Assistant Legal Manager

Roles and responsibilities

1. Legal Research and Advice

• Legal Research: Conduct detailed legal research on various issues, including contract law, corporate governance, intellectual property, and other relevant legal areas.
• Legal Advice: Provide accurate and timely legal advice to management and various departments on legal issues affecting the company.
• Interpretation of Laws: Assist in interpreting laws, regulations, and legal precedents to advise on compliance matters.

2. Contract Management

• Drafting and Reviewing Contracts: Assist in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating various contracts such as vendor agreements, employment contracts, and client agreements.
• Contract Compliance: Ensure all contracts comply with company policies, legal requirements, and applicable laws.
• Contract Database Management: Maintain and manage a database of all active contracts, ensuring they are properly filed and monitored for renewal or expiration.

3. Litigation and Dispute Resolution

• Dispute Management: Assist in handling legal disputes, including preparing case documentation, liaising with external legal counsel, and managing the dispute resolution process.
• Litigation Support: Provide support to the legal team in preparing for litigation, including research, preparing briefs, gathering evidence, and coordinating with external counsel.
• Alternative Dispute Resolution: Assist in managing non-litigation dispute resolution mechanisms, such as arbitration or mediation, if necessary.

4. Compliance and Regulatory Matters

• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure that the company complies with all local, regional, and international laws and regulations relevant to its operations.
• Policy Review and Implementation: Assist in the development and implementation of company policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable laws.
• Audit Support: Support internal or external audits related to legal and compliance matters.

5. Intellectual Property Management

• IP Portfolio Management: Assist in managing the company's intellectual property (IP) portfolio, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.
• IP Protection: Support in identifying and protecting new IP, ensuring it is properly registered and defended against infringement.
• Licensing and Agreements: Review and negotiate intellectual property licensing agreements, ensuring the company's IP rights are properly protected.

6. Corporate Governance and Risk Management

• Corporate Documentation: Assist in the preparation and review of corporate governance documents, including board resolutions, minutes, and shareholder agreements.
• Risk Assessment: Assist in identifying potential legal risks for the company and developing strategies to mitigate these risks.
• Regulatory Filings: Ensure compliance with all regulatory filings, including maintaining corporate records and submitting required reports to relevant authorities.

7. Legal Advisory and Support

• Cross-Departmental Support: Provide legal support to various departments (e.g., HR, Finance, Sales, Marketing) to ensure their activities comply with applicable laws.
• Training and Awareness: Conduct or assist in training programs to educate employees on legal risks, company policies, and regulatory compliance.
• Internal Legal Communication: Maintain communication with internal departments and management regarding ongoing legal matters.

8. Legal Documentation and Record Keeping

• Document Drafting and Review: Assist in drafting various legal documents such as legal opinions, memoranda, and internal reports.
• Document Management: Maintain a well-organized legal document management system for easy retrieval of contracts, agreements, and other legal files.
• Confidentiality: Ensure that all legal documents and information are kept confidential and securely stored.

9. External Counsel Coordination

• Liaison with External Counsel: Coordinate with external legal firms or consultants as needed, including managing relationships, briefing them on legal matters, and ensuring the efficient handling of external legal services.
• Fee Management: Assist in monitoring external legal fees and ensuring they are within the agreed-upon budgets.

Desired candidate profile

1. Educational Background

• Qualifications: A law degree (Bachelor’s or LLB) from a recognized university is essential. A Master’s degree or advanced certifications in law (such as LLM or specialized courses in commercial or corporate law) is a plus.
• Certifications: Certification in legal compliance, contract management, or other relevant legal fields is an added advantage.

2. Experience

• Work Experience: 3-5 years of experience in a legal role, preferably within a corporate legal department or law firm. Experience in handling contracts, corporate governance, or compliance issues is highly desirable.
• Industry Experience: Experience in industries such as manufacturing, retail, technology, or services will be an advantage, depending on the company’s sector.
• Exposure to Legal Processes: Experience in managing legal research, preparing legal documents, assisting in dispute resolution, and supporting compliance and regulatory activities.

3. Key Skills and Competencies

• Legal Knowledge: Strong understanding of laws and regulations applicable to business operations, including contract law, corporate law, intellectual property law, labor law, and compliance matters.
• Research and Analytical Skills: Ability to conduct thorough legal research and interpret complex legal documents. Strong analytical skills to identify legal risks and implications.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to explain legal concepts clearly and to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Contract Management: Experience in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts and agreements. Familiarity with the terms and clauses commonly found in commercial contracts.
• Risk Management: Knowledge of legal risk identification and management processes to protect the company’s interests.
• Compliance and Regulatory Expertise: Understanding of compliance requirements, regulatory frameworks, and best practices in corporate governance.
• Legal Documentation: Skilled in preparing legal memorandums, opinions, briefs, and other legal documentation accurately and concisely.
• Technology Proficiency: Proficient in using legal management software, document management systems, and Microsoft Office Suite.

4. Personal Attributes

• Attention to Detail: A keen eye for detail is essential when reviewing legal documents and ensuring compliance with legal standards.
• Problem-Solving Ability: Ability to identify legal issues, develop strategies for resolution, and offer practical legal advice.
• Team-Oriented: Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively within the legal team as well as across other departments.
• Proactive and Efficient: Proactively addressing legal concerns and offering solutions. Capable of managing multiple tasks and prioritizing work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Discretion and Integrity: Demonstrates high levels of confidentiality, integrity, and ethical standards, especially when dealing with sensitive legal matters.
• Time Management: Excellent organizational and time management skills to handle various legal tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines.