Legal Officer at United Bank for Africa (UBA)

Location: Head Office – Marina, Lagos
Job Type: Permanent

Job Objective(s)

• Managing the litigation portfolio of the Bank.

Responsibilities

• Prompt and strategic review and assessment of litigation portfolio to determine cases, which should be settled amicably.
• Review and assessment of the Bank’s defence in matters in litigation and recommendation on settlement in respect of cases in which the Bank has no defence.
• Proper monitoring of cases in court to ensure that the Bank’s interests are adequately protected.
• Aggressive pursuit of recovery matters under the Litigation Recovery portfolio to ensure timely recovery of the Bank’s debts.
• Effective prosecution of fraud cases to ensure judicially logical conclusions to serve as a deterrent to others.
• Compile a list of fresh actions instituted against the Bank on monthly basis to be included in the schedule pending cases.
• Review Judgments entered against the Bank in order to determine whether to submit to judgment or whether there are sufficient grounds on which to sustain an appeal.
• Review subpoenas served on the Bank and advise Branch or Division on appropriate steps to take with respect to either Subpoena Ad Testificandu or Subpoena Duces Tecum.
• Review miscellaneous interlocutory and injunctive orders against the Bank and advise Business offices on steps to be taken.
• Review garnishee order nisi [interim orders], determine the implications of the order for the Bank and give necessary instructions to branches/solicitors (if need be).
• Appraise the performance of external solicitors and recommend to management the solicitors to be retained or delisted.
• Interfaces with external auditors of the Bank during audit, provide them with the schedule of pending litigations and respond to their queries
• Interfaces with CBN and NDIC during an audit, provide them with the schedule of pending litigation, and selected case files, and respond to their queries.
• Prepare a schedule of contingent liabilities for Financial Control which will be used for audit.
• Represent the Bank and participate in the mediation sessions at the Lagos and Abuja Multi-Door courthouses
• Refer deserving matters to Lagos Multi-Door courthouse for mediation and negotiation.
• Participates in ADR procedures to ensure resolution of deserving matters without recourse to litigation.
• Recommendation to management on possible terms of settlement and engage in negotiating a settlement in terms most favourable to the Bank.
• Review of court processes proposed to be filed by our solicitors to ensure that the Bank is adequately protected.
• Visit Police Stations/other law enforcement agencies to secure the release of staff on bail or to assist staff in making extra-judicial statements to the relevant agencies
• Participate in sector meetings and activities as required.
• Perform other functions delegated by the Unit Head or Divisional Head.

Qualifications

• Minimum of First Degree in Law
• LL. B (Bachelor of Laws)
• Professional qualification (an advantage)
• A minimum of 5 years of experience (in Litigation/legal practice or financial services institution).

Knowledge & Skills Required:

• Sound knowledge of the law
• Knowledge of the Civil Procedure Rules of the High Courts of the various states
• Negotiation and problem-solving skills
• Alternative dispute resolution skills
• Effective communication skills
• Good interpersonal relationship
• Research and Analytical Skills
• Brief writing skills.

What We Expect From You:

• High degree of professional ethics, integrity and responsibility.
• Highly organised, proactive, ability to work independently and take ownership of tasks assigned.
• Team player with the ability to work under pressure and ability to work with a wide variety of people and maintain an excellent business relationship.
• High sense of confidentiality and discreteness.

Candidate’s Profile:

• Our ideal candidate must have experience in Litigation, legal practice or financial service institutions.
• Must be analytical with effective communication skills, have good alternative dispute resolution skills and brief writing skills.

What You Should Expect From Us:

• Our corporate culture is defined by our core values. We do not just train our people to be the best in the job, we also offer encouragement, recognition, and rewards.
• Whatever level you are at in your career, we offer plenty of opportunities and support to build a rewarding career at UBA.
• Here in UBA, our employees are our greatest assets and so we built a recognition and reward system that boosts productivity and enhances staff retention, instituting a culture of meritocracy.