Paralegal - Legal Compliance

We are recruiting a Paralegal to support our UAE Legal Compliance - Middle East Legal and Regulatory Operations Team in Dubai.

DEPARTMENT PURPOSE

The UAE Legal Compliance - Middle East Legal and Regulatory Operations Team (who for reporting and systems purposes sit mostly within the UAE Corporate practice), undertake a mix of fee earning work (around 80%, which we recover in fees) and back office local compliance and regulatory operations support work (such as, UAE local paralegal role and duties, employee visas and general government compliance/ regulatory responsibilities, registering lawyers with the Legal Affairs Department, CLPD registration, monitoring and annual audits with LAD, Arabic translations, local governmental relations, and UAE local/GCC searches for laws and regulations, etc..).

The team currently includes the Head of Middle East Legal and Regulatory Operations Team - Senior Legal Manager who leads the UAE Bilingual Team of the UAE Local Paralegals, governmental Relations Officers, Legal Assistants, UAE Law Search Team and UAE Qualified Translators all of which are critical to our ongoing fee earning operations in the Middle East offices.

The quality of our bilingual team (which is head and shoulders above the competition) gives us a distinctive advantage in the UAE/GCC market.

ROLE PURPOSE

An opportunity has arisen for a junior to mid-level Paralegal to join the Legal Compliance Department - Middle East Legal and Regulatory Operations Team at the Dubai office, on a full time, permanent basis.

This is an exciting opportunity for a junior Paralegal who is looking to gain experience at an international Law Firm. As part of the Legal Compliance team, you can expect to work on a variety of fee earning work and back office local compliance support work. Working closely with the UAE local Paralegals, the Translation Team, the UAE Law Search Team, the governmental Relations Officers and local fee earning departments, you will provide general fee earning and legal support.

The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate attention to detail, enthusiasm and self-motivation. In addition, the candidate should be a team player and be able to use their initiative. The candidate must have a sound working knowledge of Excel and Word, and have some previous experience of working in an office environment.

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Drafting clients letters of engagement and communicating with clients
• Handle and respond to daily queries and requests concerning clients' various transactions and matters across all practice groups within the firm.
• Receive, review, analyse requests, and conduct necessary dry runs with UAE Notaries and competent authorities for the notarization of legal documents.
• Keeping track of new laws and regulations and providing updates to the advisory and litigation teams
• Assisting lawyers in the preparation of transactional closings
• Assisting in keeping track of activity on the matter and following up with fee-earners for updates on their actions where required
• Conducting legal due diligence review on contracts and documents
• Conducting legal and documentary research
• Drafting, preparing, reviewing and proofreading legal documents and reports (e.g. resolutions,
• articles of association, minutes of meeting, short form agreements, due diligence reports, legal opinions)
• Drafting required market disclosures and shareholders reports in Arabic
• Setting up free zone and onshore entities and manage all related documents
• Communicating and liaising with government authorities and presenting applications on behalf of clients
• Translating Arabic/English documents
• Receipt, catalogue and allocation of documents to fee earners
• General administrative duties for matters

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• 2:1 law degree or equivalent – (i.e. Business – economy)
• Bilingual – exceptional fluency in Arabic and English – both written and spoken.
• Prior experience of working as a Paralegal, or similar
• Prior experience of working within law firm or corporate environments
• High level of computer literacy
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills within a professional manner
• Ability to handle multi-tasks at any one time and to prioritise tasks
• Ability to work hard within a fast pace environment and meet deadlines
• A strong understanding of the local UAE/GCC culture, customs and unique government processes and procedures

Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our recruitment team who will work with you to provide any adjustments as required.

Additional information - External

A&O Shearman is a global industry-leading law firm, with nearly 50 offices in 28 countries worldwide. Our fluency in English law, US law, and the laws of the world's most dynamic markets, enables us to provide unmatched insight and seamless delivery to clients. We work on challenging and important deals and disputes that have the potential to shape the future.

We offer exceptional opportunities for our people; opportunities to work for the world's leading businesses; to transform the status quo, and to deliver your best work, helping you and your career to thrive, while delivering unparalleled outcomes for our clients.

Whether you're helping clients solve complex challenges, transforming the ways we manage our business, or ensuring the smooth-running of our operations, this is an environment where you can belong and excel. We provide first-rate training and development, we are committed to an inclusive environment, and we provide support and ways of working that help you optimise your wellbeing.

What truly defines a career with us? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. And together, we will redefine success.