Legal Officer

Role Overview

You will join the legal department of a microfinance institution, acting as the internal legal officer who protects the company’s financial interests while maintaining fair and ethical treatment of customers. Your day-to-day work centres on managing the full cycle of legally enforced debt recovery, from instructing external lawyers to monitoring outcomes, while also supporting business teams with contract drafting, vetting, and advisory. This role is critical because it balances aggressive recovery targets with cost control, regulatory compliance, and the company’s reputation as a responsible lender.

Beyond litigation and recovery, you will be the go-to person for routine legal operations, ensuring that every invoice, service provider agreement, and internal legal request is handled accurately and without delay. You will work closely with credit, operations, and finance departments, translating legal requirements into practical guidance that keeps the business moving.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage all debt recovery actions initiated through the legal system, ensuring each case is pursued effectively and in a manner that protects both the company’s interests and customer relationships.
• Review and verify invoices from external legal service providers, promptly approving accurate payments and challenging any discrepancies or unnecessary charges.
• Negotiate and oversee relationships with external lawyers, auctioneers, and other recovery agents to secure the most cost-effective service delivery without compromising quality or compliance.
• Draft, review, and finalise contracts and other legal documents requested by business and support units, covering loans, vendor agreements, leases, and internal policies.
• Identify potential legal risks in proposed agreements and recovery strategies, advising relevant departments on mitigations before commitments are made.
• Maintain accurate records of ongoing cases, legal correspondence, and settlement agreements, ensuring all documentation is audit-ready.
• Handle ad hoc internal legal administrative duties including preparing board papers, managing statutory filings, and responding to legal queries from colleagues.
• Coordinate with court registries and process servers to ensure filings, hearings, and enforcement steps proceed according to schedule.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LLB) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Law from a recognised institution.
• A minimum of two years of practical legal experience working within a microfinance institution or a similarly regulated lending environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of debt recovery procedures, including court processes, attachment, and repossession, specifically in the microfinance context.
• Strong people management skills with the ability to direct external legal counsel and coordinate with internal stakeholders across departments.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral, with the confidence to present legal positions clearly to non-legal audiences.
• Computer proficiency in MS Office and legal management tools, paired with strong report-writing capabilities that turn case updates into concise, actionable summaries.
• High level of integrity and professionalism when handling sensitive customer data and confidential corporate information.