Legal Officer at Co-operative Bank of Kenya

This position will give you the opportunity to stamp your foot print in the Corporate Legal Space within the Banking industry. The right candidate will have strong conceptual, analytical, documentation and presentation skills with the ability to influence and negotiate at different levels.

To excel in this position, you should be bold and courageous, agile, dynamic with integrity and dependable. A strong background and experience in handling legal matters and frameworks in the Corporate world is mandatory.

Do you seek to always make improvements, do things differently and go the extra mile to deliver exceptionally? If your answer yes, then consider this position at Co-operative Bank.

Reporting to the Head – Legal Services Department, the role holder will be responsible for ensuring the core business of the bank i.e. lending to customers is highly supported by undertaking the conveyance and security perfection process.

The role will also entail providing legal advisory services to all departments within the Bank including providing independent legal advice and judgment to mitigate any legal risks.

Legal Officer Job Responsibilities

• Provide legal advisory services to all departments within the Bank including providing independent legal advice and judgment to mitigate any legal risks.
• Manage litigation against the Bank including external lawyers involved in litigation as well as review, analyzing and interpreting laws, regulations and judicial decisions.
• Provide support in contract negotiations and management including review of contractual agreements for the bank and providing recourse options for non-performing contractors as well as preparing, reviewing and modifying contractual instruments to assist and support various business activities.
• Advice the relevant departments on the perfection of securities and documentation as well as managing the annual securities audits and advise on the remedial process.
• Offer cost effective and timely legal advisory services and support to the credit recovery function of the Bank in order to foster effective management of regulatory and litigation risk in the recovery of Non-Performing loans.
• Prepare and facilitate staff training on specific legal matters affecting the bank including dissemination of appropriate legal requirements to various departments.
• Participating in risk management sessions that have a bearing on legal matters, review risk reports for purposes of managing key risks efficiently in the risk management process and undertake research on current legal developments and prepare briefs to the Head of Legal.
• Support the Board Secretariat in carrying out secretarial duties.

Qualifications for the Legal Officer Job

• Must have a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) Degree from a recognized University with a minimum of five years legal experience ideally in a leading organization, with a proven track record in litigation management and conveyance.
• Must be an advocate of the High Court with a current practicing certificate. CPS will be an added advantage.
• Working knowledge of the legal environment for Banking and general business/commerce in Kenya will be added advantage.
• Strong conceptual, analytical, documentation and presentation skills with ability to influence and negotiate at different levels.