Group Legal Advisor

Job Description,

Purpose of the Job

The successful incumbent will be responsible for proactively and constructively assisting business to minimise legal risk through providing legal advice and assistance to the business and identifying and interpreting applicable legislation.

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Requirements,

Education

• LLB degree.
• Admitted as an attorney or advocate of the High Court.
• Preferably completed practical legal training at an accredited Law School.
• Preferably completed a postgraduate diploma or degree with a commercial application.
• Sound academic record.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years’ overall post-articles financial services experience, preferably at a large corporate or a bank, alternatively in legal practice dealing with insurance and/or financial services matters.
• Preferably 2 years specialised experience in a Long-term Insurance role.
• Extensive experience working with financial services legislation for example Insurance Act, LTIA, STIA, FAIS, FICA, CISCA etc.

Knowledge And Skills

• Financial services regulatory environment.
• General legislative knowledge.

Skills

• Ability to independently solve complex legal problems in a systematic and logical manner.
• Good verbal and written communication skills, including report writing skills.
• Ability to independently draft formal legal opinions on issues which are of a complex nature.
• Ability to independently draft legal documents, for example contracts, policy documentation etc. which are of a complex nature.
• Ability to conduct legal research.
• Good facilitation and conflict handling skills.
• Ability to collate information and to draft legal reports, for example Exco & Risk Committee reports.

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Duties and Responsibilities,

Key Responsibilities

• Identify applicable legislation, provide comments, perform impact analysis and give advice and guidance to business.
• Provide legal opinions.
• Draft legal contracts, policy documents etc. and review standard business communications.
• Provide legal support to all areas of the business.
• Participate in projects and provide legal advice & assistance to the project team.
• Litigation management.
• Management of Intellectual Property Portfolio.
• Complaints management, including complaints received from different Ombudsman Schemes.
• Liaising with key stakeholders in the business, the FSCA, PA, ASISA and other regulatory bodies when required.