Junior Legal Associate

Spartan Background

Explore Spartan’s culture and the impact you’d make in funding SMEs to grow by - viewing our Careers page.

The Fit: You and Spartan

Spartan SME Finance focuses exclusively on established SMEs. We are changing South Africa one SME at a time and need people who believe that inclusive growth can happen through helping SMEs grow. If you are looking to help us grow SMEs and build our SA, then you are the right person.

Spartan opened in 1981 and provides financing that backs entrepreneurs. This is done by adopting a structured finance approach that incorporates an intimate understanding of both the jockey [entrepreneur] and their business [SME].

We value a person with truthful candid talk, creativity, curiosity, conscientiousness and an obsession towards holistic learning & growth.

We’re more effective as a team that works closely together and engages with its customers and stakeholders face to face. Consequently, we are entirely office-based [i.e. no work-from-home mode].

Purpose of the Role

Junior Legal Associate: an admitted attorney at the start of their career, for our internal legal department.

To support our internal legal department, which comprises a Senior Legal Associate and a Legal Associate, in the hands-on execution of commercial recoveries. The role works under direction while learning the trade, with the aim of growing into a fully fledged Legal Associate in time.

Junior Legal Associate: an admitted attorney [with at least 1 year post article experience].

Spartan requires a Junior Legal Associate to support the recoveries, litigation function and new loan transactions of the internal legal department:

• Being an active, hands-on participant in the management of commercial recovery matters, under the direction of the Senior Legal Associate and the Legal Associate
• Doing the legwork that physically moves a matter forward i.e. anything and everything required to progressing steps on the ground
• Dealing directly, under direction, with court sheriffs and related parties in the recovery process
• Holding firm and upholding Spartan’s position when engaging stakeholders.
• Being ready, when deadlines are tight, to take direction and travel, including to another town, to get the job done
• Assisting with affidavits, court papers and related recovery documentation
• Learning to draft legal agreements and related documents from standard templates (e.g. Loan Agreements, Pledge and Cession Agreements, Guarantees, etc.)
• Building an understanding of the commerciality of the loans and facilities Spartan offers, and how these translate into security and enforcement
• Performing general administration and ensuring recovery files, records and system information are up to date, accurate and correctly signed off
• This is a hands-on, office-based learning role, not a regulatory compliance role.

Required Qualifications

• Admitted Attorney
• Law Degree
• With at least 1 year post article experience; this is a role for someone hungry to learn & grow
• Valid driver’s license and own car and willingness to travel at short notice

Desired Skills

• Hungry to learn, with a genuine drive to grow.
• Robust and thick-skinned
• Street-wise, with sharp instincts for reading people and situations
• Carries gravitas and is able to command respect and hold Spartan’s line in recoveries despite being junior
• Tenacious self-starter who takes direction well and follows through
• Mobile and available, with a willingness to travel to meet a deadline, wherever the matter is
• Obsessive about controlling documentation and understands the impact of incorrect paperwork
• Attention to detail
• Organized & strong work ethic
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
• Comfortable engaging with people at all levels
• Exercising awareness & discernment
• Comfortable dealing with conflict and litigation related to recoveries
• Techno Savvy

Remuneration

• Commensurate with market for a junior attorney

Application Requirements

• CV
• Motivation Letter

Industry

• Financial Services

Employment Type

• Full Time, Onsite (No Remote)