Senior Associate at S.P.A. Ajibade & Co.

Job Summary
We are seeking a suitably competent, dedicated, intelligent, versatile, detail-oriented and resourceful Senior Associate for our Ibadan office. A qualified candidate for this position will have a solid grounding in litigation, arbitration and corporate-commercial transactions. The successful candidate will exhibit a high-level of professionalism and a business style that is entrepreneurial, team-oriented, hands-on, and collaborative. He/she should also be able to evaluate and balance the needs and priorities of the business when making strategic decisions.

Responsibilities

• Strategic and commercially aware and be fully familiar with the firm’s current business strategy.
• Proven leadership abilities with track record of effectively delegating work to other team members and supervising the work effectively.
• Successfully managed a project that involves other people in the firm.
• Technically sound across a sufficiently wide area to work without significant supervision.
• Develop and maintain good client relationship skills, gaining clients’ confidence and that of other professionals.
• Provide high quality legal service to all clients.
• Receive requests for legal advice from current and potential clients and deciding on the most appropriate responses to make to these requests
• Offer advice on the law, legal procedures and a wide range of associated issues.
• Attend and represent the firm at client meetings.
• Draw up contracts and other legal documents.
• Research documents and case history to ensure accuracy of advice and procedures.
• Represent clients in Courts where required.
• Work and behave in a professional manner and to the highest standards of the profession.
• Maintain high standards of professional conduct while generating adequate practice income, ensuring that the fees earned sufficiently exceed total costs and expenses incurred.
• Carry out duties given by the partners faithfully and diligently and follow all reasonable instructions.
• Participate in the growth and development of the firm.
• Treat all information about the firm and its client and their business as wholly confidential
• Keep up to date with changes in the law.
• Attract additional business from new and existing clients

Desired Skills & Experience

• First degree in Law; BL.
• 8 - 10 years’ post NYSC generalist experience at least 5 of which must have been at Associate level gained at a reputable and structured law firm.
• Evidence of interest in, and commitment to, the success of the firm.
• Relevant experience within a professional services firm.
• Excellent communication both written and verbal - the role involves liaison with internal and external people at a senior level.
• A self-starter, able to demonstrate high levels of initiative and motivation, but also work closely with other team members and displaying trust and loyalty.
• Ability to manage assigned tasks in an assertive, efficient and timely manner.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, demonstrating professionalism in all dealings.
• Able to deal understandingly and appropriately with clients and to show empathy with them.
• Excellent leadership and management skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Must be able to multitask and keep calm under pressure.
• The flexibility to work outside normal office hours as may be required from time-to-time.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to implement legal strategies in a commercial context.
• Sound judgment with ability to balance legal risk and business impact.
• A willingness to be adaptive to the businesses' changing needs.
• A strong work ethic that reflects a collaborative, adaptable and results-oriented approach.
• Experience in using Office 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint)