nature of the programme we are unable to accept applications from individuals who have previously completed articles.

Competencies

Personal Leadership

: finds opportunities to develop and sustain themselves

Professional integrity Self-Development Builds resilience

Technical Capability

: builds legal knowledge and insight

Legal Ability Produces high quality work Delivers outcomes

Contributes to Team and Firm

: volunteers, assists others and contributes to positive team spirit

Teamwork and Communication Builds networks Contributes to firm

Enhances the Client Experience

: delivers excellent service to clients

Understands the client context Innovates to support the firm

About Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

At Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, we align your growth and ambition with ours. We invest in your personal and professional growth and support you to achieve your ambitions. And you share responsibility for playing a part in delivering the firm's growth and ambition too.


A leading global law firm, with over 6,000 people, we are in the world's largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs. We're recognised leaders in demanding contentious matters, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private transactions.


We're immersed in the many challenges facing our clients. We're invested and resourceful. We understand the part technology and digitalisation play in the delivery of legal services. We want to make a positive impact wherever in the world we operate. You'll have the opportunity to engage with an open mind and curiosity.


We are known for our diverse perspectives and renowned for our culture. Being human, bold and outstanding are more than our values: you'll discover they are our lived experience. And by being ambitious for your growth and ours, we'll achieve our goals together.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer: Your growth. Our ambition.

Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values--Human, Bold, and Outstanding.

Applications will close on Friday 29 August 2025 at 5 pm (SAST).

Team

Digital Legal Delivery

Working Pattern

Full time

Location

Johannesburg

Contract type

Fixed Term Contract

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values--Human, Bold, and Outstanding.