Associate (Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution) at S.P.A. Ajibade & Co.

Job Summary

• We are seeking a suitably competent, dedicated, intelligent, versatile, detail-oriented and resourceful Associate who will be responsible for handling litigation, mediation and arbitration as well as advisory services.
• The successful candidate will be able to draw from a highly diversified and multi-cultural team who each have specialized skills to apply to each project.
• He/she will provide transactional and operational support and practical advice, geared towards the effective and efficient management of the risks and legal needs of each transaction/assignment handled.

Responsibilities

• Draft court processes including but not limited to motions, affidavits, written addresses, writs of summons, statements of claim and defence and appellate briefs.
• Conduct mostly civil (and occasionally criminal) litigation in cases before all levels of courts and specialized tribunals in Nigeria.
• Conduct trials and argue contentious and non-contentious motions and addresses.
• Conduct arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution proceedings for clients, in both domestic and international settings.
• Work with and advise business clients directly, as well as provide guidance and practical solutions in relation to commercial disputes.
• Advise clients and write legal opinions on various aspects of law.
• Perform regulatory compliance audit in relation to dispute resolution issues.
• Demonstrate a willingness to learn new areas and assist on a wide variety of projects.
• Write or participate in the writing of case reviews and thought leadership articles and updates in relation to any of the firm’s practice areas with particular emphasis on commercial dispute resolution.

Desired Qualification, Skills & Experience

• A good first degree in Law; B.L.
• A Master’s degree in Law will be an added advantage.
• 2-5 years post call experience in litigation/arbitration gained at a reputable structured law firm.
• Ability to conduct litigation with little or no supervision before various courts.
• Knowledge of legal terminologies for preparing and editing a variety of legal documents.
• Excellent research, legal drafting and negotiation skills.
• Proficient with drafting of court processes.
• Ability to comprehend complex matters and identify the laws that are applicable to them.
• Able to demonstrate exceptional organization and time management skills.
• Have a keen eye for detail coupled with good research ability.
• Possess a thorough knowledge of the legal procedures and should keep self-updated with the current developments.
• Enjoy providing valuable analysis and strategy on a variety of cases.
• Successful candidates will be highly responsive, have a commitment to providing exceptional client service and top quality work product.
• Ability to be a proactive and creative problem-solver.
• Intellectual curiosity for the business and ability to earn the trust and respect of internal and external clients.
• Experience of working unsupervised and acting/making decisions under pressure.
• Able to prioritize competing demands and client expectations whilst managing a large volume of diverse matter.
• Able to anticipate and respond to changes in an effective way within a highly dynamic environment.
• Able to identify and solve problems and make the complex simple for clients by framing information and advising in a clear and concise way.
• Capable of building trusted relationships with internal clients using balanced insights and impactful communication to influence decisions and actions.
• Self-sufficient and self-motivated with the confidence to work independently.
• 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.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• A strong work ethic that reflects a collaborative, adaptable and results-oriented approach.
• Experience in using Office 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint).